Identify common and proper nouns

key notes :

Definition of Nouns

  • Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas.

Common Nouns

  • Definition: Common nouns name general items, people, or places.
  • Examples:
    • People: teacher, student, doctor
    • Places: school, park, city
    • Things: book, dog, car
    • Ideas: love, happiness, freedom
  • Usage: Common nouns are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.

Proper Nouns

  • Definition: Proper nouns name specific people, places, or organizations and always start with a capital letter.
  • Examples:
    • People: Mr. Smith, Mary, Barack Obama
    • Places: New York, London, Mount Everest
    • Things: the Eiffel Tower, McDonald’s
    • Organizations: NASA, United Nations
  • Usage: Proper nouns are always capitalized.

Identifying Common vs. Proper Nouns

  • Common Nouns: Look for general names; they don’t refer to a specific person or place.
    • Example: “city” (general), “dog” (general)
  • Proper Nouns: Look for specific names; they refer to one unique item, person, or place.
    • Example: “Paris” (specific city), “Rover” (specific dog’s name)

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