Chapter: The Noun
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
nounproper nouncommon nouncollective nounmaterial nounabstract nounsingularpluralmasculinefemininecommon genderneuterpossessiveapostropheappositionappositivepronounsubject pronounobject pronounpossessive adjectivepossessive pronounreflexive pronoundetermineragreement
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Most nouns form their plurals by adding s: boy → boys.
► Nouns ending in s, ss, sh, ch, or x generally form plurals by adding es: bus → buses.
► A noun ending in consonant plus y changes y to ies: baby → babies.
► Many nouns ending in f or fe change f or fe to ves: wife → wives.
► Some nouns form plurals by changing an internal vowel: foot → feet, man → men.
► Compound nouns generally take the plural ending on the principal word: passer-by → passers-by, father-in-law → fathers-in-law.
► Nouns ending in is generally change is to es in the plural: thesis → theses, crisis → crises.
► A singular possessive is usually formed by adding apostrophe and s: Rahim → Rahim's.
► A plural noun ending in s forms its possessive by adding only an apostrophe: girls → girls'.
► Plural nouns not ending in s form their possessives by adding apostrophe and s: children → children's.
1. Kinds of Nouns (8 words)
noun[/naʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: নামবাচক শব্দ
Alt: A word that names a person, place, thing, quality, or idea
Example: A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.
Syn: name-wordAnt: unnamed expression
💡 Exam tip: Remember that a noun is a naming word.
proper noun[/ˈprɒpə naʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিশেষ্য নাম
Alt: The particular name of a person, place, or thing
Example: Dhaka is a proper noun.
Syn: specific nameAnt: common noun
💡 Exam tip: A proper noun usually begins with a capital letter.
common noun[/ˈkɒmən naʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: জাতিবাচক বিশেষ্য
Alt: A general name for a person, place, or thing of the same class
Example: City is a common noun, but Dhaka is a proper noun.
Syn: general nameAnt: proper noun
💡 Exam tip: It refers to a class or kind, not to a particular member.
collective noun[/kəˈlektɪv naʊn/]nounmedium
Meaning: সমষ্টিবাচক বিশেষ্য
Alt: A noun naming a group of people, animals, or things
Example: A team is a collective noun for a group of players.
Syn: group nounAnt: individual noun
💡 Exam tip: Government, committee, army, and team are common examples.
material noun[/məˈtɪəriəl naʊn/]nounmedium
Meaning: বস্তুবাচক বিশেষ্য
Alt: A name of a substance or material that is generally uncountable
Example: Gold is a valuable material noun.
Syn: mass noun, substance nameAnt: abstract noun
💡 Exam tip: Material nouns usually cannot be counted directly.
abstract noun[/ˈæbstrækt naʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: ভাববাচক বিশেষ্য
Alt: A noun naming a quality, state, feeling, or idea
Example: Honesty is an abstract noun.
Syn: idea nounAnt: concrete noun
💡 Exam tip: It has no material shape, size, or form.
quality[/ˈkwɒləti/]nouneasy
Meaning: গুণ
Alt: A characteristic or feature of a person or thing
Example: Kindness is a good quality.
Syn: attribute, featureAnt: defect
💡 Exam tip: Quality is often used to explain an abstract noun.
concept[/ˈkɒnsept/]nounmedium
Meaning: ধারণা
Alt: An abstract idea or general notion
Example: Justice is an important social concept.
Syn: idea, notionAnt: object
💡 Exam tip: Concepts are generally abstract rather than physical.
2. Number and Plurals (8 words)
number[/ˈnʌmbə/]nouneasy
Meaning: বচন
Alt: A grammatical distinction showing whether a noun is singular or plural
Example: Number may be singular or plural.
Syn: grammatical numberAnt: ไม่ applicable
💡 Exam tip: English has two numbers: singular and plural.
singular[/ˈsɪŋɡjələ/]adjeasy
Meaning: একবচন
Alt: Denoting one person, thing, or idea
Example: The word child is singular.
Syn: oneAnt: plural
💡 Exam tip: A singular subject generally takes a singular verb.
plural[/ˈplʊərəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: বহুবচন
Alt: Denoting more than one person, thing, or idea
Example: The word children is plural.
