What is a Common Noun? Definition, Examples and Uses

What is a Common Noun? Examples and Uses

Nouns are one of the most common types of words we use in grammar. A noun is a word that refers to a person, thing, place, and idea. When writing and speaking, we use different nouns to describe things around us. Take a minute to look around you and you'll see a variety of things. If you're inside, you can see a computer, a desk, a wall, a window, a trash can, or any number of other things. If you are outside, you might see a smartphone, people, cars, trees or animals. All the words we use to refer to these things have something in common: they are common nouns.

What is a Common Noun?

A noun is a word that names a person, animal, thing, place, and idea. All nouns can be classified as more common nouns. Common nouns are words used to name specific items rather than general things. Do you see a lamp, couch, chair, TV, window, pillow, painting, candle - all these items are named using common nouns.

Generally, common nouns are everywhere and you use them all the time, even if you don't realize it. Wherever you go you will find at least one common noun. Streets, closets, bathrooms, schools, malls, gas stations, living rooms; All these places are things, and thus they are common nouns.

When to Use Common Nouns?

We use common nouns to refer to the idea of ​​a class or thing. Imagine the word "star", ie; We see stars in the sky. Star is used as a common noun to refer to all the objects we see in the night sky, i.e. luminous bodies scattered across the universe, twinkling overhead. The sun, however, is a proper noun, used to describe the specific star at the center of our solar system.

So, anything that can usually be classified as a common noun:

People: Generally people are named using common nouns, although in certain cases their official titles or given names are proper nouns. When we refer to people using common nouns, we use words like teacher, police officer,, clerk, preacher, delivery driver, girlfriend, grandmother, boyfriend, cousin, and barista.

For example, mother is a common noun when talking about mother.

• My mother is an actress.
• Barbara's mother was the best cook in town.

But when talking to your mother, or using mother's name, mother is used as a proper noun.

• “Mother can you bake your brownies for the party?"
• I asked Mother Thompson to join us at lunch.

Common nouns can refer to people, places, and ideas things.

People: man, woman, child, cop, criminal, neighbor, butcher, baker, friend, person, enemy, stranger, judge, jury, executioner, knights, kings, bishops and queens etc.

Places: city, rooms, town, islands, country, beaches, province, state, outside, upstairs, basement, hallway, lobby, alleys, campsites and neighborhoods etc.

Things:.drums, apples, trucks, oranges, snow, rain, ice, fire, dirt, food, cars, knee, elbows, water, sky, month, stars, day, weeks, years and guitar etc.

Ideas: loneliness, happiness, sadness, fear, courage, questions, answers, chaos, hunger, government, confusion, doubt, friendship, science and emotions etc.

More Example of Common Noun

• Rohit is a wonderful player.
• Sydney Sixers is the team he plays for.
• She was not born in this country.
• Smith is the city he lives in.
• She is a woman of dream. 
• She plays cricket with intensity.
• Michael Clarke is his mentor.
• She has a house across the river.
• Alex goes for a walk by the river every day.
• His friend accompanies him.
• They talk about movies and celebrities.
• He is a fan of Hugh Jackman and the cinema Wolverine.
• She has a dog named Poppy.
• She has a house and a car also.