homework is a common noun or proper noun

Common and Proper Nouns: Definition, Examples, & Exercises

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Do you get confused about the difference between a common noun and a proper noun? Would practice help you become a master? 

Read on to learn about the difference between common and proper nouns, how they are used, and when to use them. 

When you feel like you’ve got it, test yourself with a quiz and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here . 

What We Review

The Basics of Common and Proper Nouns

What is a common noun?

A common noun is the general, non-specific term for a person, place, thing, or idea. Usually, common nouns are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. 

For example, as you work on your homework, think about the things you are using. You might be using a computer, a textbook, or a pencil. All of these are generic items that we encounter on a regular basis and are common nouns . 

What is a proper noun?

A proper noun is a specific, unique person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, proper nouns are almost always capitalized . This is true whether they begin a sentence or not. 

Let’s consider the same example from above, but instead, now we will be more specific about the resources necessary to complete your homework. 

As you work, you may be using a Pearson Algebra 1 textbook, a Google Chromebook, and a Ticonderoga pencil. You are better able to visualize this scenario if proper nouns are provided since they are more specific and unique. 

What is the relationship between common and proper nouns? 

Common and proper nouns are closely related. The most straightforward way of understanding the relationship between common and proper nouns is to think about proper nouns as specific examples of common nouns. 

For example, the word building is a common noun. Examples of buildings include The White House, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Memorial Hall at Harvard University. 

These examples are all proper nouns since they are specific, unique examples of the common noun building . Generally, we can more vividly picture or understand a text when the author uses examples of proper nouns since there is less room for interpretation. 

How do you use common and proper nouns? 

Common and proper nouns can be used in relation to each other or separately. Typically, authors use common nouns when they are describing something broad or ambiguous. 

Proper nouns are used to describe a person, place, thing, or idea that is specific and concrete. Common and proper nouns are often used together in sentences. 

Take the following sentence as an example: The doctor worked long hours at Memorial Hospital to help contain the spread of the common cold. 

In this sentence, we see examples of common nouns, such as doctor, hours, and common cold. Additionally, the sentence has an example of a proper noun– Memorial Hospital. 

If the sentence were not to name the hospital specifically, then it would have remained a common noun (hospital). 

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3 Tips for Understanding Common vs. Proper Nouns

Here are some important tips to help you determine the difference between common and proper nouns:

Tip #1: If it’s a noun and it’s capitalized, then it’s probably a proper noun . 

• For example, book is a generic common noun. 
• The Scarlet Letter is a specific book and, as a result, is a proper noun. 
• For example, Lampshades come in many different colors, varieties, and shapes . Even though lampshades is capitalized in this sentence, it is not a specific brand or size of lampshade. 
• Lampshade is capitalized because it begins the sentence, not because it is a proper noun. 

Tip #2: Make sure it’s a noun. 

• Do not rely solely on the capitalization of words to determine whether or not the word (or words) in question is a common or proper noun. 
• For example, consider the following sentence: It can be difficult for young people to read complicated, Shakespearian language. At first glance, you may quickly classify Shakespearian as a proper noun. Upon further inspection, however, Shakespearian merely describes the common noun language . 
• Therefore, in this instance, Shakespearian is NOT a proper noun even though it is capitalized. Instead, it is a proper adjective. 

Tip #3: When writing, ask yourself, “what message am I trying to communicate?”

• If you are using common and proper nouns in your own writing, it is important to consider what it is that you want the reader to take away from your writing. 
• If you are trying to paint a clear, vivid picture for the reader, then it is important to use more proper nouns. 
• However, if you are attempting to create a more general, vague scene, then using more common nouns is appropriate. 

Remember, if you are trying to figure out whether a word is a common or proper noun, ask yourself if the word in question is a noun and whether or not it’s capitalized. 

If you are writing, ask yourself what message you are trying to communicate before using common or proper nouns. 

Applying the Basics: Common and Proper Noun Review & Practice

Now that you understand what common and proper nouns are, let’s review how and when to use them, and how to tell them apart! Remember, every proper noun has a common noun counterpart, but not every common noun has a related proper noun. 

The Ultimate List of Common and Proper Nouns

Refer to the graphic below for an extensive list of example common and proper nouns:

This list, obviously, does not include all common and proper nouns and is meant to be used as a guide while identifying other nouns. 

Common Noun Exercises & Review

Now that you know the difference between common and proper nouns, test your ability to accurately identify common nouns. 

Select the common noun(s) in the sentences below. Remember, these are generic items that we encounter on a regular basis. They are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence.

1. You’ve probably used Google Earth to look at the roof of your own house.

• In this sentence, roof and house are both common nouns because they are not specific names or titles. They are just general, making them common nouns.

2. In New York City, for example, subways chug along 500 miles of underground track. 

• In this sentence , example, subways, miles, and track are common nouns because they are not specific names or titles. They are just general, making them common nouns.

3. Some people argue that the government should control what goes on underground, and private companies should not be able to profit from the land beneath your house.

• In this sentence , people, government, underground, companies, land , and house are all common nouns because they are not specific names or titles. They are just general, making them common nouns.

4. How would you feel about a public road going under your porch?

• In this sentence, road and porch are common nouns because they are not specific names or titles. They are just general, making them common nouns.

5. The way we answer these questions will help determine how our society grows and changes in the future.  

• In this sentence, way, questions, society , and future are all common nouns because they are not specific names or titles. They are just general, making them common nouns.

Pro tip : When evaluating whether a noun is common, ask yourself, “Is it general, and is it in lower case?”

Proper Noun Exercises & Review

Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of proper nouns. 

Select the proper noun(s) in the sentences below. Remember, a proper noun is a specific, unique person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, proper nouns are almost always capitalized . This is true whether they begin a sentence or not. 

1. In 1890, long before your great-grandparents were born, the U.S. Congress established Yosemite National Park.

In this sentence, U.S Congress and Yosemite National Park are proper nouns because they are specific names or titles. When a noun is specific like this, it is proper and must be capitalized.

2. Before becoming a national park, the Yosemite area was home to the Ahwahneechee and Miwok people for many generations.

In this sentence, Yosemite, Ahwahneechee, and Miwok are proper nouns because they are specific names or titles. When a noun is specific like this, it is proper and must be capitalized.

3. Disney’s “Pocahontas” has a similar happy tone, but the actual life of Pocahontas was more interesting than what we saw on screen.

In this sentence, Disney’s and Pocahontas are proper nouns because they are specific names or titles. When a noun is specific like this, it is proper and must be capitalized.

4. Pocahontas was born around 1595 in modern-day Virginia.

In this sentence, Pocahontas and Virginia are proper nouns because they are specific names or titles. When a noun is specific like this, it is proper and must be capitalized.

5. Heralded as an example of the possibilities in the “New World”, Pocahontas and John Rolfe traveled to England with their son in 1616.

In this sentence, New World, Pocahontas, John Rolfe, and England are all proper nouns because they are specific names or titles. When a noun is specific like this, it is proper and must be capitalized.

Pro tip : When evaluating whether a noun is proper, ask yourself, “Is it specific, and is it capitalized?”

For additional practice, check out Common and Proper Nouns content on Albert.

Try for Yourself: Common and Proper Nouns Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of common and proper nouns? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Is a common noun general or specific?

• Answer: General
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A common noun is the general, non-specific term for a person, place, thing, or idea. Usually, common nouns are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a common noun is the general, non-specific term for a person, place, thing, or idea. Usually, common nouns are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. 

2. Is a proper noun general or specific?

• Answer: Specific
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A proper noun is a specific, unique person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, proper nouns are almost always capitalized .
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a proper noun is a specific, unique person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, proper nouns are almost always capitalized .

3. In this sentence, are the underlined words common or proper nouns ?

Adolescent brains are constantly rewiring and retraining to prune skills that are not being used to make room for the skills being used often. 

• Answer: Common
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A common noun is the general, non-specific term for a person, place, thing, or idea. Usually, common nouns are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Brains, skills, room, and skills are not capitalized in this example.