Syn: more than oneAnt: singular
💡 Exam tip: Check both the plural noun and the verb agreement.
ending[/ˈendɪŋ/]nouneasy
Meaning: শেষাংশ
Alt: The final part or letters of a word
Example: The ending of bus is changed when its plural is formed.
Syn: final part, suffixAnt: beginning
💡 Exam tip: Plural rules often depend on the ending of the singular noun.
consonant[/ˈkɒnsənənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: ব্যঞ্জনবর্ণ
Alt: A speech sound or letter that is not a vowel
Example: Baby ends in a consonant followed by y.
Syn: consonant letterAnt: vowel
💡 Exam tip: Consonant plus y usually changes y to ies in the plural.
compound[/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/]adjmedium
Meaning: যৌগিক
Alt: Made of two or more words or parts
Example: Father-in-law is a compound noun.
Syn: combined, complexAnt: simple
💡 Exam tip: In many compound nouns, the main word takes the plural ending.
internal[/ɪnˈtɜːnəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অভ্যন্তরীণ
Alt: Situated inside or occurring within something
Example: Foot forms its plural through an internal vowel change.
Syn: innerAnt: external
💡 Exam tip: Foot-feet and man-men show internal vowel changes.
irregular[/ɪˈreɡjʊlə/]adjeasy
Meaning: অনিয়মিত
Alt: Not following the usual rule or pattern
Example: Children is an irregular plural form.
Syn: unusual, exceptionalAnt: regular
💡 Exam tip: Memorise common irregular plurals such as men, women, feet, and teeth.
3. Gender (8 words)
gender[/ˈdʒendə/]nouneasy
Meaning: লিঙ্গ
Alt: A grammatical distinction related to male, female, or non-living things
Example: English nouns have four genders.
Syn: grammatical sexAnt: gender-neutrality
💡 Exam tip: The four genders are masculine, feminine, common, and neuter.
masculine[/ˈmæskjʊlɪn/]adjeasy
Meaning: পুংলিঙ্গ
Alt: Referring to a male person or animal
Example: Brother is a masculine noun.
Syn: maleAnt: feminine
💡 Exam tip: Man, uncle, and king are masculine examples.
feminine[/ˈfemənɪn/]adjeasy
Meaning: স্ত্রীলিঙ্গ
Alt: Referring to a female person or animal
Example: Sister is a feminine noun.
Syn: femaleAnt: masculine
💡 Exam tip: Woman, aunt, and queen are feminine examples.
common gender[/ˈkɒmən ˈdʒendə/]nounmedium
Meaning: উভয়লিঙ্গ
Alt: A gender referring to either a male or a female
Example: Teacher is a common-gender noun.
Syn: dual genderAnt: neuter gender
💡 Exam tip: Student, doctor, guest, and professor may refer to either sex.
neuter[/ˈnjuːtə/]adjeasy
Meaning: ক্লীবলিঙ্গ
Alt: Referring to something that is neither male nor female
Example: Table is a neuter noun.
Syn: non-livingAnt: masculine, feminine
💡 Exam tip: Names of non-living things are generally neuter.
spouse[/spaʊs/]nounmedium
Meaning: স্বামী বা স্ত্রী
Alt: A husband or wife
Example: The teachers and their spouses attended the party.
Syn: partner, husband or wifeAnt: single person
💡 Exam tip: Spouse is generally a common-gender noun.
hostess[/ˈhəʊstəs/]nouneasy
Meaning: আতিথেয়তাকারী নারী
Alt: A female host
Example: The hostess welcomed the guests.
Syn: female hostAnt: host
💡 Exam tip: Some feminine forms are made by adding ess.
goddess[/ˈɡɒdes/]nouneasy
Meaning: দেবী
Alt: A female god
Example: The goddess was worshipped by the people.
Syn: female deityAnt: god
💡 Exam tip: God and goddess are masculine and feminine pairs.
4. Possessive Case (8 words)
possessive[/pəˈzesɪv/]adjeasy
Meaning: অধিকারসূচক
Alt: Showing ownership, relationship, or association
Example: Rahim's book is a possessive construction.
