Common and Proper Nouns - Free Grammar Lesson

A common noun

 is a general term that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. Examples of common nouns include teacher, city, book, and love.

A proper noun

 is a specific name that refers to a particular person, place, thing, or idea. Proper nouns are always capitalized. Examples of proper nouns include Mrs. Smith, New York, the Great Wall of China, and Christmas.

Types of common nouns and proper nouns:

1. Abstract nouns: These are nouns that represent intangible concepts, such as love, happiness, or freedom.

2. Collective nouns: These are nouns that refer to groups of people or things, such as team, herd, or family.

3. Countable nouns: These are nouns that can be counted, such as cat, apple, or dollar.

4. Uncountable nouns: These are nouns that cannot be counted, such as milk, furniture, or information.

Special cases to consider when dealing with common and proper nouns:

1. Titles: These are words that come before a person's name and indicate their profession, rank, or status, such as Dr., Mr., or President.

2. Brand names: These are the names of specific products or companies, such as Coca-Cola, Nike, or Google.

3. Geographical names: These are the names of specific places, such as mountains, rivers, and countries.

4. Historical events: These are specific events that occurred in the past, such as the Civil War or the Holocaust.

5. Holidays: These are specific days that are celebrated, such as Christmas, Easter, or Hanukkah.

 Comprehension Exercises Common and Proper Nouns:

1. Identify the common nouns and proper nouns in the following sentence: "My sister, who is a doctor, lives in New York City."

2. Write a sentence using an abstract noun.

3. Write a sentence using a collective noun.

4. Write a sentence using a countable noun.

5. Complete the following sentence using a proper noun: "The _______ of Independence is a famous document in American history." 

    

   (Answer: Declaration)