EXERCISE LIST ALL THE NOUNS IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.SAMPLES

2. We are approaching Lake Michigan.

In sentence 1, we call lake a common noun. In sentence 2, we call Lake Michigan a

proper noun.

What Is a Proper Noun?

A proper noun refers to one particular person, animal, place,or thing—like Lake Michigan in sentence 2.

A proper noun is always capitalized.

What Is a Common Noun?

A common noun refers to no particular person, animal,place, or thing, but to any one at all—like lake in sentence 1.

A common noun is not capitalized.

Here are some more examples of common and proper nouns.

COMMON NOUNS

PROPER NOUNS

(not capitalized) (always capitalized)

day (any day) Monday

month (any month) April

bridge (any bridge) Golden Gate Bridge

ocean (any ocean) Pacific Ocean

event (any event) Olympics

magazine (any magazine) Newsweek

institution (any institution) Congress

language (any language) Spanish

boy (any boy) Jim

girl (any girl) Brittany