In this lesson, we will include a sample lesson from our new course “Perfect Usage: English Nouns”. It is not available yet, but you can see a small part of one of the lessons here π
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Start the Lesson
1 Explanation
A common noun is a noun that names a general thing, not a specific thing.
(Common means “shared by more than one”.)
Cat is a common noun.
Examples:
Boy, girl, city, country, company, planet, location, war.
Proper Nouns
A proper noun is a noun that indicates the specific name of someone or something. It begins with a capital letter.
(Proper means “belonging to one”.)
Mabel (this cat’s name) is a proper noun.
Examples:
Robin, Alice, London, Sweden, Google, Earth, Eiffel Tower, World War I.
Why Is This Important to Know?
You should note when a proper noun is used, so that you can capitalize it correctly. Otherwise, your writing may seem unprofessional or incorrect.
For example: (proper nouns are bold, common nouns are italic)
- CORRECT: We read the article about Abraham Lincoln.
- INCORRECT: We read the Article about Abraham Lincoln.
- INCORRECT: We read the Article about abraham lincoln.
- INCORRECT: We read the article about abraham lincoln.
So it is helpful to notice proper nouns, and properly capitalize them! π
2 Comparing Examples
Compare the Following Examples:
(Pause or click your mouse on each image for a moment, and read the explanation.)
3 Practice
Test Your Understanding
Choose the correct answer, and then click the blue arrow to continue. Continue this way until you answer all questions correctly.
4 Play
End of Sample Lesson
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