
Teacher Olay
Common & Proper Nouns
COMMON AND PROPER NOUNS
Common noun - is a general name for a person, place, thing, or idea.
Common nouns are usually not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a title.
Example: boy, team, bike, shoe, book
Proper noun - is the name of a particular person, place, thing, or idea.
A proper noun is always capitalized.
Example: Miss Webb, United States of America, West Virginia, Bobby, George Washington
How many common nouns can you think of on a specific topic?
1. Nouns: Items in a Jewelry Store
2. Nouns: Grocery Store
3. Nouns: Fruits
How many proper nouns can you think of on a specific topic?
1. Nouns: Famous People
2. Nouns: States
3. Nouns: Fast Food Restaurants
Each sentence below contains two or more nouns. They are either all common nouns or all proper nouns.
Give the nouns and then indicate whether they are common or proper.
The answers for the first two sentences are done for you.
1. Does Jimmy really want to move to California? proper
2. An impolite fish asked my brother for a worm. common
3. Amy will travel to Norway and Sweden. ______________
4. Which is larger, Microsoft or Intel? _____________
5. Cats are very valuable helpers on a farm. ____________
6. My grandfather wasn’t allowed in that diner because of his strange habits. _____________
7. Cassy, Samantha, and David are playing outside. ___________
8. Happiness is a feeling that is hard to describe. ____________
9. Her smile became a frown as she noticed the tiny insects crawling out of her sandwich. _________________
10. The Giants will not play the Cubs in Orlando. ______________
Give the Proper noun and Common noun in the following sentences
1. In July, my family visited Washington, D.C.
2. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
3. My puppy is named Max.
4. Sam and Mary swept the sidewalk for Mrs. Johnson.
5. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
6. Ice cream, cake and cookies were served at the picnic.
7. We saved pennies in a jar to send to the missions.
8. John, Joe and Tim built a fort in the backyard.
9. Teresa cleared the table while Katie washed the dishes.
10. Mom put a silver star on my spelling test.
11. On the wall in our classroom, Dad hung a colorful poster of the alphabet.
12. The fish took the bait!
13. This Saturday, we are painting the hall at church.
14. What dress are you wearing to the concert?
15. English is my favorite subject!