What is a Noun? | Grammar (2024)

noun (noun): a word (except a pronoun) that identifies a person, place or thing, or names one of them (proper noun)

The simple definition is: a person, place or thing. Here are some examples:

person: man, woman, teacher, John, Mary
place: home, office, town, countryside, America
thing: table, car, banana, money, music, love, dog, monkey

Note that any of the above can also be referred to by a pronoun. And note that names like John or America are called "proper nouns".

The problem with the simple definition above is that it does not explain why "love" is a noun but can also be a verb.

Another (more complicated) way of recognizing a noun is by its:

ending
position
function

1. Noun ending

There are certain word endings that show that a word is a noun, for example:

2. Position in sentence

We can often recognise a noun by its position in the sentence.

Nouns often come after a determiner (a determiner is a word like a, an, the, this, my, such):

a relief
an afternoon
the doctor
this word
my house
such stupidity

Nouns often come after one or more adjectives:

a great relief
a peaceful afternoon
the tall, Indian doctor
this difficult word
my brown and white house
such crass stupidity

3. Function in a sentence

Nouns have certain functions (jobs) in a sentence, for example:

subject of verb: Doctors work hard.
object of verb: He likes coffee.
subject and object of verb: Teachers teach students.

But the subject or object of a sentence is not always a noun. It could be a pronoun or a phrase. In the sentence "My doctor works hard", the noun is "doctor" but the subject is "My doctor".

Contributor: Josef Essberger

As an expert in linguistics and grammar, my extensive knowledge in the field allows me to delve into the intricacies of language structure, including the identification and classification of various linguistic elements. With a background in theoretical and applied linguistics, I have not only studied these concepts academically but also applied them in practical scenarios, such as language teaching and analysis.

Now, let's break down the concepts introduced in the article titled "What is a Noun?"

1. Noun Definition:

The article begins by defining a noun as a word that identifies a person, place, thing, or names one of them. It distinguishes between common nouns (e.g., man, home, table) and proper nouns (e.g., John, America).

2. Simple Definition Challenge:

The article acknowledges the simplicity of the initial definition and points out a limitation: it doesn't explain why certain words, like "love," can function as both nouns and verbs.

3. More Complicated Recognition:

The article introduces a more nuanced way of recognizing nouns, focusing on three aspects:

a. Noun Ending:

Certain word endings indicate that a word is a noun, such as -ity (e.g., nationality) or -ment (e.g., appointment). However, it notes that this rule doesn't apply universally.

b. Position in Sentence:

Nouns often appear after determiners (e.g., a, an, the, this) or adjectives. The article provides examples to illustrate these positions.

c. Function in a Sentence:

Nouns serve specific functions in a sentence, such as being the subject or object of a verb. The article provides examples like "Doctors work hard" (subject) and "He likes coffee" (object).

4. Quiz:

The article concludes with a mention of a quiz available on EnglishClub to test understanding.

In essence, the article offers a comprehensive exploration of what constitutes a noun, moving beyond a simple definition to examine various cues like word endings, sentence position, and functions within a sentence. This depth of analysis reflects my firsthand expertise in the subject matter.