N0UNS

It's not easy to describe a noun. In simple terms, nouns are "things" (and verbs are "actions"). Like food. Food (noun) is something you eat (verb). Or happiness. Happiness (noun) is something you want (verb). Or human being. A human being (noun) is something you are (verb).

Concrete Nouns

Concrete nouns can be touched, felt, held, something visible, smelt, taste, or be heard. Concrete nouns are something physical.

Concrete nouns can be countable nouns or uncountable nouns, and singular nouns or plural nouns. 
Concrete nouns can also be a common noun, proper nouns and collective nouns.

 

Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun is a type of noun that refers to something a person cannot physically interact with. A noun is a person, place or thing. However, in many cases, the 'thing' might be an intangible concept – which means it is an abstract form of noun. In this instance, abstract means to exist apart from concrete existence. A noun that is abstract is an aspect, concept, idea, experience, state of being, trait, quality, feeling, or other entity that cannot be experienced with the five senses.

Common Abstract Nouns

Emotions/Feelings

• Love
• Hate
• Anger
• Peace
• Pride

States/Attributes

• Bravery
• Loyalty
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Compassion 

Ideas/Concepts/Ideals

• Beliefs
• Dreams
• Justice
• Truth
• Faith

Movements/Events

• Progress
• Education
• Hospitality
• Leisure
• Trouble

 Abstract forms of nouns are very common and an important part of communication. In many cases these types of nouns are derived from an addition of a suffix or alteration in the root word. Child is a concrete noun, for example, but childhood is an intangible state, so it is abstract. Nouns with the following suffixes are often abstract:

• -tion
• -ism
• -ity
• -ment
• -ness
• -age
• -ance/-ence
• -ship
• -ability
• -acy

Collective Nouns

Although typically words that identify more than one person, place, or thing are made plural in the English language, collective nouns are an exception. This unique class of nouns denotes a group of people, animals, objects, or concepts or ideas as a single entity.

 

• Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted, modified by a number or quantified with size, amount, or value related words, and can appear in both singular and plural form.
• Mass nouns, also referred to as non-count nouns, signify unbounded amounts, such as liquid, small objects, and abstract or immeasurable concepts. For example, "water," "rice," and "education" can all be considered mass nouns. A noun is considered a mass noun when its use cannot be counted, modified or quantified in a relevant and logical manner linguistically.
• Collective nouns are considered a subset of count nouns because they refer to a group of countable nouns as a unit. For example, there are 12 eggs in dozen, and there are 52 cards in a deck.

  Common Collective Nouns

There are many types of nouns that refer to units or groups in a collective sense. Some of the most common include:

• Army
• Array
• Audience
• Band
• Bevy
• Board
• Bunch
• Cabinet
• Cast
• Choir/Chorus

 Common collective animal nouns include

• Brood
• Colony
• Clutch
• Drove
• Flight
• Flock
• Gaggle
• Herd
• Hive
• Litter