4. In this sentence, are the underlined words common or proper nouns ?

We enter our REM stage within the first 90 minutes of sleep and repeat this cycle several times throughout the night.

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A common noun is the general, non-specific term for a person, place, thing, or idea. Usually, common nouns are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. In this example, stage, sleep, repeat, times, and night are all general common nouns.

5. In this sentence, are the underlined words common or proper nouns ?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, plastic litter is of the greatest concern as it has the most widespread and harmful impacts on animal populations.

• Answer: Proper
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A proper noun is a specific, unique person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, proper nouns are almost always capitalized . In this example, the Environmental Protection Agency refers to a specific government entity.

6. In this sentence, are the underlined words common or proper nouns ?

What does NASA’s space program cost each of the 328 million people that currently live in the USA?

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A proper noun is a specific, unique person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, proper nouns are almost always capitalized . In this example, NASA and USA refer to a specific organization and nation.

For additional practice with common and proper nouns, check out our practice on Albert.io: Common and Proper Nouns .

Teacher’s Corner

While it’s true that common and proper nouns are a foundational grammar skill, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that even elementary-level skills “require continued attention in higher grades as they are applied to increasingly sophisticated writing and speaking.” 

For specific standards addressing common and proper nouns, check out the Common Core State Standards site! 

Albert’s common and proper nouns practice can be used for much more than homework! Our assessments can be used as pre-and post-tests to measure student progress. Our pre-made quizzes can be used as bell-ringers, exit tickets, and more! 

In addition to our pre-made assessments, you can also use our assignments feature to create your own quizzes and assessments.

Summary on Common and Proper Nouns

Common nouns are general, non-specific people, places, things, or ideas. 

Proper nouns are specific, concrete people, places, things, and ideas.

In writing, proper nouns generally provide the reader with a more clear, tangible image of what the author describes. 

Common and proper nouns can be used in tandem with one another or separately. Be sure to check out our grammar course for more common and proper noun practice. 

You can also access over 3,400 high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept. 

Need help preparing for your Grammar exam?

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Common and Proper Nouns: What's the difference?

What to Know A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing. Some proper nouns are: Noah Webster , North America , and The Statue of Liberty . A common noun refers to a person, place, or thing (also to a quality, idea, or action), but it doesn’t name it. Some common nouns are: writer , continent , and statue . Proper nouns are always capitalized.

What’s a noun?

Nouns are words that refer to a person, place, or thing, as well as to a quality, idea, or action. They can be made up of multiple words.

Proper Nouns vs. Common Nouns

Proper nouns are nouns that actually name one of the things a noun refers to. Because they name, they’re always capitalized:

Noah Webster Aunt Betty Harry the Dog Chicago Africa Jupiter Lake Erie National Public Radio

Proper nouns that name a place or thing are often preceded by the , which does not get capitalized:

the Atlantic Ocean the U.S. Constitution

Common nouns are all the other nouns:

dictionaries family members dogs city bodies of water radio comfort justice

Distinguishing Between Proper and Common Nouns

Sometimes a common noun refers to a particular person, place, or thing, but does not actually name it.

Common Nouns

the president of the college the people who helped us the other day the highest peak on that continent my favorite dictionary publisher

Proper Nouns

President Jones Jack and Jill Denali Merriam-Webster

Can a noun be both?

Some nouns can function as both common and proper nouns. For example:

seeds planted in the warm brown earth on one of Earth’s farms the former mayor will introduce Mayor Smith the lakes of the region including Lake Erie

What's up with seasons?

The days of the week and the months of the year are considered proper nouns and are therefore capitalized:

Sunday July

The seasons are considered common nouns and are therefore not capitalized unless they are in a title, as in the name of an event:

summer travels the school’s annual Spring Fling

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Understanding Common And Proper Nouns

• Common Vs. Proper Nouns
• Common Nouns
• Proper Nouns
• How To Use Them
• Try Grammar Coach!

A noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. We use nouns to refer to general things like friends or pizza and specific things like Leonardo Da Vinci or Canada. We use a lot of different nouns like these to describe everything around us, but all of the nouns we use can be separated into just two different types: common nouns and proper nouns .

Common noun vs. proper noun

The difference between a common noun and a proper noun is what type of thing they are referring to. Common nouns refer to generic things while proper nouns refer to specific things. For example, the noun country is a common noun because it refers to a general, non-specific place. On the other hand, the noun Spain is a proper noun because it refers to a specific country located in Europe (another proper noun). Grammatically, there is one main difference between common and proper nouns: proper nouns are always capitalized whereas common nouns are only capitalized in very specific situations.

Common nouns

As has been said, common nouns refer to generic people, places, and things. You’ll more easily understand what we mean by this with some examples.

Examples of common nouns

Common nouns can refer to people, places, things, and ideas.

• People: man, woman, child, cop, criminal, butcher, baker, neighbor, friend, enemy, person, stranger, judge, jury, executioner, knights, bishops, kings, queens
• Places: city, town, country, neighborhoods, islands, beaches, province, state, outside, upstairs, basement, hallway, lobby, rooms, alleys, campsites
• Things: guitar, drums, apples, oranges, snow, rain, ice, fire, dirt, cars, trucks, knee, elbows, food, water, sky, stars, day, weeks, month, years
• Ideas, emotions, concepts: happiness, sadness, fear, courage, questions, answers, government, chaos, hunger, confusion, doubt, loneliness, friendship, science

Want a closer look at common nouns? Set your sights on this handy article about them!

Proper nouns

Proper nouns can also refer to people, places, things, and ideas. However, proper nouns refer to more specific people and things.

Examples of proper nouns

As you read each of these proper nouns , you can test your understanding of common nouns. Can you think of a common noun that could also refer to each item referred to by a proper noun?

• People: Harriet Tubman, King Richard the Lionheart, Miles Davis, Emily Dickinson, Helen of Troy, Superman, Lady Gaga, Captain Crunch
• Places: New York City, Moscow, Cairo, Portugal, Zimbabwe, Peru, Europe, Asia, Australia, Main Street, Rocky Mountains, Colorado River, Sahara Desert
• Things: Jupiter, Google, Twitter, Kawasaki Ninja, Playstation 5, Star Wars , Band-aids, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , Apollo 13, Great Wall of China
• Ideas and Concepts: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Romanticism, Cubism, Industrial Revolution, Dark Ages, Monday, November

How do you use common and proper nouns?

Grammatically, the biggest difference between common and proper nouns has to do with capitalization. Proper nouns are always capitalized no matter where they appear in a sentence. One exception to this rule is brand names that use lowercase letters for stylistic reasons: the word iPad is a proper noun even though the first letter is lowercase.

Common nouns, on the other hand, are only capitalized at the beginning of sentences or when used in the title or name of something. For example, the word captain is a common noun and will be lowercase in most sentences. However, it has a capital letter when it is used in a title such as in the name Captain Hook.

Both common and proper nouns are used in most of our sentences. For the most part, it is pretty easy to use them, but you should be careful to always capitalize proper nouns and to only capitalize a common noun when it is appropriate to do so.

Visit the full discussion on proper nouns at our article dedicated to them here.

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Tips for differentiating common vs. proper nouns

If you are trying to determine if a word is a common or proper noun, look at the capitalization. Is the noun capitalized in the middle of a sentence? If so, you most likely have a proper noun. Things are trickier if the noun is the first word in the sentence. In that case, ask yourself if the noun is referring to a specific person or thing. If it is, you have a proper noun again. If it isn’t, you are instead looking at a common noun. A good rule of thumb is that all names and titles are proper nouns and will always be capitalized.

Let’s test to see if you have mastered common and proper nouns. Read the following sentences and see if you can figure out if the nouns are common or proper nouns.

• We went to school yesterday.
• We learned about the history of France.
• Jennifer is my older sister.
• She likes to read novels by Stephen King.

