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Noun Worksheets

The grammar worksheets on this page can be used to help students understand nouns. Topics include identifying basic nouns, common and proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, and collective nouns.

Basic Nouns

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Common & Proper Nouns

Abstract and Concrete Nouns

Collective nouns, singular & plural nouns, mixed noun skills.

Teach possessive nouns with the worksheets on this page. Includes basic singular possessives, as well as plural possessives.

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< noun worksheets

Common and proper nouns worksheets, definitions, and examples.

Welcome to our common and proper noun worksheets! Students typically start learning about common and proper nouns in the early elementary grades, around first or second grade. We’ve included some great resources below to help.

What are common nouns?

Students learn that a noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. A common noun is a general name for a person, place, thing, or idea, such as “toy,” “car,” or “rabbit.” On the other hand, a proper noun is the specific name of a person, place, thing, or idea, such as “New Jersey,” “Jenna Roberts,” or “The Mona Lisa.”

It’s important for students to understand the difference between common and proper nouns. For example, proper nouns are always capitalized, while common nouns are not. Proper nouns are used to identify specific people, places, or things, while common nouns refer to general categories.

We’ve included a variety of printable common and proper noun worksheets below to help your child or student understand more about common and proper nouns.

Common nouns are one of the two main types of nouns. They refer to general categories of people, places, things, or ideas, and are important grammar concepts. Common nouns are typically not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a proper noun.

There are many different categories of common nouns! These can include animals, food and drink, occupations, clothing, vehicles and more. Here are some categories of common nouns:

• Animals: My favorite pet is a dog .
• Food and drink: I had a delicious pizza for dinner last night.
• Occupations: My dad is a doctor and my mom is a teacher .
• Clothing: I need to buy a new pair of shoes for work.
• Vehicles: The train was delayed by 30 minutes this morning.
• Colors: She looks great in a red dress.
• Shapes: The street signs are in the shape of a triangle .
• Materials: This table is made of wood .
• Plants: I planted some flowers in my garden this weekend.
• Household items: We need a new lamp for the living room.
• Sports: My favorite sport is football .
• Music: I’m learning how to play the piano .
• Technology: I need to upgrade my computer soon.
• Education: The textbook for this class is really expensive.
• Geography: The Amazon River is the longest river in the world.
• Emotions: He expressed his anger by shouting at the other driver.
• Family: My sister is coming to visit me this weekend.
• Time: I have a meeting at 2 pm today.
• Money: How much is a euro compared to a dollar ?
• Weather: It’s really cold today, the snow is starting to pile up.

What are proper nouns?

Proper nouns refer to specific, unique entities, such as people, places, organizations, and events, and they are always capitalized. Proper nouns can refer to individuals or groups, and are important for accurately and specifically identifying specific people, places, organizations, and events. Here are some example categories:

• People : John Smith is a famous actor.
• Places: I’ve always wanted to visit Paris , France.
• Brands: I really like Nike sneakers.
• Events: The Olympic Games are held every four years.
• Works of art: The Mona Lisa is a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
• Positions: President Joe Biden gave a speech yesterday.
• Organizations: I’m a member of the Red Cross charity.
• Books: I recently read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
• Films: The Godfather is considered one of the greatest films of all time.
• Songs: My favorite song is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

Common Noun Examples

Animal common noun examples:

Food and drink common noun examples:

Occupations common noun examples:

• Electrician

Clothing common noun examples:

Vehicles common noun examples:

Colors common noun examples:

Shapes common noun examples:

Materials common noun examples:

Plants common noun examples:

Household items common noun examples:

Sports common noun examples:

Music common noun examples:

Technology common noun examples:

Education common noun examples:

Geography common noun examples:

Emotions common noun examples:

Family common noun examples:

• Grandmother
• Grandfather

Time common noun examples:

Money common noun examples:

Weather common noun examples:

• Thunderstorm

Proper Noun Examples

Proper nouns related to people:

• Oprah Winfrey
• LeBron James
• J.K. Rowling
• Abraham Lincoln
• Princess Diana
• Ronald Reagan
• Serena Williams
• Albert Einstein
• Nelson Mandela

Proper nouns related to brands:

• McDonald’s

Proper nouns related to events:

• Olympic Games
• World Series
• Cannes Film Festival
• Grammy Awards
• Tour de France
• New Year’s Eve
• Oktoberfest
• Burning Man

Proper nouns related to works of art:

• The Great Gatsby
• Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
• Les Misérables
• The Godfather
• The Shawshank Redemption
• The Beatles’ Abbey Road
• Michelangelo’s David

Proper nouns related to organizations:

• United Nations
• World Health Organization
• American Red Cross
• Amnesty International
• International Monetary Fund
• International Olympic Committee
• Doctors Without Borders
• World Wildlife Fund
• National Geographic Society

Proper nouns related to positions:

• Prime Minister
• Team Leader

Proper nouns related to places:

• Paris, France
• Machu Picchu
• The Great Barrier Reef
• Yellowstone National Park
• The Acropolis
• The Colosseum
• The Alhambra
• The Golden Gate Bridge

Common and Proper Noun Worksheets

This is a common and proper noun worksheet, where students Sort the words in the bank into the correct category.

In this sentence activity, students underline the common nouns in each sentence.

This is a noun match activity where students draw a line to match the common noun with the proper noun.

Students sort the words in the bank into the correct category, read the common nouns and write a proper noun to match, and in the last activity, match the common noun with the proper noun.

Students read each sentence and underline the proper noun.

Students read the common nouns and then write a proper noun to match.

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Proper & common nouns

Proper nouns: names of people, places and things.

