Material Nouns :
This Noun denotes the matter or substance of which things are made.
Thus sheep is a Common Noun. But mutton (or the flesh of sheep) is a Noun of this type.
The same word can be a Noun of this type or a Common Noun according to the context.
Fish live in water.
Fish is good for food.
In the first sentence the Noun denotes individual fish or fishes and is therefore a Common Noun.
In the second it denotes the matter of which the bodies of fish are made and is therefore a Material Noun.
Nouns of this type are the raw elements or objects which are there in nature.
1. Brass
2. Calcium
3. Cotton
4. Diamond
5. Fiber
6. Gold
7. Iron
8. Marble
9. Plastic
Few sentences with this type of noun :
1. Water stored in utensils made of brass of good for health.
2. Calcium-tablets should be taken to strengthen our bones.
3. Cotton-clothes should be used during summer.
4. Diamond is not only costly, but also not necessary.
5. Fiber-rich eatables are available in the market.
6. Indians are so of gold that they buy gold-ornaments quite often.
7. An Iron-smith is having his shop at the cornet of this street.
8. We used marbles for our floorings.
9. Plastic-things have to be avoided in the future.
10. His building is full of marbles.
These nouns do not take plural forms. They can take only singular forms and singular verbs. And they are uncountable nouns. They can be measured or weighed.
Some examples of these nouns from nature :
1. Air
2. Coal
3. Copper
4. Gold
5. Iron
6. Rock
7. Sand
8. Silver
9. Water
Some examples of these nouns from plants :
1. Coffee
2. Food
3. Fruits
4. Oil
5. Rubber
6. Tea
Some examples of these nouns from animals :
1. Egg
2. Honey
3. Leather
4. Meat
5. Milk
6. Wool
Some examples of these nouns which are man-made :
1. Acid
2. Alcohol
3. Brick
4. Butter
5. Cement
6. Cheese
7. Cloth
8. Medicine
You should not use the numeral adjectives (one, two, three, four, many, few, a few, etc.) before a noun of this type.
Two gold have been stolen. (Incorrect sentence)
Two ornaments of gold have been stolen. (Correct sentence)
Do not use articles (a, an, the) before the nouns of this type.
Could you give me a paper to write your mobile number? (Incorrect sentence)
Could you give me paper to write your mobile number? (Correct sentence)
Could you give me a piece of paper to write your mobile number? (Correct sentence)
Do not use 's' or 'es' after the nouns of this type. These nouns do not take plural forms.
These note-books are made of papers. (Incorrect sentence)
These note-books are made of paper. (Correct sentence)
RELATED PAGES :
- The Noun
- Kinds of Nouns
- Kinds of Nouns in English
- Types of Nouns in English
- Correct Usage of Nouns
- Classification of Nouns
- Proper Nouns
- Common Nouns
- Abstract Nouns
- Collective Nouns
- Nouns of Multitude
- Material Nouns
- Compound Nouns
- Concrete Nouns
- Countable Nouns
- Uncountable Nouns
- Count Nouns
- Mass Nouns
- Pronouns
- Abstract Nouns formed from Adjectives
- Abstract Nouns formed from Common Nouns
- Abstract Nouns formed from Verbs
- Abstract Nouns of the same form as Verbs
- Absolute Phrases
- Noun and Gender
- Nouns and Gender
- Masculine Nouns and Feminine Nouns
- Masculine Nouns
- Feminine Nouns
- Ways of forming the feminine of nouns
- Exceptional Masculine Nouns and Feminine Nouns
- Exceptional Feminine Nouns
- Foreign Feminine Nouns
- Nouns in Common Gender
- Common Gender Nouns
- Neuter Pronouns
- Neuter Gender Nouns
- Gender of Personified Things
- Noun and Case
- Kinds of Cases in English
- Noun and Number
- Singular and Plural
- Singular Nouns and Plural Nouns
- Ways of forming plurals
- Formation of Plurals
- Compound Nouns and Plurals
- Noun Infinitive
- Noun to Verb
- The Noun
Material Nouns :
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