Finally, look at these example sentences and see if you can find the three mistakes involving common and proper nouns. (You can find the answers at the end of this article.)

• My favorite American president is theodore roosevelt.
• I like all kinds of animals. dogs are the cutest of them all.
• When we went to Arizona, I took tons of pictures of the Grand canyon.

No more grammar errors

We’ve got a noun for you: genius! And that’s what you’ll be when you check your writing on Thesaurus.com’s Grammar Coach™ . This uncommon tool can definitely spot the difference between your proper and common nouns—and more! Grammar Coach™ uses machine learning technology uniquely designed to catch grammar and spelling errors. Its Synonym Swap will find the best nouns, adjectives, and more to help say what you really mean, guiding you toward clearer, stronger, writing.

Whether you’re writing about a person, place, or thing, perfect grammar has never been easier!

Answers: Theodore Roosevelt, Dogs, Grand Canyon

If you want more of a challenge, head over to our quiz on common vs. proper nouns.

How many other types of nouns are there? Find out here.

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Understanding a Proper Noun (Examples + Grammar Rules)

Proper nouns are an essential element of the English language. They also play a critical element in all other worldwide languages but are referred to by parts of speech . They are one of the primary elements of language and grammar that need to be mastered before learning the more complex language concepts.

• What is a proper noun?

A proper noun refers to a specific word or name given to a person, place, or thing. A proper noun includes, within its scope, the names of individuals, companies , and places. An essential thing to remember about proper nouns is that these words always start with the capital first letter. If a proper noun is spelled in all lowercase letters, it will be grammatically incorrect. 

Proper noun examples

To better illustrate this, let’s look at some examples of proper nouns:

• John is a deputy manager at Sony. 
• The capital of India is Delhi. 
• The world’s largest producer of android smartphones is Samsung, a South Korea-based multinational conglomerate. 
• Today is a very important match between Arsenal and Chelsea FC. 
• My favorite car brand is Ferrari.

Proper noun relationships to common nouns

Nouns are of various types. Proper nouns, common nouns, and concrete nouns are the most essential of all. Proper nouns, as established, are a type of noun used to refer to a specific person, place, or other entity. On the other hand, a common noun is a generic name to refer to a person, place, or thing. Common nouns are used to refer to a class of things.

For instance, the words: books, birds, girl, women, father, boys, and palace; are examples of Common nouns.

Alternatively, the following are examples of proper nouns:

• The Buckingham Palace

Types of proper nouns

Proper nouns are often confused with pronouns and prepositions . This leads them to be classified into 6 main categories.

The next time you see any of the following categories be referred to as proper nouns, know that they are either pronouns or related to prepositions and not proper nouns.

There is no such thing as a subject proper noun. Subject pronouns are often confused and referred to as subject proper nouns. However, these are part of the pronoun speech and are related to verb performance. These are words that perform an action.

Direct object

Similar to subject pronouns, there is also no such thing as a direct object proper noun. Direct objects are also related to the performance of verbs. However, contrary to proper subject nouns, these words receive action.

Indirect object

Continuing on the pattern above, indirect object proper nouns are also not a thing. Indirect object verbs are words that receive action from the direct object. This may sound confusing. However, let’s look at an example to understand this concept better:

• The teacher gave the students homework. 

In this sentence , the word “homework” is the direct object. 

What did the teacher give the students? Homework. Thus, homework is the direct object.

“Students,” on the other hand, are indirect objects in this sentence. 

To whom did the teacher give homework? To the students. 

Object of the preposition

The noun (or word/phrase acting as a noun) that joins a preposition to produce a prepositional phrase is known as the object of a preposition. The preposition affects or refers to the objects. Prepositions are followed by their objects, which link the object and the section of the sentence they are changing.

Predicate nominative

The noun or pronoun which follows a connecting verb is known as the predicate nominative (or a predicate noun). The subject of a sentence is given a new identity with these nouns. If the subject and the predicate nominative are switched, the phrase would still make sense and be grammatically correct.

Proper noun grammar rules

As with every part of speech, proper nouns are also regulated by specific grammar rules that must get followed at all times. 

• Firstly, grammar rules dictate that a proper noun should always get used with the first letter capitalized . An exception is certain cases when the noun acts as a common noun instead of a proper noun.
• The second important rule determines when a proper noun can be used with the word “the.” Typically, the word “the” can only be used in specific cases, which would be grammatically incorrect outside of that scope. We will discuss this in further detail in the coming paragraphs.

Common noun and proper noun comparisons

Here are some comparisons of proper nouns versus common nouns:

• Common Noun: Books

Proper Noun: It Ends with Us

• Common Noun: Birds

Proper Noun: Falcon

• Common Noun: Dogs

Proper Noun: Husky

• Common Noun: Snacks

Proper Noun: Doritos

• Common Noun: Banks

Proper Noun: The Bank of America

Proper noun examples (with “the”)

Typically, proper nouns do not start with the word “the.” However, they can be under certain circumstances. Let’s look at proper noun examples starting with “the” to understand this better.

First names

First names are proper nouns that will never begin with the word “the”. Designations like “the king” or “the president” that come before the actual name can start with “the”. However, the name itself will not start with that letter. 

Surnames or family names can begin with the word “the.” Let’s look at some examples of the same: 

• The Windors
• The Clintons
• The Newtons

Full names may be used with the word “the” preceding them in some instances. Some examples of the same are:

• The William Jones’
• The Brian Jeffords’ 
• The Jake Peraltas 
• The Rosa Diaz’s 
• The Chuck Boyle’s 
• The Amy Santiago’s 

Various shops’ names can start with the word “the.” Some of the most common examples are:

• The ambrosia store
• The Polka Boutique
• The Mall of America
• The House of AND

The names of banks can be preceded by the word “the.” Some examples of the same include:

• The Bank of America
• The Bank of France
• The Bank of India
• The Bank of Westminster

Some hotel names that start with “the” include:

• The Marriott
• The Burj-al arab
• The Four Seasons
• The Lemon Tree

Churches, too, can have their names started with the word “the.” Some examples of the same include:

• The Church of Mary and Jesus
• The Church of Our Lady of Fatima
• The Church of Our Savior Lord Jesus
• The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day saints
• The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception

Some examples of states starting with the word “the” are:

• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America

Some examples of Republics starting with the word “the” include:

• The Republic of France
• The Republic of India

Proper nouns with “the”

States: .

Some examples of states or countries starting with “the” include:

• the United States of America
• the United Kingdom
• the Netherlands
• the Bahamas and the Maldives

Some examples of canals starting with the word “the” include:

• The Suez Canal 
• The Panama Canal
• The Kiel Canal
• The Corinth Canal

Some examples of rivers starting with the word “the” are:

• The Hudson River
• The Han River
• The Indus River

Some examples of oceans starting with the word “the” are:

• The Pacific ocean
• The Indian ocean
• The Arctic ocean
• The Atlantic ocean

Some example of people starting with the word “the” are:

• The King of England
• The President of the United States
• The Prime Minister of India
• The Prince of Wales
• The Princess of Wales

Proper nouns ending in “s” possessive examples

In certain situations, proper nouns can end with an “s” and represent a possessive tone. A possessive tone refers to when a sentence shows ownership of an object.

Some examples of proper nouns ending in “s” are:

• Mary’s dog was very playful.
• London’s Buckingham Palace is a sight to appreciate. 
• Martin’s ice cream shop serves the best swirl ice creams in town .
• Johnny’s bride is a real looker.

Common questions

There are a lot of questions commonly asked about proper nouns. Some of the most common ones include the following:

Is “mom” a proper noun?

No. The word “mom” is not a proper noun. 

Is “earth” a proper noun?

Yes. The word “Earth” signifies a specific planet or place to live on. As such, it is a proper noun. This also means that the word “Earth” must start with a capitalized “E.” However, it can also be used as a common noun, which should be used with a lowercase ‘e.’ 

What is the proper noun of the word “teacher?”

