Proper Noun

What is a Proper Noun?

Proper nouns are words which is used to specify the name of people, places, objects or animals. It is always capitalised in English as it is specialised and unique. For example, Bella, London, Earth, etc.

Examples of Proper Noun

Place

Animal

Person

Thing

Examples of Proper Nouns in Sentences

1. John and Mary visited the Eiffel Tower during their trip to Paris.
2. Apple Inc. announced the launch of their latest iPhone model at the annual tech conference.
3. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world, located in the Himalayas.
4. The Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
5. Shakespeare wrote many famous plays, including "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet".
6. The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, stands proudly in New York Harbor.
7. The Louvre Museum in France houses the famous painting, Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci.
8. Tokyo is the capital city of Japan and a bustling metropolis with a rich cultural heritage.
9. The Amazon River is the second-longest river in the world, flowing through South America.
10. The Sydney Opera House is an iconic architectural marvel located in Australia.

When to Use Proper Nouns?

1. We use proper nouns when we have to refer to specific individuals like the names of celebrities, historical figures or citizens. For example, 'Shane is a great cricketer.'
2. They are used to name specific locations such as names of countries, continents, states or cities. For example, 'I have visited Thailand'.
3. They are used to refer to a specific named animal or character, especially in movies, stories or books. For example, Sebastian is a crab from the movie 'The Little Mermaid.'
4. They are used for specific named books, brands or movies. For example, 'I bought a PlayStation.'

To Read About Singular Noun: Click here

Common Mistakes with Proper Nouns

While using proper noun, students frequently make the following mistakes:

1. Students often forget to capitalise the first letter of proper noun. According to proper noun definition, they are unique and special, it is important to always capitalise them even when they appear in the middle of sentences. For example, Students often write 'My favourite singer is taylor swift' instead of writing 'My favourite singer is Taylor Swift'.
2. Since proper noun can be unfamiliar, students often misspell them when they do not know the correct spelling. For example, Students may write 'I live in Newzealand' instead of 'I live in New Zealand

How to Identify Proper Nouns in a Sentence?

1. First, need to look for words that begin with a capital letter to find a proper noun in a sentence. 
2. Then ask yourself who or what the word is talking about in the sentence's context. 
3. Most importantly, look for any specific name of a location, thing, individual or animal.

Difference Between Proper Nouns and Common Nouns

Proper nouns and common nouns are two types of nouns in English grammar:

FAQs

1. What is a proper noun?

Answer: A proper noun is used to refer to a particular place, people, animal or things. They are always capitalised because they are unique names.

2. Should all nouns be capitalised?

Answer: We don’t have to capitalise all nouns. Only proper noun like names of month, days, people, events, festivals, languages or brand names are capitalised.

3. What are some examples of proper nouns?

Answer: Examples of proper nouns are Rachel, London, January, Christmas, English, Connor, Oscar, America, Bangkok, etc.

4. What makes proper nouns different from common nouns?

Answer: Proper nouns refer to the specific names of people, months, animals or events whereas common nouns refer to the general name of people, animals and events. Examples of proper nouns are Michael, Jim, June, July, etc whereas examples of common nouns are month, painters, farmers, etc.