Syn: belonging, ownership-relatedAnt: non-possessive
💡 Exam tip: The possessive case usually indicates ownership or relationship.
ownership[/ˈəʊnəʃɪp/]nouneasy
Meaning: মালিকানা
Alt: The state of possessing something
Example: The apostrophe shows ownership in Salma's bag.
Syn: possession, proprietorshipAnt: dispossession
💡 Exam tip: Use noun plus apostrophe and s for most singular possessives.
apostrophe[/əˈpɒstrəfi/]nouneasy
Meaning: অপসারণ চিহ্ন
Alt: The mark used in possessives and contractions
Example: An apostrophe is used in girl's book.
Syn: punctuation markAnt: ไม่มี
💡 Exam tip: Plural nouns ending in s generally take only an apostrophe.
singular possessive[/ˈsɪŋɡjʊlə pəˈzesɪv/]nounmedium
Meaning: একবচন অধিকারসূচক রূপ
Alt: The possessive form of a singular noun
Example: The singular possessive form of boy is boy's.
Syn: singular genitiveAnt: plural possessive
💡 Exam tip: Add 's: girl's, teacher's, and Bangladesh's.
plural possessive[/ˈplʊərəl pəˈzesɪv/]nounmedium
Meaning: বহুবচন অধিকারসূচক রূপ
Alt: The possessive form of a plural noun
Example: Girls' school is a plural possessive phrase.
Syn: plural genitiveAnt: singular possessive
💡 Exam tip: Plural nouns ending in s take only an apostrophe: students'.
relationship[/rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/]nouneasy
Meaning: সম্পর্ক
Alt: A connection between two people or things
Example: The possessive may show family relationship.
Syn: connection, associationAnt: separation
💡 Exam tip: Father's brother can indicate relationship, not ownership.
conscience[/ˈkɒnʃəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: বিবেক
Alt: The inner sense of right and wrong
Example: He acted according to his conscience.
Syn: moral senseAnt: immorality
💡 Exam tip: The fixed expression is for conscience' sake.
worth[/wɜːθ/]nounmedium
Meaning: মূল্য
Alt: The value or importance of something
Example: This book is worth a day's labour.
Syn: value, meritAnt: worthlessness
💡 Exam tip: Learn fixed possessive expressions such as money's worth.
5. Nouns in Apposition (8 words)
apposition[/ˌæpəˈzɪʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: সমাপেক্ষা
Alt: A grammatical arrangement in which two nouns referring to the same person or thing stand together
Example: Rahman, our Headmaster, is in apposition.
Syn: juxtapositionAnt: separation
💡 Exam tip: The appositive usually gives another name or explanation.
appositive[/əˈpɒzətɪv/]nounhard
Meaning: সমাপেক্ষক বিশেষ্য
Alt: A noun or phrase placed beside another noun to identify or explain it
Example: Our Headmaster is the appositive of Mr. Rahman.
Syn: explanatory nounAnt: unrelated noun
💡 Exam tip: The two expressions refer to the same person or thing.
refer[/rɪˈfɜː/]verbeasy
Meaning: নির্দেশ করা
Alt: To mention or point to someone or something
Example: Both nouns refer to the same person.
Syn: denote, indicateAnt: ignore
💡 Exam tip: In apposition, both nouns refer to the same entity.
identify[/aɪˈdentɪfaɪ/]verbeasy
Meaning: শনাক্ত করা
Alt: To recognise or name someone or something
Example: The phrase our class teacher identifies Mr. Rafiq.
Syn: recognise, nameAnt: misidentify
💡 Exam tip: Identify the second noun that explains the first noun.
headmaster[/ˌhedˈmɑːstə/]nouneasy
Meaning: প্রধান শিক্ষক
Alt: The male head of a school
Example: Mr. Rahman, our Headmaster, addressed the students.
Syn: school principalAnt: student
💡 Exam tip: In the sentence, our Headmaster is an appositive.
adviser[/ədˈvaɪzə/]nouneasy
Meaning: পরামর্শদাতা
Alt: A person who gives advice or guidance
Example: Mr. Rafiq is our chief adviser.