The word “teacher” is a generic noun. There is no proper noun for the word. However, the teacher’s name would need to be used to make it a proper noun.

Let’s take a look at some examples;

• Mrs. Stephanie

What is the proper noun of the word “car?”

A proper noun for the word “car” would be the brand or name of the car itself—for example, Ferrari, Honda, etc.  

What is the proper noun of the “country” or “countries?”

The words “country” and “country” represent a category of things. Hence, these words are not proper nouns

Some examples of proper nouns for country or countries are:

• South Korea

What is the proper noun for the word “dog?”

The correct proper noun for the word dog can be the name of the dog like Bruno, Brandy, Pugsly, etc. Alternatively, the dog’s breed names can also be proper nouns, for example: Golden Retriever, Husky, German Shepherd, etc.

No, one is used to refer to people and the other is used to refer to places.

Common nouns are words for types of things, people, and places, such as “dog,” “teacher,” and “city.” They are not capitalized and are typically used in combination with articles and other determiners . Only proper nouns are capitalized.

In English, proper nouns are words derived from a person’s name.

Typically, yes.

No. North, East, South, and West are common nouns.

Some proper nouns have the definite article before the person’s name.

More on nouns

More resources about nouns:

• Possessive nouns
• Irregular plural nouns
• Proper nouns
• Concrete nouns
• Collective nouns
• Possessive and plural nouns
• What are proper nouns, How do I use them?
• Proper Noun- Merriam Webster
• 20 examples of Proper nouns in English
• Proper Noun
• Proper noun
• What is a proper noun: Definition and Usage
• Proper nouns and common nouns
• Possessive case of Noun
• Grammar Rules about Proper Nouns

Inside this article

Fact checked: Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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Definition of homework noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

• acquire/get/lack experience/training/(an) education
• receive/provide somebody with training
• develop/design/plan a curriculum/course/program/syllabus
• give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
• hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
• moderate/lead/facilitate a discussion
• sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons
• go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
• be in the first, second, etc. grade (at school)
• study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
• finish/drop out of/quit school
• graduate from high school/college
• be the victim/target of bullying/teasing
• skip/cut/ ( informal ) ditch class/school
• cheat on an exam/a test
• get/be given a detention (for doing something)
• be expelled from/be suspended from school
• do your homework/a project on something
• work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/a paper
• finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies
• hand in/turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
• study/prepare/review/ ( informal ) cram for a test/an exam
• take/ ( formal ) sit for a test/an exam
• grade homework/a test
• do well on/ ( informal ) ace a test/an exam
• pass/fail/ ( informal ) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject
• apply to/get into/go to/start college
• leave/graduate from college (with a degree in computer science)/law school
• study for/work towards a law degree/a degree in physics
• major/minor in biology/philosophy
• earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a Ph.D. in economics

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• Knowledge Base
• Nouns and pronouns
• What Is a Proper Noun? | Definition & Examples

What Is a Proper Noun? | Definition & Examples

Published on August 18, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 23, 2023.

A proper noun is a noun that serves as the name for a specific place, person, or thing. To distinguish them from common nouns, proper nouns are always capitalized in English.

Proper nouns include personal names, place names, names of companies and organizations, and the titles of books, films, songs, and other media.

The Scribbr Knowledge Base is a useful educational resource.

Mr. Smith’s class is reading Much Ado About Nothing .

Table of contents

Proper nouns vs. common nouns, articles with proper nouns, nouns that can be either proper or common, proper adjectives, other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions about proper nouns.

Proper nouns are defined by contrast with common nouns —that is, if a noun isn’t proper, it’s common, and vice versa .

• Proper nouns name specific people, things, and places. They are always capitalized.
• Common nouns are more general—they name generic types of people, things, and places. They are normally only capitalized at the start of a sentence.

Reza is a teaching assistant at Belmont High School .

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Unlike common nouns, proper nouns usually stand on their own, not preceded by any articles or determiners . For example, to refer to someone called Sunita, you usually wouldn’t say “the Sunita,” “a Sunita,” or “that Sunita” but simply “Sunita.”

There are exceptions to this rule, though. The names of some countries and other kinds of organization are preceded by a definite article (“the”)—these are names partially made up of nouns that are usually common, such as “republic” or “association.” The article itself isn’t capitalized.

Additionally, some proper nouns are always pluralized, and they tend to be preceded by a definite article (which isn’t capitalized).

It’s also possible to treat proper nouns more like common nouns—for example, to refer collectively to several people or things with the same name, or to distinguish between them. In these cases, articles, determiners, adjectives, and pluralization are used in the same way as for common nouns.

No, I don’t mean that Jocelyn , I mean blonde Jocelyn .

I knew a Marieke once.

Many common nouns designating roles become proper when they’re used as (part of) the name of a specific person with that role. For example, words for family roles are capitalized only when they’re used in the same way as names (without any articles or determiners).

Nouns that act as titles (e.g., political, religious, or professional titles) are only capitalized when they are used as part of the name of a specific person holding that title.

The pope who launched the Crusades was Pope Urban II.

The cardinal directions (compass directions: north, east, south, and west) are treated as common nouns. But they’re capitalized when they’re used as part of the name of a specific place or region, or when they’re used in a political or cultural sense .

My family lives in South Carolina.

Adjectives that are derived from proper nouns (and therefore capitalized) are sometimes referred to as proper adjectives . These are often words designating a specific nationality, language, or ethnic group (e.g., “Dutch”) or words derived from a person’s name (e.g., “Machiavellian”).

I really struggle with German grammar.

If you want to know more about nouns , pronouns , verbs , and other parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations and examples.

Nouns & pronouns

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Common nouns are words for types of things, people, and places, such as “dog,” “professor,” and “city.” They are not capitalized and are typically used in combination with articles and other determiners.

Proper nouns are words for specific things, people, and places, such as “Max,” “Dr. Prakash,” and “London.” They are always capitalized and usually aren’t combined with articles and other determiners.

A proper adjective is an adjective that was derived from a proper noun and is therefore capitalized .

Proper adjectives include words for nationalities, languages, and ethnicities (e.g., “Japanese,” “Inuit,” “French”) and words derived from people’s names (e.g., “Bayesian,” “Orwellian”).

The names of seasons (e.g., “spring”) are treated as common nouns in English and therefore not capitalized . People often assume they are proper nouns, but this is an error.

The names of days and months, however, are capitalized since they’re treated as proper nouns in English (e.g., “Wednesday,” “January”).

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Caulfield, J. (2023, January 23). What Is a Proper Noun? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/nouns-and-pronouns/proper-nouns/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Mastering Common and Proper Nouns: The Key to Writing Like a Pro

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: August 2, 2023

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Welcome to our article on common and proper nouns! If you’re learning English, understanding the difference between common and proper nouns is essential. Nouns are the building blocks of sentences, and knowing how to use them correctly can make all the difference in your writing and communication skills.

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of what common and proper nouns are, how to identify them, and when to use them. We’ll also provide plenty of examples to help you understand the concepts better. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will help you improve your grammar skills and become a more confident writer.

So, let’s get started! Whether you’re writing an essay, a business email, or a social media post, understanding common and proper nouns is crucial for effective communication. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better grasp of these concepts and be able to use them correctly in your writing.

Common and Proper Nouns – Image

Common Nouns

Definition of Common Nouns

Common nouns are words that name general people, places, things, or ideas. These nouns are not specific and do not require capitalization unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. They are the opposite of proper nouns, which name specific people, places, or things, and always require capitalization.

Examples of Common Nouns

Here are some examples of common nouns:

Usage of Common Nouns in Sentences

Common nouns are used in sentences as subjects, objects, and complements. They can be used alone or with other words to form phrases and clauses. Here are some examples:

• Subject: The dog barked at the mailman.
• Object: She bought a new dress for the party.
• Complement: The soup tasted delicious.

