Common And Proper Nouns: Definitions, Categories, And Examples (A Comprehensive Guide)

Introduction

Common and proper nouns are two types of nouns in English. Common nouns refer to non-specific people (e.g. man, woman, girl…), places (e.g. city, ocean, country…), things (e.g. table, book, computer…), ideas (e.g. love, respect, envy…) Proper nouns, however, name specific people, places, or things. In this article, we will define these nouns and explore their different types, illustrating them with examples.

Let’s start first with defining nouns!

What is a Noun?

A noun is a part of speech that names some specific thing or set of things, such as living creatures, objects, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas. Grammatically, a noun can function as the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition. There are different classifications of nouns:

Classifications of Nouns:

Abstract Nouns: Representing intangible concepts, such as freedom, love, and courage.
Concrete Nouns: Referring to tangible and perceptible entities like a table, dog, or house.
Animate Nouns: Encompassing living beings such as man, elephant, or chicken.
Inanimate Nouns: Covering non-living objects like stone, wood, or table.
Collective Nouns: Grouping entities together, such as family, flock, or audience.
Compound Nouns: Formed by combining two or more words, like sister-in-law, schoolboy, or fruit juice.
Countable Nouns: Quantifiable entities such as friends, books, or rooms.
Uncountable Nouns: Representing non-quantifiable substances like water, bread, or money.
Common Nouns: General names for entities, including table, book, or window.
Proper Nouns: Specific names assigned to particular entities, such as John, Joseph, or London.

In the following sections, our exploration narrows down to the common and proper nouns. Before discussing each in detail, let’s first establish concise definitions for each category.

Let’s get started!

Common and Proper Nouns

Common Nouns are general names for people, places, things, or ideas, not specifying any particular entity, such as “table,” “book,” or “city.” On the other hand, Proper Nouns are specific names assigned to particular people, places, or things, like “John,” “Paris,” or “Mount Everest.” Common nouns refer broadly to classes, while proper nouns pinpoint individual entities with unique identities.

What are common nouns?

Common nouns name non-specific people (e.g. man, woman, girl…), places (e.g. city, ocean, country…), things (e.g. table, book, computer…), ideas (e.g. love, respect, envy…)

List of Common Nouns

Here’s a table with examples of common nouns classified into categories:

Category	Examples
People	man, woman, child, teacher
Places	city, ocean, park, restaurant
Things	table, book, computer, bicycle
Ideas	love, respect, envy, freedom

Characteristics of Common Nouns

Here are some characteristics of common nouns:

Article Usage:
- Common nouns may be preceded by articles such as “the” or “a.”
  - Example: “the city I like,” “a woman,” “the book over there.”
Countability:
- Common nouns can be either countable or uncountable.
  - Countable: “cities,” “friends,” “boys.”
  - Uncountable: “love,” “hate,” “respect.”
Capitalization:
- Common nouns are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
  - Example: “The city is bustling,” but “I visited a city last week.”

What are Proper Nouns?

Proper nouns are names for special, specific people, places, or things. They point to particular individuals or unique entities, like “John,” “Pacific Ocean,” “London,” and “Mercedes.” These names are special because they are about particular and distinct things.

List of Proper Nouns

Here is a list of proper nouns classified into different categories:

Category	Examples
People	John, Mary, Albert
Places	Paris, Mount Everest
Countries	Canada, Australia
Rivers	Nile, Amazon
Mountains	Rocky Mountains, Alps
Cities	London, Tokyo
Brands	Apple, Mercedes
Celestial Bodies	Sun, Sirius

Characteristics of Proper Nouns

Proper nouns possess distinctive characteristics that set them apart from common nouns. Understanding these features is crucial for identifying and using them effectively.

Capitalization:
- One key feature of proper nouns is that they are always capitalized. Regardless of their position in a sentence, names such as “Leila,” “California,” and “Mississippi” begin with a capital letter.
Number Invariance:
- Proper nouns typically remain invariant for number. While most are singular, there are exceptions when referring to entities like families, mountain ranges, or groups of islands, where they can take on a plural form.
  - Examples: “The Johnsons family,” “The Himalayas,” “The Hebrides.”
Article Usage:
- Unlike common nouns, English proper nouns are generally not preceded by articles such as “the” or “a.” This absence of articles distinguishes them in sentences.
  - Example: Not “the John,” but simply “John.”
Determiner and Modifier Absence:
- Proper nouns do not typically require other determiners or modifiers. They stand alone without additional qualifiers like “many” or “much.”
  - Example: Not “many John,” but just “John.”

What is the difference between common and proper nouns?

Common and proper nouns serve distinct roles in language, each with its own set of conventions and applications.

Here’s a summarized comparison between common and proper nouns in table format:

Characteristic	Common Nouns	Proper Nouns
Generality vs. Specificity	General names, non-specific (e.g., “table,” “city”)	Specific names for individual entities (e.g., “John,” “Paris”)
Capitalization	Not capitalized (except at the beginning of a sentence)	Always capitalized
Article Usage	Can be preceded by articles like “the” or “a”	Generally not preceded by articles
Countability and Plurality	Can be countable or uncountable, and may have singular or plural forms	Typically singular, may become plural in specific instances

Common and Proper Nouns

In a nutshell

In summary, common nouns refer to nonspecific persons, places, things, or ideas, while proper nouns are specific names for particular individuals, locations, or entities. These two types of nouns exhibit distinct characteristics, with proper nouns always being capitalized and common nouns only capitalized at the beginning of sentences

Here is a table with examples of each:

Common nouns	Proper nouns
Woman	Nancy
City	London
Car	Toyota
Mountain	Everest
Writer	Ernest Hemingway
Restaurant	Pizza Hut