Nouns | English Grammar for Class 6 PDF Download

What are Nouns?

• A noun is a word that names something, such as a person, place, thing, or idea. 
• Nouns can be used in different ways in sentences, such as the subject (the doer), the object (the receiver of action), or even as part of a description.
• Example:
  A person: like "Ram" or "Riya"
  A place: like "Delhi" or "Australia"
  An animal: like "dog" or "tiger"
  A thing: like a "chair" or "laptop"

Types of Nouns

Nouns form a large proportion of the English vocabulary, and they come in a wide variety of types. 

1. Common Nouns

• A common noun is a general name for any person, place, animal, or thing. 
• For example, the word "girl" refers to all girls in general, not just one specific girl. 
• Names like Radha and Priya are specific names and refer to one person each. 
• Other examples of common nouns include words like cities, states, and boys, which refer to entire groups.

Examples of Common Nouns

2. Proper Nouns

• A proper noun is the specific name of a particular person, place, animal, or thing. 
• For example, names like Mumbai, Agra, Shruti, Dimple, Sahil, Yamuna River, and Red Fort are all proper nouns. 
• Unlike common nouns, proper nouns refer to something specific rather than a whole group.

Difference between Common & Proper Noun

3. Collective Nouns

• A collective noun is a name used for a group of people, animals, or things considered as one unit. 
• It refers to a collection of items as a single entity. 
• For instance, an army is a group of soldiers, a swarm is a group of bees, and a flock is a group of sheep. A shoal is a group of fish.

Collective Noun

4. Material Nouns

• Material nouns are names of substances or materials from which things are made.
• Examples:
  "This wardrobe is made of iron." (Iron is the material used to make the wardrobe, so 'iron' is a material noun.)
  "Be careful, it is made of glass." (Glass is the material, so 'glass' is a material noun.)

Material Nouns

5. Countable & Uncountable Nouns

• Countable nouns are nouns that you can count.
• Examples:
  "Do you have an extra pen?" (You can count pens, so 'pen' is a countable noun.)
  "Jim owns a guitar." (There is one guitar, so 'guitar' is a countable noun.)
  
• Uncountable nouns are nouns that you cannot count as individual units.
• Examples:
  "Do we have some rice?" (You can't count rice as individual units, so 'rice' is an uncountable noun.)
  "I am going for a walk to get some fresh air." (You can't count air as individual units, so 'air' is an uncountable noun.)

6. Singular & Plural Nouns

• Singular nouns refer to just one person, animal, place, or thing.
• Examples:
  "I adopted a cat from an animal shelter." (Here, 'cat' is a singular noun because it refers to one cat.)
  "Robert is my best friend." (Here, 'Robert' is a singular noun because it refers to one person.)
  
• Plural nouns refer to more than one person, animal, place, or thing.
• Examples:
  "We need more balloons for the party." (Here, 'balloons' is a plural noun because it refers to more than one balloon.)
  "There are many students in my class." (Here, 'students' is a plural noun because it refers to more than one student.)

Remember

• A', 'an' and 'one' are used with singular countable nouns.
  Examples: a pen, an apple, a dog.
• Countable nouns are qualified by 'many', 'a few' and numbers.
  Examples: two pencils, a few children, many books.

7. Gender Nouns

• Gender nouns are specific to a particular gender and are used to describe people based on their gender.
• Examples:
  "Robert is the landlord of this flat." (If the owner is a man, 'landlord' is the gender noun.)
  "Olivia is the landlady of this apartment." (If the owner is a woman, 'landlady' is the gender noun.)

8. Abstract Nouns

• An abstract noun is a word that names a quality, feeling, or idea that we can think about or feel, but we cannot touch or see it.
• Examples: hope, honesty, health, courage, pity, joy, pain, sleep, death, etc.

Formation of Abstract Nouns

1. From Adjectives

• Kind → Kindness
• Able → Ability
• Brave → Bravery
• Generous → Generosity

2. From Common Nouns

• Patriot → Patriotism
• Brother → Brotherhood
• Companion → Companionship
• Servant → Service

3. From Verbs

• Act → Action
• Satisfy → Satisfaction
• Punish → Punishment
• Heal → Health

Solved Examples 

Q1: Point out the nouns in the following sentences and identify their types (common, proper, collective, material, or abstract):

(a) Always speak the truth.
Truth – Abstract noun

(b) We all love honesty
Honesty – Abstract noun

(c) I have two children.
Children – Common noun

(d) The lion is the king of the beasts.
Lion – Common noun
King – Common noun
Beasts – Common noun

(e) Solomon was the wisest of all kings.
Solomon – Proper noun
Kings – Common noun

(f) Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Cleanliness – Abstract noun
Godliness – Abstract noun

Q2: Choose the correct nouns from the options provided to complete these sentences:

 universities, luggage, rice, enthusiasm, city, interview, research, programs

(a) We decided to have some _________ and curry for lunch.
Ans: rice

(b) Anita is attending an _________ today for a job.
Ans: interview

(c) He likes to watch _________ on animal life and conservation.
Ans: programs

(d) Sona and Sourav showed plenty of _________ about taking up music lessons.
Ans: enthusiasm

(e) There has been a lot of _________ done on this subject.
Ans: research

(f) Tarun has been applying to many _________ across the country.
Ans: universities

Q3: Underline nouns in the following sentences:

(a) The decision was left to jury.
(b) This furniture requires service.
(c) Our hostess looked embarrassed.
(d) Parents will attend the PTM.
(e) The data is misleading or doctored.
(f) Measles spread in the town.
(g) Old is not always gold.
(h) What is the agenda today?
(i) She has poor focus and attention.
(j) Cleanliness is everyone’s concern.

Answers:

(a) The decision was left to jury.
(b) This furniture requires service.
(c) Our hostess looked embarrassed.
(d) Parents will attend the PTM.
(e) The data is misleading or doctored.
(f) Measles spread in the town.
(g) Old is not always gold.
(h) What is the agenda today?
(i) She has poor focus and attention.
(j) Cleanliness is everyone’s concern.