Common nouns can also be used in compound nouns, which are formed by combining two or more words. For example, “ice cream” is a compound noun made up of the common nouns “ice” and “cream.”

In conclusion, common nouns are an essential part of the English language. They are used every day to describe general people, places, things, and ideas. By understanding the definition, examples, and usage of common nouns, you can improve your grammar and communication skills.

Proper Nouns

Definition of Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are specific names of people, places, or things. They are always capitalized, no matter where they appear in a sentence. Proper nouns are used to refer to a particular person, place, or thing, and they give nouns a unique identity. Proper nouns are also known as proper names.

Examples of Proper Nouns

Here are some examples of proper nouns:

Usage of Proper Nouns in Sentences

Proper nouns are used in sentences to refer to a specific person, place, or thing. Here are some examples of how proper nouns can be used in sentences:

• John went to London to visit his friend.
• Mary lives in New York and works in a restaurant.
• William Shakespeare is known for his plays and sonnets.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Some notes on proper nouns you need to remember:

• Proper nouns always begin with a capital letter, no matter where they appear in a sentence. This is because they refer to specific, named things, like people, places, or organizations.
• Did you know that some proper nouns have become so common that they are now used as common nouns? For example, “ Tupperware ” is a brand name, but it’s often used by many as a common noun to refer to any type of box-shaped food container in the kitchen.

Proper nouns can also be used in titles, headings, and other important words in writing. It is important to remember to capitalize proper nouns to give them their unique identity.

In summary, proper nouns are specific names of people, places, or things. They are always capitalized, and they give nouns a unique identity. Proper nouns are used in sentences to refer to a particular person, place, or thing, and they are essential in writing to convey information accurately.

Differences Between Common and Proper Nouns

Common and proper nouns are two important types of nouns in English grammar. Understanding the differences between common and proper nouns is crucial in developing strong writing skills. In this section, we will discuss the main differences between common and proper nouns.

In Terms of Definition

A common noun refers to a general person, place, or thing, while a proper noun refers to a specific person, place, or thing. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. Proper nouns, on the other hand, are always capitalized.

Here are some examples of common and proper nouns:

In Terms of Usage

Common nouns are used more frequently than proper nouns in everyday language. They are used to refer to general things or concepts. Proper nouns, on the other hand, are used to refer to specific things or people.

Common nouns can be used in a variety of ways, including as subjects, objects, or direct objects in a sentence. Proper nouns are usually used as subjects or objects in a sentence.

Here are some examples of common and proper nouns in sentences:

• Common Noun: The city is crowded.
• Proper Noun: New York City is crowded.
• Common Noun: The dog chased the ball.
• Proper Noun: Max chased the ball.

In summary, common and proper nouns differ in terms of their definition and usage. Common nouns are general and not capitalized, while proper nouns are specific and always capitalized. It is important to understand these differences in order to use them correctly in your writing.

Importance of Understanding Common and Proper Nouns

As a fundamental aspect of English grammar, understanding the difference between common and proper nouns is crucial for effective communication. It is essential to use the correct noun type to convey the intended meaning and prevent confusion in writing and speech.

Common nouns are general names for people, places, things, or ideas. They are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. For instance, “dog,” “city,” and “book” are all common nouns. On the other hand, proper nouns are specific names of people, places, things, or ideas, and they always begin with a capital letter. Examples of proper nouns include “John,” “New York City,” and “The Great Gatsby.”

Understanding the difference between common and proper nouns is crucial in writing and speaking. Proper nouns help to identify specific people, places, or things, while common nouns refer to general objects. For instance, “I went to the store” is a sentence that uses a common noun, while “I went to Walmart” uses a proper noun. In this example, the use of a proper noun makes the sentence more specific, and the reader can visualize the exact location.

Using the wrong noun type can lead to confusion, misinterpretation, or even change the intended meaning of a sentence. For instance, “I love to eat pizza with my family” is a sentence that uses a common noun, while “I love to eat Pizza with my family” uses a proper noun. In this example, the use of a proper noun changes the meaning of the sentence from a general food item to a specific brand of pizza.

In conclusion, understanding the difference between common and proper nouns is essential for effective communication in English. It helps to convey the intended meaning, prevent confusion, and make writing and speaking more precise. By using the correct noun type, writers and speakers can create clearer and more engaging content.

Practical Applications of Common and Proper Nouns

Now that we have a clear understanding of what common and proper nouns are, let’s take a look at some practical applications of these types of nouns.

Improving Writing Clarity

Using proper nouns can help improve the clarity of your writing by providing specific details about people, places, and things. For example, instead of writing “I went to the park,” you could write “I went to Central Park.” This not only provides more detail but also allows the reader to better visualize the location.

Capitalization Rules

One of the most important practical applications of common and proper nouns is understanding when to capitalize them. Proper nouns are always capitalized, while common nouns are only capitalized in certain situations (such as at the beginning of a sentence or in titles). Knowing these rules can help improve the professionalism and accuracy of your writing.

Avoiding Ambiguity

Using common and proper nouns correctly can also help avoid ambiguity in your writing. For example, if you write “I saw a bird,” the reader may not know exactly what type of bird you saw. However, if you write “I saw a bald eagle,” the reader knows exactly what you saw and can better understand the context of your writing.

Creating Lists

Common and proper nouns are also useful for creating lists. When making a list of items, it’s important to use consistent capitalization and to ensure that proper nouns are capitalized. For example:

• Grocery List: milk, bread, apples, Cheerios
• Travel Itinerary: New York City, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park

Proper Noun Abbreviations

Finally, it’s important to understand how to abbreviate proper nouns. Common examples include abbreviating states (NY for New York) or countries (UK for United Kingdom). However, it’s important to ensure that the abbreviation is widely recognized and accepted to avoid confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between common and proper nouns?

Common nouns refer to general things, such as “dog” or “city,” while proper nouns refer to specific, named things, such as “Max” or “Chicago.” Proper nouns are always capitalized, and common nouns are only capitalized at the beginning of sentences.

Can you give me some examples of common nouns in a sentence?

Sure! Here are some examples of common nouns used in sentences:

• The dog chased the cat.
• I need to buy some milk at the grocery store.
• My favorite color is blue.
• The teacher assigned homework for the weekend.

What are some common and proper nouns for kids to learn?

For common nouns, kids can learn words like “dog,” “cat,” “book,” and “tree.” For proper nouns, they can learn names of people, places, and things, such as “Samantha,” “New York,” and “Eiffel Tower.”

How do I know if a noun is a proper noun?

Proper nouns are always capitalized, while common nouns are not. If a noun refers to a specific, named thing, it is likely a proper noun.

What are some rules for using proper nouns in writing?

When using proper nouns in writing, always capitalize them. Also, use proper nouns to refer to specific people, places, and things, while using common nouns for general things.

Can you provide some examples of proper nouns that students can use in their writing?

Sure! Here are some examples of proper nouns that students can use in their writing:

• Harry Potter
• Statue of Liberty
• Beyoncé
• Golden Gate Bridge

Remember, always capitalize proper nouns!

Common nouns refer to general things, such as \"dog\" or \"city,\" while proper nouns refer to specific, named things, such as \"Max\" or \"Chicago.\" Proper nouns are always capitalized, and common nouns are only capitalized at the beginning of sentences.

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For common nouns, kids can learn words like \"dog,\" \"cat,\" \"book,\" and \"tree.\" For proper nouns, they can learn names of people, places, and things, such as \"Samantha,\" \"New York,\" and \"Eiffel Tower.\"

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Proper Nouns

What are proper nouns.

Table of Contents

Examples of Proper Nouns and Common Nouns

Find the proper noun test, formal definition of "proper noun" and "common noun", examples of proper nouns in sentences, video lesson, why proper nouns are important.

Can You Identify Proper Nouns ?

Formal definition.

• Those idiots have been annoying Jason .
• I would like to visit an old castle . Can we visit Warwick Castle ?
• All water tastes the same. There's a reason why Evian is "naive" backwards.
• Walt Disney got the inspiration for Mickey Mouse from a tame mouse at his desk at Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City .

