What are nouns?
Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or animals. Every sentence usually has at least one noun.
- teacher (person)
- school (place)
- book (thing)
- dog (animal)
If you can name it or point to it, it is probably a noun.
What is a common noun?
A common noun names any person, place, or thing. It does not name a specific one and is usually not capitalized.
- city
- teacher
- park
- book
Common nouns are only capitalized at the beginning of a sentence.
What is a proper noun?
A proper noun names a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns always begin with a capital letter.
- New York City
- Mrs. Johnson
- Central Park
- Charlotte’s Web
Always check for capital letters when you see a proper noun.
Common nouns and proper nouns together
Common nouns and proper nouns can name the same type of thing. The difference is whether the noun is general or specific.
- girl → Emily
- school → Lincoln Elementary School
- state → California
If the noun names one special person, place, or thing, it is a proper noun.
Using nouns correctly in sentences
Using nouns correctly helps make sentences clear and complete.
- The dog ran across the yard.
- Max ran across the yard.
- We visited the museum on Saturday.
- We visited the Science Museum on Saturday.
Remember to capitalize proper nouns every time they appear in a sentence.