Syn: counsellor, consultantAnt: follower
💡 Exam tip: Chief adviser can be placed in apposition after a person's name.
editor[/ˈedɪtə/]nounmedium
Meaning: সম্পাদক
Alt: A person who prepares written material for publication
Example: Kazal will be the chief editor of the magazine.
Syn: publisher, reviserAnt: reader
💡 Exam tip: The first boy of our class explains who Kazal is.
magazine[/ˌmæɡəˈziːn/]nouneasy
Meaning: সাময়িকী
Alt: A periodical publication containing articles and stories
Example: The students are going to publish a magazine.
Syn: periodical, journalAnt: manuscript
💡 Exam tip: Magazine is a common noun and may be the object of publish.
6. Pronouns and Possessives (8 words)
pronoun[/ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: সর্বনাম
Alt: A word used instead of a noun
Example: She is a pronoun used instead of a girl's name.
Syn: noun substituteAnt: noun
💡 Exam tip: Pronouns prevent unnecessary repetition of nouns.
subject pronoun[/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: কর্তৃকারক সর্বনাম
Alt: A pronoun used as the subject of a verb
Example: She lives near my place.
Syn: nominative pronounAnt: object pronoun
💡 Exam tip: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they are subject pronouns.
object pronoun[/ˈɒbdʒɪkt ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: কর্মকারক সর্বনাম
Alt: A pronoun used as the object of a verb or preposition
Example: I know her.
Syn: accusative pronounAnt: subject pronoun
💡 Exam tip: Me, him, her, us, and them are common object pronouns.
possessive adjective[/pəˈzesɪv ˈædʒɪktɪv/]nounmedium
Meaning: অধিকারসূচক বিশেষণ
Alt: A word showing possession and modifying a noun
Example: This is my bag.
Syn: possessive determinerAnt: demonstrative adjective
💡 Exam tip: Possessive adjectives must be followed by a noun: my book.
possessive pronoun[/pəˈzesɪv ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nounmedium
Meaning: অধিকারসূচক সর্বনাম
Alt: A pronoun showing possession without being followed by a noun
Example: This bag is mine.
Syn: genitive pronounAnt: personal pronoun
💡 Exam tip: Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs stand independently.
reflexive pronoun[/rɪˈfleksɪv ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nounmedium
Meaning: আত্মবাচক সর্বনাম
Alt: A pronoun referring back to the subject
Example: She hurt herself.
Syn: self-pronounAnt: non-reflexive pronoun
💡 Exam tip: Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, and themselves are reflexive pronouns.
determiner[/dɪˈtɜːmɪnə/]nounhard
Meaning: নির্ধারক
Alt: A word that specifies or limits a noun
Example: My and our are determiners in the passage.
Syn: specifierAnt: modifier-free word
💡 Exam tip: Determiners often come before nouns and show number or possession.
agreement[/əˈɡriːmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: সামঞ্জস্য
Alt: The grammatical matching of related words
Example: Subject-verb agreement is necessary in every sentence.
Syn: concord, harmonyAnt: disagreement
💡 Exam tip: A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
💡 Exam Tips
• Begin every proper noun with a capital letter.
• Distinguish a proper noun from a common noun by asking whether it names a particular person, place, or thing.
• Remember that collective nouns may take singular or plural verbs according to whether the group is viewed as one unit or as separate members.
• Do not use a or an before uncountable material nouns such as gold, milk, sugar, and oil.
• Abstract nouns name qualities, states, feelings, or ideas and cannot be touched or counted.
• Check subject-verb agreement carefully after singular and plural nouns.
• In possessive constructions, use apostrophe plus s for singular nouns and irregular plural nouns.
• In an appositive construction, both nouns refer to the same person or thing and are often separated by commas.
• Use subject pronouns before verbs and object pronouns after verbs or prepositions.
• Do not confuse possessive adjectives with possessive pronouns: my book but the book is mine.
• Revise irregular plurals such as child-children, woman-women, mouse-mice, goose-geese, tooth-teeth, and louse-lice.
• In gender questions, classify nouns as masculine, feminine, common, or neuter.