Common and Proper Nouns - Can you Tell me the Difference?

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are specific names given to particular people, places, or things. They always begin with a capital letter.

Examples of proper nouns in sentences:

1. **John** is coming over for dinner tonight. (John is a specific person's name.)

2. We visited **New York City** last summer. (New York City is a specific place.)

3. She loves drinking **Starbucks** coffee every morning. (Starbucks is a specific brand.)

Common Nouns

Common nouns are general names for people, places, or things. They do not refer to anything specific and do not begin with a capital letter unless they start a sentence.

Examples of common nouns in sentences:

1. The **boy** rode his bicycle to school. (Boy is a general term for any young male.)

2. There is a beautiful park in the middle of the **city**. (City refers to any urban area.)

3. She bought a refreshing **drink** from the store. (Drink is a general term for any beverage.)

Understanding the difference between proper and common nouns helps us communicate clearly and accurately about specific versus general things!