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

(Issue 1) Don't capitalize a word just because it's an important word in your sentence.

(Issue 2) Use capital letters for just the principal words in a title.

• Tower of London
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• Catcher in the Rye
• The Last of the Mohicans
• Leonardo da Vinci / Ludwig van Beethoven

(Issue 3) Do not write the seasons (e.g., "summer") and the points of the compass (e.g., "north") with uppercase letters.

(Issue 4) Write the Sun and the Moon with capital letters.

(issue 5) write terms like director and finance department with capital letters if they refer to specific people or departments..

• Proper nouns get capital letters. Don't give a common noun a capital letter just because it's an important word in your sentence.
• When writing titles, use capital letters just for the first word and the principal words (i.e., not words like "the," "an," "and," "or," "in," and "with").
• The seasons and the points of the compass are not written with capital letters.
• If you write the Moon/Sun but a moon/sun, you'll probably have used capital letters correctly.
• With terms like Director and Finance Department, use capital letters when they refer to specific people or offices.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Proper Nouns & Common Nouns

• Common & Proper Nouns

It's time to learn about proper nouns and common nouns. Are you ready? Great!

You probably already know what a noun is, but I'm still going to give you a little refresher. :) Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. There are many different types of nouns , and in this lesson, we'll go over two of them: common and proper. 

Learning about common nouns will help you understand proper nouns, so let's focus on common nouns first, and then we'll see what the relationship is between them. 

What are common nouns?

Common nouns are usually the first words that we learn when we learn a new language, so they're pretty important! They name people, places, things or ideas that are generic/general .  

woman, city, dog

Notice that we don't know exactly which woman, city, or dog we're referring to. That's because these words are general rather than specific. (Think of these as opposed to proper nouns in those categories, which would name a specific woman, city, and dog. Examples of proper nouns for these categories would be Elizabeth, Chicago, and Rex .) Let's go over some of the important points to know about common nouns.

• Lowercase:  Since these nouns aren't naming anything specific, they don't need to start with a capital letter unless they begin a sentence.
• Broad Categories: Common nouns represent broad categories of things. They are used to talk about things in a general sense rather than in a specific sense. For example, bird is a common noun that includes various species like sparrows, eagles, and robins.
• Articles and Determiners:  Common nouns are often accompanied by articles ( a, an, and the ) or other determiners ( some, many, etc.). 

Common nouns really are the building blocks of language! Now, let's focus on proper nouns...

What are proper nouns?

These are nouns that name specific people, places, things, or ideas.

Maya, Paris, Rover

Do you see how these are different? Maya is naming a specific woman, Paris is naming a specific city, and Rover is naming a specific dog. Let's go over some of the important things to know about proper nouns!

• Capitalization : Proper nouns are always capitalized, regardless of their position within a sentence. This capitalization helps signal that the noun is a specific name or title, setting it apart from common nouns.
• Capitalizing Compound Nouns:  Sometimes, proper nouns contain two or more words.                     Maya Angelou, Central Park Zoo, the Gulf of Mexico If this is the case, the important words are capitalized , and the whole thing is still considered to be one noun even though it's made up of more than one word. Don't capitalize small words like of and the .
• Names and Titles: Proper nouns include personal names ( John Smith ), geographical names ( Mount Everest ), brand names ( Coca-Cola ), and titles ( President ).
• Context Needed : Proper nouns often require some context for full comprehension. People may need to know the background or context of a proper noun to understand its significance. For example, if you tell your friend that you're going to Paris, she would need to know that Paris is a city in order to understand what you were telling her. 
• Articles: Singular proper nouns usually don't use articles ( David, Chicago ). 
• Proper Adjectives: Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns ( Mexico --> Mexican ). 

Now let's look at how common nouns and proper nouns are related to each other, shall we? 

What is their relationship?

Every proper noun has a common noun equivalent.

Proper --> Common

Kleenex --> tissue

Honda Odyssey --> van

V8 --> juice

However, not every common noun has a proper noun equivalent.

Common --> Proper

hand --> -

dirt --> -

space --> -

What Can They Do?

Both of these kinds of nouns can perform many jobs in sentences. Below, you'll find five noun jobs. (All of the nouns in these example sentences are common.) 

These examples also include sentence diagrams . Sentence diagrams are pictures of sentences that basically make the grammar in the sentence visual. That sounds kind of strange, but it's true. Figuring out a sentence's diagrams is like solving a puzzle. Diagrams are a great way to learn grammar!

1. Subject   The students happily studied grammar.

2. Direct Object   The students happily studied grammar .

3. Indirect Object   They taught their friends grammar.

4. Object of the Preposition   Their friends smiled with glee .

5. Predicate Nominative   They were grammar champions !

Instructions : Decide whether the underlined word is a common noun or a proper noun.

• What is your favorite book to read at bedtime? 
• The Amazon River flows through the heart of the rainforest. 
• Have you ever visited the city of Rome ?
• The team celebrated their victory with a parade. 
• My aunt is an excellent cook; she made a delicious cake.
• The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark in France. 
• We studied ancient civilizations in history class. 
• John loves to play the piano in his free time. 
• The company's headquarters are located in New York City.
• Shakespeare's plays are still performed on stages around the world.
• common noun (book)
• proper noun (Amazon River)
• proper noun (Rome)
• common noun (team)
• common noun (aunt)
• proper noun (Eiffel Tower)
• common noun (civilizations)
• common noun (piano)
• proper noun (New York City)
• This is kind of a trick question! Shakespeare's is a proper adjective. It's formed from the proper noun Shakespeare . :)

How did that go? Do you feel like you have a good handle on these types of nouns? Let's review what we covered on this page.

• Common nouns name general people, places, things, or ideas. 
• Proper nouns name specific people, places, things, or ideas. 
• While every proper noun has a corresponding common noun, not every common noun has a corresponding proper noun.
• Common nouns and proper nouns can do many things in sentences. They can be subjects, objects, predicate nouns, and more.  
• Sentence diagramming is fun and helps us see what each word in a sentence is doing. :) 

Hello! I'm Elizabeth O'Brien, and my goal is to get you jazzed about grammar. 

Thank you for your website. It helps solidify my attempts at getting my students thrilled about proper grammar! 

- Marie, Teacher

If you'd like to teach or learn grammar the easy way—with sentence diagrams—check out our  Get Smart Grammar Program .

It starts from the very beginning and teaches you grammar and sentence diagramming in easy, bite-size lessons. 

This is original content from  https://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/proper-nouns.html

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Her lessons are guaranteed to give you more confidence in your communication skills and make you smile. :)

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16.3: Nouns

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Learning Objectives

• Identify and use various types of nouns

Nouns are a diverse group of words, and they are very common in English. Nouns refer to things —the names of people (Dr. Sanders, lawyers), places (Kansas, factory, home), things (scissors, sheet music, book), or ideas (love, truth, beauty, intelligence). There are many to categorize nouns. Let’s take a look at each of these classifications and see exactly what they each mean.

Common vs. Proper Nouns

A proper noun refers to a specific person, place, organization, etc. Proper nouns are capitalized because they are specific nouns. Some examples of proper nouns are Steven, Apple (the company), New York, and the Seattle Seahawks.

A common noun refers to a general group or class of people, places, objects, etc. Common nouns are generic words, like tissue or watch . They are always lowercase (unless they begin a sentence).

• common noun: girl
• proper noun: Esther

Note: This rule also applies to adjectives that are based on proper nouns:

• It can be difficult to understand Shakespearian language.
• After her encounter with Lukas, Elisa vowed to hate all Swiss men.

However, if you’re talking about swiss cheese , pasteurized milk , and french fries , these adjectives are lowercase. They have a nonliteral meaning: the cheese isn’t really from Switzerland, Louie Pasteur didn’t treat the milk himself, and the fries aren’t really from France.

Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns

Concrete nouns are things you can touch, see, hear, or otherwise sense, like book , light , or warmth .

Abstract nouns, on the other hand, are (as you might expect) abstract concepts that can’t be perceived through the senses, such as time and love .

• concrete noun: rock
• abstract noun: justice

Collective Nouns

Nouns can get a little tricky when it comes to a discussion of collective nouns. Collective nouns are nouns such as family , team , and majority . The tricky part comes when we have to make a decision about whether these nouns are singular or plural because we have to choose verbs that will agree with these nouns.

And, now, here’s the really tricky part: There are no hard and fast rules. The verb you choose to agree with the collective noun actually depends upon how you want your readers to perceive the noun. Is it a single unit or a group of individuals? Even then, it depends upon context. Take the collective noun family , for example.

• The family have all gone their separate ways since Grandma died.
• The whole family is coming to my house for Thanksgiving this year. I had better learn to cook a turkey.

In her book, Rhetorical Grammar , Martha Kolln (1991) says “[collective nouns] can be treated as either singular or plural, depending on context and meaning” (p. 47). So, it really does depend on the situation.

You may be wondering how this information is helpful. The key is to think about how you might perceive the collective noun and then, of course, to consider how it’s used in the sentence. And, after all, there are only about 200 collective nouns in the English language, so you really only have to worry about 200 of these. Okay, that’s a lot. But this is a great example of how, very often, there are no hard and fast rules for grammar.

Verbal Nouns

A verbal noun is a type of noun that is derived from a verb. It looks like a verb but actually functions in a sentence like a noun. Here are some examples:

Running from zombies is hard work.

Jogging is a good exercise that will help you prepare, but you have to do it every day.

We had a meeting to compare our zombie action plans.

Verbal nouns and something called gerunds (a form of a verb or verb phrase that functions as a noun phrase and subject in a sentence) are very similar. In fact, the first two examples above are examples of verbal nouns that are also gerunds. But, a verbal noun can be more than a gerund. In the last example, the word meeting is functioning like a noun but isn’t a noun phrase that’s the subject of a sentence.

It can certainly get a little confusing, and even the grammar experts disagree sometimes about the differences between verbal nouns and gerunds.

The key thing for you to remember is that, when we are talking about nouns, verbs can sometimes function in your sentences like nouns.

Compound Nouns

A compound noun is a noun that is the result of joining together two other words (such as tooth and paste making toothpaste).

A compound noun acts like one word, despite being a combination of two. Compound nouns can be classified as closed, hyphenated, or open. A closed compound takes the form of two words put together with no space, such as daydream. A hyphenated compound includes two or more words joined by a hyphen, such as dry-cleaning. An open compound is two words separated by a space but acting as one unit, such as vacuum cleaner.

One common misconception is that compounds are hyphenated or open when one of the root words is longer than one syllable. However, it is important to remember that there are many open or hyphenated compound nouns that have of two single-syllable root words, such as six-pack.

Some compound nouns differ in writing style depending on who you ask, while others are recently developed, such as e-mail being shortened further to email.

Types of Compound Nouns

• Solid or Closed form : These compound nouns are defined as being a complete conjoining between the two words that form its makeup. Examples of closed compound nouns include: watermelon, underground, catfish and skydiving.
• Hyphenated form : Compound nouns that often appear in a hyphenated form are nouns that have suffixes (such as fund-rais(er) and wire-fasten(er)) and nouns that contain articles, conjunctions, or prepositions (such as mother-in-law).
• Open or Spaced form : These are compound nouns that are considered to be compound even though they are separated by a space just like any two words. Despite looking like two independent words, they act together as one. Examples of open compound nouns are science fiction, peanut butter, and address book.

Hyphens are often considered a squishy part on language (we’ll discuss this further in Hyphens and Dashes ). Because of this, usage differs and often depends on the individual choice of the writer rather than on a hard-and-fast rule. This means open, hyphenated, and closed forms may be encountered for the same compound noun, such as the triplets container ship/container-ship/containership and particle board/particle-board/particleboard. If you’re ever in doubt whether a compound should be closed, hyphenated, or open, dictionaries are your best reference.

Review the types of nouns in the following exercise.

https://lumenlearning.h5p.com/content/1290907310938413418/embed

The process of making compound nouns plural has its own set of conventions to follow. In all forms of compound nouns, we pluralize the chief element of a compound word (i.e., we pluralize the primary noun of the compound).

• fisher man → fisher men
• black bird → black birds
• brother -in-law → brothers -in-law

The word hand-me-down doesn’t have a distinct primary noun, so its plural is hand-me-downs .

Remember that compounds may be written in three different ways: the solid or closed form , the hyphenated form , and the open or spaced form .

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20331

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20329

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20330

Pluralization

English has both regular and irregular plural nouns. Regular plurals follow a rule (and other similar rules) so you generally know how to pluralize them, but irregular plurals are, well, not regular and don’t follow a “standard” rule.

Regular Plurals

Let’s start with regular plurals: regular plural nouns use established patterns to indicate that there is more than one of a thing. As was mentioned earlier, we add the plural suffix – s or – es to most words ( cats , zebras , classes , foxes, heroes ). Remember that when words have a foreign origin (e.g., Latin, Greek, Spanish), we just add the plural suffix – s ( tacos , avocados , maestros ).

When a word ends in y and there is a consonant before y , we change the y to i and add – es . Thus sky becomes skies . However, if the y follows another vowel, you simply add an – s . ( donkeys , alloys ). When a word ends in – f or – fe , we change the f to v and add – es ( calves , leaves ). However, if there are two terminal f s, or if you still pronounce the f in the plural, you simply add an – s ( cliffs , chiefs ).

Irregular Plurals

Irregular plurals , unlike regular plurals, don’t necessarily follow any particular pattern—instead, they follow a lot of different patterns. For this reason, irregular plurals require a lot of memorization. If you’re ever in doubt, the dictionary is there for you.

The first kind of irregular plural we’ll talk about is the no-change or base plural . In these words, the singular noun has the exact same form as the plural ( sheep , fish , deer , moose ). Most no-change plurals are types of animals.

The next type of irregular is the mid-word vowel change . This includes words like tooth , man , and mouse , which become teeth , men , and mice .

Note: The plural for a computer mouse (as opposed to the fuzzy animal) can either be mice or mouses . Some people prefer mouses as it creates some differentiation between the two words.

We also have the plural – en . In these words, – en is used as the plural ending instead of – s or -es .

• child → children
• ox → oxen
• brother → brethren
• sister → sistren

Note: Brethren and sistren are antiquated terms that you’re unlikely to encounter or use; however, since these are the only four words in English that use this plural, all four have been included above.

The last category of irregular plurals is borrowed words . These words are native to other languages (e.g., Latin, Greek) and have retained the pluralization rules from their original tongue.

The rules presented in the table above are almost always followed, but as a borrowed word becomes more popular in its usage, it can be adopted into regular pluralization. For example, formulas and appendixes are accepted words in formal situations. Also, in informal speech, cactuses and funguses are acceptable.

Note: Because of the word’s history, octopuses is preferred to octopi , but octopi is an accepted word.

https://lumenlearning.h5p.com/content/1290622187380800738/embed

[reveal-answer q=”245005″]Explanations of the answers[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”245005″]

[/hidden-answer]

Count vs. Non-count Nouns

Count nouns are nouns that can be counted. Count nouns can be associated with a numerical value (i.e., three whales) in both its singular and plural forms (one fox, two foxes). In some cases, the number can be replaced by the words a, an, or the (a fox, an owl, the squirrel).

If a noun cannot have a numerical value nor a plural form, it is called a non-count or mass noun . A person can give another person advice, but they cannot give three advices, because advice has no quantity. Other examples of non-count nouns include nouns like weather, happiness, homework, furniture, thunder, etc. You will know that something is a non-count noun if it sounds weird when you try to pluralize it by adding an -s to the end. For example, you can’t have “furnitures” or “thunders,” but you can have “pieces of furniture” or “claps of thunder.”

