What is a noun?

A noun is fundamentally a word that identifies or names a person, place, thing, or idea. This definition encompasses a wide variety of nouns, which can be tangible, like "apple" or "city," or intangible, such as "freedom" or "happiness." Nouns serve as the subject or object in a sentence, making them essential for communication and language structure. For instance, in the sentence "The dog barks," "dog" is a noun that indicates the subject performing the action.

In contrast, other options refer to different parts of speech. Words that describe actions are known as verbs, while words that modify verbs are adjectives or adverbs, not nouns. Additionally, pronouns are words that take the place of nouns, but they are a separate category altogether, distinct from nouns themselves. This understanding clarifies the role and significance of nouns in grammar and sentence construction.