What kind of noun is the underlined word in the following sentence?
The soles of my new school shoes are made of thick rubber, so they do not slip on the wet corridor.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Material noun
Material noun:
- A material noun names a substance that things are made of. We usually cannot count it.
- “Rubber” is the substance the soles are made of. It is the stuff, not the shoes or the soles.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Common noun — Incorrect. A common noun names any one of a kind of person or thing that we can count (a shoe, a sole). “Rubber” here is the substance, not one thing. Example: I lost one shoe at the swimming pool.
Option 2: Abstract noun — Incorrect. An abstract noun names a quality, feeling or idea that we cannot touch. Rubber can be touched. Example: The old cobbler works with great skill.
Option 4: Proper noun — Incorrect. A proper noun is the name of one particular person or place and starts with a capital letter. “Rubber” is not the name of any one person or place. Example: We bought these shoes at a shop in Jaipur.