Beginner 📐 Grammar · #5 of 305

Proper and Common Nouns

Proper nouns name specific things and start with a capital letter.

Examples

  • London is a city.
  • Maria is my friend.

Key rules

  • Proper nouns name specific people, places, days, months and brands and start with a capital letter
  • Common nouns name general things and use small letters: city, teacher
  • A common noun becomes proper when it is part of a name: Mr Brown, Lake Victoria
  • Languages and nationalities also have capitals

Common mistakes

  • I live in london → I live in London
  • She is my Teacher → She is my teacher
💡 Tip: If it is one unique name, use a capital letter.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Beginner quiz
← Countable and Uncountable NounsSubject Pronouns →

Related Beginner topics

See all Beginner grammar lessons →

Nouns: Naming Words

A noun names a person, place, thing or idea.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Add -s to most nouns; add -es after s, x, ch, sh.

Irregular Plurals

Some nouns change form instead of adding -s.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted; uncountable ones cannot take a/an or plural.

Subject Pronouns

I, you, he, she, it, we, they replace the subject.

Object Pronouns

me, you, him, her, it, us, them follow verbs or prepositions.