Proper and common nouns Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Question 1. Do the following sentences look a little strange?
Answer:
1. Mrs. smith took the 10th grade class of lincoln high school to france for a trip.
2. The class visited paris and was thrilled to see the eiffel tower.

These sentences look strange because the names are not capitalized. Normally, we capitalize the first letter of nouns that are actual names, no matter where they appear in a sentence. Let's look at the same sentences with the names written correctly:

3. Mrs. Smith took the 10th grade class of Lincoln High School to France for a trip.
4. The class visited Paris and was thrilled to see the Eiffel Tower.

Nouns that are actual names are called proper nouns; nouns that are not names are called common nouns. Notice that not only people have names: places (Rome), companies (IBM), and books (Gone with the Wind), among others, can have names, too.
In simple words: When a noun is a specific name of something - like a person, place, or thing - we write it with a capital letter. These are called proper nouns. Other nouns that are not specific names are called common nouns and we don't capitalize them.

Exam Tip: Always ask yourself: would I capitalize this noun no matter where it appears in a sentence? If yes, it is a proper noun.

Quick Tip 6.1

Nouns that are actual names, for example Mary, are called proper nouns. Nouns that are not names are called common nouns, for example girl.

Quick Tip 6.2

One way to recognize a proper noun is to ask yourself: is this a noun I would capitalize, no matter where it is in a sentence? If so, it's a proper noun.

Test Yourself 6.1

For each noun below, work out if it is a proper noun or common noun. For this exercise, the proper nouns are not capitalized.

Question 1. seattle
Answer: proper
In simple words: Seattle is the specific name of a city, so it is a proper noun.

Exam Tip: When you see a place name, think about whether it is a specific location that always needs a capital letter - that makes it proper.

Question 2. crater lake national park
Answer: proper
In simple words: This is the exact name of a national park, so it counts as a proper noun.

Exam Tip: Names of specific places, landmarks, and parks are always proper nouns.

Question 3. tissues
Answer: common
In simple words: Tissues are everyday items that are not a brand name or specific thing, so this is a common noun.

Exam Tip: Common household items are usually common nouns unless they are brand names.

Question 4. sofa
Answer: common
In simple words: A sofa is a type of furniture that we use in general, not a specific name, so it is a common noun.

Exam Tip: General types of things or objects are common nouns.

Question 5. pepsi cola
Answer: proper
In simple words: Pepsi Cola is the brand name of a drink product, so it is a proper noun.

Exam Tip: Brand names and product names are always proper nouns.

Question 6. mediterranean sea
Answer: proper
In simple words: The Mediterranean Sea is the specific name of a body of water, so it is a proper noun.

Exam Tip: Names of oceans, seas, and water bodies are proper nouns.

Question 7. disneyland
Answer: proper
In simple words: Disneyland is the exact name of a famous theme park, so it is a proper noun.

Exam Tip: Names of specific locations, theme parks, and attractions are proper nouns.

Question 8. company
Answer: common
In simple words: Company is a general word for any business group, not a specific name, so it is a common noun.

Exam Tip: General terms for types of organizations are common nouns unless they are part of a specific company name.

Question 9. british broadcasting company
Answer: proper
In simple words: British Broadcasting Company is the official name of a specific organization, so it is a proper noun.

Exam Tip: Official names of organizations and companies are proper nouns.

Question 10. television
Answer: common
In simple words: Television is a general term for the device or medium itself, not a specific name, so it is a common noun.

Exam Tip: General types of technology or devices are common nouns unless they are brand names.