π Proper Nouns vs. Common Nouns: What's the Difference?
Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. But not all nouns are created equal! Proper nouns are specific names, while common nouns are general names. The biggest difference you'll notice? Capitalization!
π Definitions
- π·οΈ Common Noun: A general name for a person, place, thing, or idea. It doesn't need a capital letter unless it starts a sentence.
- π Proper Noun: A specific name for a particular person, place, thing, or idea. It always starts with a capital letter.
π Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature |
Common Noun |
Proper Noun |
| Definition |
General name |
Specific name |
| Capitalization |
No (unless at the start of a sentence) |
Yes (always) |
| Examples |
city, month, river, dog |
London, January, Amazon River, Fido |
π‘ Key Takeaways
- βοΈ Common nouns are general and don't require capitalization (e.g., book, school).
- πΊοΈ Proper nouns are specific and always need capitalization (e.g., Harry Potter, Harvard University).
- π
Days of the week and months are always proper nouns (e.g., Monday, February).
- π The names of cities, countries, and specific places are proper nouns (e.g., Paris, Canada, Eiffel Tower).
- πββοΈ People's names are always proper nouns (e.g., Alice, Mr. Smith).
- πβπ¦Ί Even pet names are proper nouns (e.g., Max, Whiskers).
- βοΈ Pay attention to capitalization to identify proper nouns easily!