In grammar, common nouns and proper nouns are two types of nouns. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
Common nouns refer to general things, places, or people. They are not capitalized unless they come at the beginning of a sentence. For example, “dog,” “city,” and “teacher” are all common nouns.
Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things. They are always capitalized, even if they do not come at the beginning of a sentence. For example, “John Smith,” “New York City,” and “The White House” are all proper nouns.
Here is a table that summarizes the differences between common nouns and proper nouns:
| Feature | Common Noun | Proper Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Refers to | General things, places, or people | Specific things, places, or people |
| Capitalization | Not capitalized unless at the beginning of a sentence | Always capitalized |
| Examples | dog, city, teacher | John Smith, New York City, The White House |
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Here are some examples of how common nouns and proper nouns are used in sentences:
- Common noun: The dog chased the cat.
- Proper noun: John Smith chased the cat.
- Common noun: The city of New York is a great place to live.
- Proper noun: The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States.