Common Nouns and Proper Nouns Definitions and Examples

A common noun is a general name for any person, place, thing, or idea. It does not refer to something specific and is not capitalized unless it’s at the beginning of a sentence. Examples of common nouns are dog, city, and book.

A proper noun is the specific name of a particular person, place, thing, or idea. It is always capitalized. Examples of proper nouns include Charlie, New York, and Harry Potter.

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What Are Nouns?

Before diving into common and proper nouns, it’s important to briefly understand what a noun is. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. There are two main types of nouns: common nouns and proper nouns. learn more about the types of nouns to understand how different nouns categories function in sentences.

Common Nouns

Common nouns refer to general people, places, or things. They are not specific, which means they do not name a particular person, place, or thing. Common nouns are written in lowercase unless they begin a sentence.

Examples of Common Nouns

Here are a few common nouns for better understanding:

Person: teacher, doctor, student
Place: school, city, park
Thing: book, phone, table
Idea: love, happiness, freedom

Examples in sentences:

The teacher is explaining the lesson.
I saw a beautiful bird in the park.
The city is busy during the day.

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns refer to specific names of people, places, or things. These nouns always begin with a capital letter, regardless of where they appear in a sentence. Proper nouns give specific details about someone or something, making them distinct from common nouns.

Examples of Proper Nouns

Here are some examples of proper nouns:

Person: John, Marie, Elon Musk
Place: New York, London, Paris
Thing: The Great Wall of China, iPhone, Eiffel Tower
Event: Christmas, Eid, Thanksgiving

Examples in sentences:

John is going to Paris next week.
We celebrated Christmas with family.
Apple released the latest iPhone model.

Common Nouns and Proper Nouns with Examples

Differences Between Common Nouns and Proper Nouns

To make it easier to understand the difference between common and proper nouns, here is a comparison table:

Common Noun	Proper Noun
City	New York
school	Harvard University
company	Microsoft
country	France
car	Toyota

When to Use Common and Proper Nouns

Understanding when to use common nouns versus proper nouns can greatly improve your writing and communication.

Use common nouns when you are talking about something in general. For example, “I bought a new car” refers to any car, not a specific brand.
Use proper nouns when you are naming a specific person, place, or thing. For example, “I bought a new Toyota” refers to a specific brand of car.

Why Proper Nouns Always Start with a Capital Letter

The reason proper nouns always begin with a capital letter is to clearly distinguish them from common nouns. This distinction helps to identify when you’re referring to something unique or specific. It also helps readers or listeners understand the importance or specificity of what you’re talking about.

Advanced Usage of Common and Proper Nouns

As you advance in English, you may encounter situations where common nouns and proper nouns are used in more complex ways.

Titles and Brands:
- Common noun: “I love my new phone.”
- Proper noun: “I love my new iPhone.”
Countries and Nationalities:
- Common noun: “She is visiting a country.”
- Proper noun: “She is visiting Italy.”
Events:
- Common noun: “We will attend the event.”
- Proper noun: “We will attend New Year’s Eve.”

Common and Proper Noun Examples in Sentences

To better illustrate how both types of nouns are used in everyday writing and speaking, here are some example sentences that include both common and proper nouns:

The doctor works at St. Mary’s Hospital.
I am reading a book written by J.K. Rowling.
They traveled from Brazil to Argentina.
The museum in London is world-famous.

Example Sentences of common nouns and proper nouns

Common Nouns	Proper Nouns
The dog is barking loudly.	John is reading a book.
I need a new phone.	Sarah loves painting.
The car is parked outside.	London is a beautiful city.
She is holding a pen.	Amazon delivers fast.
We sat on the chair.	Tesla makes electric cars.
The book was very interesting.	Emma won the competition.
I see a bird flying in the sky.	Paris is the capital of France.
The baby is sleeping now.	Michael is going to the gym.
The house is very big.	Google is a popular search engine.
She has a beautiful dress.	Einstein was a great scientist.
He plays with the ball every day.	David works in a hospital.
The tree gives shade in the park.	California has nice weather.
The doctor gave me some advice.	Sony makes good cameras.
They saw a fish in the river.	Asia is the largest continent.
He bought a new bike.	Jennifer sings beautifully.
She found a key on the ground.	Apple released a new phone.
The student studied all night.	Shakespeare wrote many plays.
The teacher explained the lesson well.	Venus is the second planet from the sun.
He is building a small boat.	Nile is the longest river in the world.
The store is open until 9 PM.	Toyota is known for reliable cars.