In English, nouns are divided into proper and common nouns. Proper nouns refer to a specific person, thing, or object. However, common nouns are the generic name used for a person, thing, place, or object. Both common and proper nouns are opposite to each other.Â
In this article, you will learn what a proper noun is, the difference between common and proper nouns, when to capitalize proper nouns, and examples of sentences using proper nouns.
A proper noun is a noun that refers to the specific name of a person, thing, place, or object. It is the opposite of a common noun and is always capitalized in English. In other words, a proper noun is the real name of a person, thing, or place.
Examples of proper nouns
Places:
- New York
- London
- United States
- Mount Everest
- Amazon
Persons:
- Einstein
- George Washington
- Donald J. Trump
Objects:
- Titanic
- Apolo
Organizations:
- NASA
- UNO
Examples of Proper Nouns in Sentences
- I have been to New York.
- Albert Einstein was a physicist.
- Apollo was the first mission to the Moon.
- NASA is exploring Mars.
- She lives in London.
- The Great Smoky Mountains is a famous tourist spot.
- The United States signed trade agreements with other nations.
Proper Noun vs. Common Noun
So, the difference between a common and proper noun is that a common noun is the generic name of anything, such as a person, a place, a thing, or an object or an idea, such as
- house,
- person
- cat
- magazine
- city.
However, a proper noun is the specific name of a person, place, thing, object, or idea, such as:
- Buckingham Palace
- Cynthia
- National Geographic
The distinction between common and proper nouns is usually relatively easy.
When we speak, it makes no difference whether a noun is a proper or a common noun because it does not impact syntax.
However, we differentiate common and proper nouns in writing by placing capital letters.
When to Use Capital Letters with Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are always capitalized in writing, whether they appear at the beginning or in the sentences because they are the specific names of persons, places, things, or ideas.
See the following examples:
- George Washington was the first president of the United States.
- I was watching the debate between Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden on the economy.
- Millions of people visit New York every year.
- We usually go to the Great Smoky Mountains to see the fall colors.
- Ali is a teacher.Â
- Maria lives in a city.Â
- New York is the most popular city in the world.
Final Thoughts
In English grammar, a noun is either a common noun or a proper noun. These are the two main types of nouns in the English language. Thus, a noun cannot be a common and proper noun at the same time.
However, there are two situations where a common noun is usually capitalized. First, if a common noun comes at the beginning of the sentence, then it must be capitalized. Second, if it appears in the title, it is always capitalized to show that it is part of the title.
FAQs About Proper Nouns
What is a proper noun?
A proper noun is the specific name of a person, thing, place, or an object. It is the opposite of a common noun which refers to common or generic name of a thing, place, person, or an idea.
What is an example of a proper noun?
The example of a proper noun is;
- Great Wall of China
- Egypt
- George Washington
- Dave
Can a proper noun be plural?
Yes, a proper noun can be a plural noun as long as more than one thing shares the name —for example, Johnsons, Smiths, Oscars, etc.
What is the difference between a proper and a common noun?
A proper noun is the specific name, such as Ali, Maria, New York, or UNO. Whereas, a common noun is the generic name of a person, place, thing, or idea, such as a boy, a city, a school, or a park.
I hope this article helped you learn the meaning and definition of a proper noun, examples of proper nouns and their usages in sentences, and how to use them correctly. If you liked it, then please subscribe to our newsletter for more grammar articles and the latest blog posts. You can also follow us on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.