Common Nouns

Nouns are an essential part of speech and are divided into two main groups: common and proper nouns. Common nouns are generic names that describe things in general, not specifically. They are most frequently used in English, so learning their correct use is essential for language learners to improve their communication skills.

In this article, you will learn about common nouns, the difference between common and proper nouns, and how to use them, with examples and sentences.

What is a common Noun?

A common noun is the generic name of a person, thing, idea, or place. It is the opposite of a proper noun, which describes or names things, places, or persons more specifically. See the examples below:

Examples:

• car
• house
• city
• street
• cup
• table
• class
• girl
• boy
• man
• woman

As mentioned earlier, all nouns are divided into two main categories: common and proper. In English grammar, a common noun is a noun that generally describes or names things, places, objects, persons, or ideas. In other words, a common noun describes one thing, person, or place out of the whole class.

A common noun is the direct opposite of a proper noun because a proper noun is the specific name of a person, thing, or place.

Common nouns are further divided into abstract, concrete, or collective nouns.

Examples:

• This is a book.
• I saw a bird.
• Kids are playing a game.

In the above examples, book, bird, and game are common nouns.

Book, bird, and game are common nouns.

Common Noun Vs, Proper Noun

The difference between a common and a proper noun is that a common noun is used to name something or someone generally out of the whole class or group such as a book, cat, tree, bus, or house. 

On the other hand, a proper noun is the specific name of things, places, people, or ideas, such as Tom, New York, etc.

The other notable distinction between common nouns and proper nouns is that common nouns are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. In contrast, proper nouns are always capitalized in sentences.

Common Nouns are Lowercaser

In English, common nouns are always lowercase unless they appear at the beginning of the sentence or in a title. See the following examples to understand use of common nouns in English.

Examples:

• I visited many places this year. 
• I live in a city. 
• The city is expanding rapidly. 

When Common Noun is Capitalized

If a common noun appears at the beginning of the sentence, capitalization rules apply, and the first letter of the common noun must be capitalized.

• Men and women will participate in the event.
• Boys and girls are studying for their final exam.
• Kids are playing soccer.
• City dwellers are celebrating their cultural events.

Similarly, if a common noun is part of the title, it must be capitalized. For instance, cat is a common noun; when it appears in a title like ‘My Fluffy Cat,’ it is capitalized.

• I wrote a story about “My Best Dog”. 
• She was reading an article on “Best Places to Visit in Atlanta”.
• Kids love the Atlanta Zoo.

Example Sentences Using Common Nouns

• He lives in a city.
• A man was walking on the sidewalk.
• A cat is sitting under the table.
• I need to buy a computer for my schoolwork.
• The teacher was present in the class.
• A cat is scared to go outside in the rain.
• He writes notes in the notebook.
• He reads a newspaper.
• He writes a letter.
• She cooks food for everyone.

Conclusion

Nouns are divided into two main groups: common and proper. 

Common nouns are frequently used in English.

A common noun is the generic name of anything, such as a place, person, thing, idea, or object.

A common noun can be further divided into three groups: concrete noun, abstract noun, and collective noun.

In fact, a common noun represents the whole group or class of things, places, persons, objects, or ideas.

Common nouns are distinct from proper nouns, which are used to name something more specifically. it is the specific name of a place, person, thing, or idea.

Common nouns are always written in lowercase. The only exceptions are when they appear at the start of the sentence or in the title, then they are capitalized. 

Common Nouns FAQs

What is a common noun in English grammar?

A common noun in English grammar is a noun of a thing, person, place, or idea that is used to represent the whole class generally, not specifically. For instance, man, woman, book, city, house. These are all common nouns and represent their groups or classes.

Is a common noun different than a proper noun?

Yes, a common noun is the generic name of persons, places, things, and ideas. However, a proper noun is the specific name of a person, thing, place, or idea. 

The second distinction between common nouns and proper nouns is that common nouns are always lower case unless they appear at the start of the sentence or title, whereas proper nouns are always capitalized. 

What are some examples of common nouns in English?

Some of the examples of common nouns are: book, cat, house, city, country, president, girl, woman, and man.

I hope this article helped you learn what common nouns are and grammar rules on how to use them in English correctly. If you liked it, please share it and subscribe to our newsletter for updates and the latest blog posts.

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