Grammar basics
Nouns
A noun is a name. It names a person, a place, a thing or an idea. Nouns are the most common words in English.
What does a noun do?
A noun answers the question "who?" or "what?"
| Kind | Examples |
|---|---|
| Person | John, teacher, friend |
| Place | Bangkok, office, Thailand |
| Thing | computer, coffee, book |
| Idea | happiness, knowledge, time |
Names of special people and places start with a capital letter: John, Bangkok, Thailand. These are called proper nouns.
One or many?
Most nouns can be counted: one book, two books. Some nouns cannot be counted, like water, coffee and knowledge. We say some coffee, not two coffees… unless you order two cups at a café!
Types of nouns
There are different types of nouns. Each type has its own page with more words.
| Type | What it shows | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common nouns | General names | man, city, computer |
| Proper nouns | Special names, with a capital letter | John, Bangkok, Python |
| Countable nouns | Things you can count | apple, car, bug |
| Uncountable nouns | Things you cannot count | milk, water, information |
| Collective nouns | Groups | team, family, group |
| Abstract nouns | Ideas and feelings | love, success, happiness |
Computer
A machine that stores information and runs programs.
My computer is old, but it still works well.
Country
An area of land with its own government.
Thailand is a beautiful country.
Friend
A person you know well and like.
My friend helps me practice English.
Idea
A thought or a plan in your mind.
I have a new idea for a web app.
Knowledge
The things you know and understand.
I share my knowledge on my blog.
Language
The words people use to speak and write.
Python is my favorite programming language.