These grade 1 grammar worksheets introduce proper nouns as the name of specific people, places or things; common nouns can be person, place or thing but are not names of specific people, places or things.  Students are asked to decide which nouns are proper and which are common.

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Find all of our nouns worksheets , from nouns as a person, place or thing to plural, irregular, collective and abstract nouns.

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Noun Worksheets

A noun is the part of speech that names a person, place or thing. The free noun worksheets below feature different noun types and their usage.

Noun Worksheets To see these noun worksheets individually or to download the noun worksheets PDF, click on the individual noun worksheets title. All printable noun worksheets are free to duplicate for home or classroom use.

Need a noun refresher? Here are some helpful articles on the different types of nouns .

Adjectives: Add the Noun

An adjective describes something; it usually describes a noun. With this printable parts of speech worksheet, students will be asked to add a noun for each adjective to describe. Made easy to print, this activity is perfect for use both at home and in the classroom!

Alphabet Collections: Nouns

With this printable activity, students will practice writing a noun for each letter of the alphabet. All the way from A to Z, see how many creative words your students can come up with! Our Parts of Speech Alphabet Worksheet is perfect for K – 3rd grade, but can be used where appropriate.

Capitalize Proper Nouns

Capitalize the proper nouns from the story.

Color the Nouns: Airplane

In this printable classroom activity, students will be asked to color any shape that has a noun in it the color yellow. Your students can choose to fill in the other shapes with any color they want, which makes this activity lots of fun. Once all of the shapes are filled in, your students will have uncovered a picture of a colorful airplane!

Color the Nouns: Kite

Noun identification is an important part of early education! With this printable classroom activity, students will be asked to color the shapes that have a noun in them. Once the shapes have been colored, students will reveal a picture of a kite!

Color the Nouns: Octopus

In this classroom activity, use the color green to fill in all of the shapes that have a noun in them. Then, use any color you like to fill in the rest of the shapes. Once everything is colored, students will reveal a picture of a octopus!

Color the Nouns: Tulips

Noun identification is an important part of early education! Students will be asked to color the shapes that have a noun in them, revealing a beautiful picture of tulips. This printable activity will make learning about nouns lots of fun!

Color the Nouns: Turtle

Use the color yellow to fill in all of the shapes that have a noun in them, and use any color you like to fill in the rest! Once all of the shapes are filled in, students will see a picture of a turtle. This helpful classroom activity makes learning about nouns lots of fun!

Common and Proper Nouns

Write Common or Proper on the line next to each noun. Then, write three of each.

Identifying Nouns

Read the story. Circle all the nouns. Write them on the lines below the story.

Circle the nouns and cross out words that are not nouns.

Nouns Review 1

Tell whether each noun is common or proper. Write the plural of each word.

Plural Noun Worksheet: S or ES?

Here’s some practice with plurals for your kindergartener!

Replace with Proper Nouns

Make the story more interesting by replacing the common nouns with proper

S or ES: Plural Noun Worksheet

In this kindergarten worksheet, your student will write the plural form of words.

Singular and Plural Nouns

If the noun is singular, write the plural form. If the noun is plural, write the singular form.

Sort the Common and Proper Nouns

Underline the common nouns and circle the proper nouns.

Write a Noun for Adjectives

Identifying parts of speech is an important skill to learn in early education! With this printable activity, students will practice writing nouns and adjectives. After reading through a series of adjectives, students will be asked to write a noun for each adjective to describe.

Abstract and Concrete Nouns Worksheet

Underline the concrete nouns and circle the abstract nouns.

Adventures With Alliteration! Nouns

Time to tackle the terrific alliteration!

Nouns Worksheets

Nouns worksheets practice.

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or idea. Nouns are used in your writing very often and are one of the most common parts of speech. In order to write a complete sentence, there must be a subject. A noun is often a part of the subject of a sentence. There are many different types of nouns in the English language. We currently have Nouns Worksheets for; Regular Nouns, Irregular Nouns, Concrete Nouns, Abstract Nouns, Collective Nouns, Possessive Nouns, Proper and Common Nouns, and Singular and Plural Nouns.

Here is a graphic preview for all of the Nouns worksheets. Our Nouns worksheets are free to download and easy to access in PDF format. Use these Nouns worksheets in school or at home. Click here for a description of all sub-topic Nouns Worksheets.

Quick Link for All Nouns Worksheets Sections

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Regular Nouns Worksheets

Proper and Common Nouns Worksheets

Singular and Plural Nouns Worksheets

Possessive Nouns Worksheets

Irregular Nouns Worksheets

Abstract Nouns Worksheets

Concrete Nouns Worksheets

Collective Nouns Worksheets

Noun Phrases Worksheets

Description for all sub-topic Nouns Worksheets

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or idea. Nouns are used in your writing very often and are one of the most common parts of speech. In order to write a complete sentence, there must be a subject. A noun is often a part of the subject of a sentence. There are many different types of nouns in the English language.

Some nouns are irregular. There are no spelling rules for making these nouns plural. You just need to remember how to spell these words. Our Irregular Nouns Worksheets are free to download and easy to access in PDF format. Use these Irregular Nouns Worksheets at school or at home.

A noun phrase is a group of words that functions in a sentences as a subject, object, or prepositional object. It is a phrase that has a noun as its head word, and preforms the same grammatical function as a phrase. A noun phrase is a noun with modifiers.

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). 

Return to the top

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. 

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• 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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Common and Proper Nouns KS2 worksheet

Subject: English

Age range: 5-7

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

18 January 2021

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A simple worksheet with explanations and questions around common and proper nouns. Suitable for KS2 recap and revision. Perfect for home learning as everything is on the sheet. Full editable in word.

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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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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.

Add your answer:

What is the plural form of the word homework?

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

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.

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 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.

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