English Grammar 101: Nouns
A noun is a word used to describe a person, place, thing, event, idea, and so on. Nouns represent one of the main elements of sentences, along with verbs, adjectives, prepositions and articles.
Nouns usually function as subjects or objects within sentences, although they can also act as adjectives and adverbs.
Here is a list with the different types of nouns:
1. Proper nouns
Used to describe a unique person or thing, proper nouns always start with a capital letter. Examples include Mary, India, and Manchester United.
2. Common nouns
Common nouns are used to describe persons or things in general. Examples include girl, country, and team
3. Concrete nouns
Nouns that can be perceived through the five senses are called concrete nouns. Examples include ball, rainbow and melody.
4. Abstract nouns
Nouns that cannot be perceived through the five senses are called abstract nouns. Examples include love, courage, and childhood.
5. Countable nouns
Countable nouns can be counted. They also have both a singular and a plural form. Examples include toys, children and books.
6. Non-countable nouns
These nouns (usually) can not be counted, and they don’t have a plural form. Examples include sympathy, laughter and oxygen.
7. Collective nouns
Collective nouns are used to describe groups of things. Examples include flock, committee and murder.
Daniel Scocco on November 20, 2007 
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Although it is sometimes given a plural, the noun “fruit” is more often uncountable:
I’m going to market to buy fruit. the fruit of this tree is small and purple.
The poetic expression “fruits of the earth” is the only one I can think of off hand that makes the word plural.
Good point Maeve, I replaced it with a more appropriate example.
“A noun is a word used to describe a person, place, thing, event, idea, and so on.”
The word “describe” makes me think that the definition above is for adjectives, not nouns. Maybe it should be:
“A noun is a word that names a person, …”
Also, many of your statements have exceptions. Like “proper nouns always start with a capital letter”. There’s “iPod” and the “metric system” for starters.
In the Non-countable nouns, for example, while using oxygen you can say lots of oxygen. So is the verb used with the noun, plural or singular.
Can you please clafify the appropriate usage of affect and effect?
Thank you.