Less or Fewer? Many or Much?

The adjectives less and fewer are both used to indicate a smaller amount of the noun they modify. Many and much are used to indicate a large amount of something. People often use these pairs words interchangeably; however, the words fewer and many are used with count nouns, while less and much are used with non-count nouns:

• The pet day care has fewer dogs than cats this week.
• Next time you make these cookies, you should use less sugar.
• Many poets struggle when they try to determine whether a poem is complete or not.
• There’s too much goodness in her heart.

You may have noticed that much has followed the adverb too in this example ( too much ). This is because you rarely find much by itself. You don’t really hear people say things like “Now please leave me alone; I have much research to do.” The phrase “a lot of” has taken its place in current English: “I have a lot of research to do.” A lot of can be used in the place of either many or much :

• A lot of poets struggle when they try to determine whether a poem is finished or not.
• There’s a lot of goodness in her heart.

https://lumenlearning.h5p.com/content/1290627472724984348/embed

[reveal-answer q=”842967″]Explain Answers[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”842967″]

• Food is non-count, so it takes much, not many . Soups and desserts are both count, so they take fewer not less .
• Even though much is technically correct, you may want to use a lot instead. It sounds less antiquated.
• Outer space is non-count, so it does not have a plural. Galaxy is count, so it does have a plural. Since we are talking about different items, there must be more than one, so galaxies is correct.
• Much must be followed by a non-count noun. Of the two options ( water and drinks ), water is the non-count noun. If many were used instead of much , the correct sentence would be “Arturo had too many drinks before his workout.”
• Because items is a count noun, fewer is required here. This may surprise you, since many stores have a “fifteen items or less” line, but using less is grammatically incorrect. However, this phrase has become so common that stores sound uppity if they use fewer instead of less . Some stores get around this issue by saying “around fifteen items” instead.
• While much would also fit in this blank, the phrase a lot of is much more common and more likely to be used.
• The adjective is modifying the count-noun ideas , so many is needed in this example.

Contributors and Attributions

• Text: Pluralization. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Common vs. Proper Nouns and Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Revision and Adaptation. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Image of two men. Authored by : Gregor Cresnar. Provided by : The Noun Project. Located at : https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=people&i=176708 . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Compound noun. Provided by : Teflpedia. Located at : http://teflpedia.com/Compound_noun . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• B5bugerbear. Authored by : CryptoTom. Located at : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B5bugerbear_Colored_Version.jpg . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Marina, Large Shoes. Authored by : Dave Parker. Located at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveparker/4320683221 . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Nouns. Authored by : Excelsior OWL. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/grammar-essentials/parts-of-speech/nouns/nouns-try-it-out/ . License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright

Is homework a common noun

Yes, the noun 'homework' is a common noun, a word for any kind of homework or anyone.

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing: Shakespeare , Brazil , Coca Cola. Yes, homework is a common noun.

Anonymous ∙

Add your answer:

What type of noun is the word homework?

The noun 'homework' is a common, compound, abstract, uncountable noun; a word for a form of study or preparation; a word for a concept.

Is homework an abstract uncountable noun?

No, the noun 'homework' is simply a common, compound, abstract noun, a word for a thing.A collective noun is a word used to group people or things taken together as one whole. The collective noun for homework is a slew of homework.The noun 'homework' is an uncountable noun called an aggregate noun, a word representing an indefinite number of elements or parts.

What is the plural form of the word homework?

The collective noun for the noun 'homework' is a slew of homework.

Is homework a noun or a verb?

Homework is a noun. Ex:I am doing my homework.Go do your homework.You have homework tonight.It is a noun because it is a thing YEY.

What type of speech is homework?

Homework is a noun.

Is homework common noun?

Yes, the noun 'homework' is a common noun, a word for any kind of homework or anyone.A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing: Shakespeare, Brazil, Coca Cola.Yes, homework is a common noun.

Is Homework noun?

Is homework a action verb.

No, homework is not a verb. The word homework is a noun, an uncountable, common, compound, abstract noun, a word for a thing.

Is the word homework a noun?

Yes, the word homework is a noun, a common, uncountable, noun; a word for work assigned to do at home, a word for a thing.The definition of noun is a person, place, thing, or idea; HOMEWORK falls into the category of thing.

What is the collective for homework?

Is a girl a common a proper noun.

The noun "girl's" is a singular, common, concrete, possessive noun.A singular noun, a word for one girl.A common noun, a general word for any young, female, human.A concrete noun, a word for a physical person that can be seen, heard, touched.The apostrophe -s added to the end of the noun indicates that something in the sentence belongs to a girl.Example: The girl's homework is always on time. (the homework of the girl)

Is girl's a common proper collective abstract noun?

Why homework is uncountable.

The noun 'homework' is an uncountable noun because it's a form of aggregate noun, a word representing an indefinite number of elements or parts.Units of homework are expressed in amounts, such as some homework, a lot of homework, too much homework, etc.

Top Categories

• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises

Common Noun and Proper Noun Exercises

Nouns are basically classified as common nouns and proper nouns . Learning to identify proper nouns and common nouns might be one of the first steps when learning English grammar . To help you with this, this article provides you with some practice exercises on proper nouns and common nouns.

Common and Proper Nouns Exercises with Answers

Are you sure what a common noun and a proper noun are? Why not check if you know them well? Try out the following exercises to find out.

Exercise 1: Identify the type of noun

Read the following sentences and identify the common or proper nouns in them.

• I gave my book to Riya to read.
• The Taj Mahal in India is very beautiful.
• Red Riding Hood met the fox in the forest.
• Mr Tony Stark walks his dog everyday.
• The boy ran to his mother.
• The flat was in the middle of Lenin Street.
• The reporter went to Noida to collect news.
• This milk tastes sour.
• Rose is a beautiful girl.
• I have read the novel by Emily Bronte.
• King Arthur was a noble king.
• The author wrote a crime novel.
• The captain steered the ship from hitting the iceberg.
• The old judge passed a unique judgement.
• The Milky Way is a big galaxy.
• The Indian Express is the newspaper I read regularly.
• Sheldon Cooper is an intelligent physicist.
• The Ganga is an important river of India.
• J.K Rowling wrote the famous novels on Harry Potter.
• My uncle works in the Reserve Bank of India.

Answers –

• Book – Common noun, Riya – Proper noun
• Taj Mahal, India – Proper nouns
• Red Riding Hood – Proper noun; fox, forest – Common nouns
• Mr Tony Stark – Proper noun; dog – Common noun
• Boy, mother – Common nouns
• Flat – Common noun; Lenin Street – Proper noun
• Reporter, news – Common nouns; Noida – Proper noun
• Milk – Common noun
• Rose – Proper noun; Girl – Common noun
• Novel – Common noun; Emily Bronte – Proper noun
• King Arthur – Proper noun; king – Common noun
• Author, novel – Common nouns
• Captain, ship, iceberg – Common nouns
• Judge, judgement – Common nouns
• Milky Way – Proper noun; galaxy – Common noun
• The Indian Express – Proper noun; newspaper – Common noun
• Sheldon Cooper – Pronoun noun; physicist – Common noun
• Ganga, India – Proper nouns; river – Common noun
• J.K Rowling, Harry Potter – Proper nouns; book – Common noun
• Uncle – Common noun; Reserve Bank of India – Proper noun

Exercise 2: Categorise the Nouns

Given below are some nouns which you have to categorise as common nouns and proper nouns.

Frequently Asked Questions on Common Noun and Proper Noun Exercises

What is a common noun.

Common nouns refer to those nouns that don’t refer to particular people, things, places or animals. For example, “The man goes to the office.” Here, ‘man’ and ‘office’ are common nouns.

What is a proper noun?

A proper noun refers to the particular/specific names of places, animals, places or things. For example, “The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.” Here, ‘Eiffel Tower’ and ‘Paris’ are names of particular places.

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