Nouns: A Comprehensive Guide to Common and Proper Nouns.
Common Nouns and Proper Nouns are two types of nouns that help us understand and communicate about people, places, things, and ideas.
Common Nouns:
Common nouns are general names for people, places, things, or ideas. They do not refer to a specific person, place, or thing. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
Examples of common nouns:
- girl
- city
- book
- animal
Proper Nouns:
Proper nouns are specific names for particular people, places, things, or ideas. They always begin with a capital letter, regardless of their position in a sentence.
Examples of proper nouns:
- Sarah
- New York City
- Harry Potter
- Amazon River
Differences:
The key difference between common nouns and proper nouns is specificity. Common nouns are general and do not refer to a particular entity, while proper nouns are specific and point to a unique individual, place, or thing.
Also Read: 12 English Tenses Definitions, Formulas, and Examples
Identifying Common Nouns and Proper Nouns:
- Look for words that are specific names. Proper nouns will always be capitalized.
- If the word refers to a general category and does not point to a particular entity, it is likely a common noun.
30 questions to help students practice identifying common nouns and proper nouns in sentences:
Q1. What is the common noun in the sentence:
“The cat sat on the windowsill”?
Ans: Common noun: cat
Q2. Identify the proper noun in:
“John and Mary went to the store.”
Ans: Proper noun: John and Mary
Q3. Find the common noun in:
“I bought a new bicycle.”
Ans: Common noun: bicycle
Q4. Who is the proper noun in:
“The president addressed the nation”?
Ans: Proper noun: president
Q5. What is the common noun in:
“The sun sets in the evening”?
Ans: Common noun: sun
Q6. Identify the proper noun in:
“My favorite book is ‘Alice in Wonderland.'”
Ans: Proper noun: “Alice in Wonderland”
Q7. Find the common noun in:
“Dolphins are intelligent mammals.”
Ans: Common noun: Dolphins
Q8. Who is the proper noun in:
“We visited the Grand Canyon last summer”?
Ans: Proper noun: Grand Canyon
Q9. What is the common noun in:
“The teacher praised the students.”
Ans: Common noun: teacher
Q10. Identify the proper noun in:
“Our school is named after Martin Luther King Jr.”
Ans: Proper noun: Martin Luther King Jr.
Find the common noun in:
“I love eating ice cream.”
Ans: Common noun: ice cream
Who is the proper noun in:
“The doctor examined Emily’s throat”?
Ans: Proper noun: Emily
What is the common noun in:
“The car stopped at the traffic light”?
Ans: Common noun: car
Identify the proper noun in:
“Harry and Hermione went to Hogwarts
Ans: Proper noun: Harry and Hermione
Find the common noun in:
“The tree provided shade in the park.”
Ans: Common noun: tree
Who is the proper noun in:
“The nurse took care of baby Sophia”?
Ans: Proper noun: Sophia
What is the common noun in:
“We saw a rainbow after the rain.”
Ans: Common noun: rainbow
Identify the proper noun in:
“The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.”
Ans: Proper noun: Eiffel Tower
Find the common noun in:
“Birds sing in the morning.”
Ans: Common noun: birds
Who is the proper noun in:
“Santa Claus delivers gifts on Christmas Eve”?
Ans: Proper noun: Santa Claus
Also Read: 40 Homophones -Kids Should Know in Grade 1 and Grade 2
What is the common noun in:
“The computer helps us with our work.”
Ans: Common noun: computer
Identify the proper noun in:
“My friend Sarah is coming over.”
Ans: Proper noun: Sarah
Find the common noun in:
“The river flows through the mountains.”
Ans: Common noun: river
Who is the proper noun in:
“The police officer helped Mrs. Johnson”?
Ans: Proper noun: Mrs. Johnson
What is the common noun in:
“The movie was entertaining.”
Ans: Common noun: movie
Identify the proper noun in:
“We celebrated Uncle Tom’s birthday.”
Ans: Proper noun: Uncle Tom
Find the common noun in:
“The flowers bloom in spring.”
Ans: Common noun: flowers
Who is the proper noun in:
“The astronaut landed on the moon”?
Ans: Proper noun: astronaut
What is the common noun in:
“I enjoy eating pizza.”
Ans: Common noun: pizza
Identify the proper noun in:
“The school play starred Emma and Ethan.”
Ans: Proper noun: Emma and Ethan
These questions will help students practice recognizing common and proper nouns.