What Is a Proper Noun? Meaning, Use, Rules & Examples

What Is a Proper Noun?

As per the Cambridge Dictionary, a proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, day, month, language, or object that is spelled with a capital letter. These nouns are always capitalized in English, whether they come in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. One of the specialties of proper nouns is that they refer to an individual thing, person, or place and not a general group. For example- John (a person), Paris (place), and Black (color name).

Hopefully, now you are clear with the proper noun definition and examples . If you want to master the English grammar rules, you must know how to use them. By exploring different samples, understanding them can be easy for you.

Examples of Proper Nouns

As mentioned above, if you practice for the proper noun examples you will understand the rules in a better way. Here are some examples of proper nouns we have given, you can read them and get a clear review of these nouns.

People:

• Ravi Shankar
• Padmanaban
• President Bush
• Professor Dolittle 

Places:

• London, New York
• India, Japan
• Costa Rica
• Nehru Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• The United States of America
• The People's Republic of China

Things:

• The Titanic
• The Eiffel Tower, Big Ben
• Google, Apple
• Lord of the Rings
• The Sun, The Earth

There are different types of proper noun examples. Hopefully, you have got a clear idea of some of them from the above details.

What Is the Difference Between Proper Nouns and Common Nouns?

In English grammar rules, the use of common nouns and proper nouns is not the same. The key difference between both nouns lies in their specificity. Proper nouns denotes specific individuals, while the common noun indicates a general category of place, people, or things. Take a quick look below, to the table and identify the difference between proper nouns and common nouns.

After going through the above table, hopefully now you are able to identify the key difference between the proper and common noun.

Capitalization Rules for the Use of Proper Nouns in Sentences

In English grammar, every topic has different rules. Till now, you have identified the proper noun meaning and its several examples. Along with this, knowing the rules of proper nouns is important for a better understanding. People use capital letters in sentences, words, or phrases of different types. However, in grammar, proper nouns should always be capitalized, regardless of their position in a sentence. Here are some proper noun examples in sentences, along with the explanation of the capitalize rule.

• Direction:Generally, directions are not capitalized when used in sentences. Capitalize directions north, south, east, or west if they are a part of a proper noun. For example- The plane flew to North Dakota.
• Relationship:In English grammar, terms indicating relationships such as mom, dad, aunt, uncle are capitalized when used in proper noun. For example- Please ask Dad about dinner.
• Days and Months:The names of days and months are proper nouns in English and therefore always capitalized when used in a sentence. For instance- I have a meeting on Wednesday.
• Seasons: In general, the names of seasons like spring, summer, winter, or monsoon are not capitalized unless they are part of a proper noun or are the first word in a sentence. For example- We are going to the Spring Festival next weekend,
• Nationalities & Countries:The names of countries and nationalities are always capitalized because they are considered proper nouns, which are specific names for places. For instance- We traveled through France and Germany.
• Brand Names:In grammar, brand names are generally considered as proper nouns so they will be capitalized in any phrase or sentences. For example- I want to buy a new Apple laptop.
• Languages:The names of specific languages like English, Spanish, German, or French are proper nouns and should always be capitalized. This rule applies in a sentence no matter where the language word is used. For example- I speak English and French.
• Events of Historical Importance:Proper nouns, including the names of specific historical events, periods, and documents, should always be capitalized. For example- The Civil War was a significant event in American history.
• Professions & Job Titles:Proper nouns referring to professions and job titles are capitalized when they are used as part of a name or title and used formally as a direct address. For instance- President Lincoln delivered a significant speech.

The above details were about the proper noun examples in sentences with the capitalization rule description.

Test Your Knowledge of Proper Nouns

After understanding the meaning of proper nouns, it is time to test your knowledge by solving a worksheet. In this proper noun worksheet, you have given some sentences in which you have to identify and capitalize the proper nouns.

1. Jaipur is a city of rajasthan.
2. May is the month of flowers.
3. I'm studying at harvard university.
4. The mona lisa is displayed in the louvre museum.
5. President lincoln gave the gettysburg address.
6. My favorite book is the lord of the rings.
7. Mary went to the empire state building on tuesday.
8. President obama was the former president of the united states.
9. Rover the dog loves to play fetch in central park.
10. Sheldon cooper is an intelligent physicist.

Answer for the worksheet:

1. Jaipur is a city in Rajasthan.
2. May is the month of flowers.
3. I'm studying at Harvard University.
4. The Mona Lisa is displayed in the Louvre Museum.
5. President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.
6. My favorite book is The Lord of the Rings.
7. Mary went to the Empire State Building on Tuesday.
8. President Obama was the former president of the United States.
9. Rover the dog loves to play fetch in Central Park.
10. Sheldon Cooper is an intelligent physicist.

Conclusion

To conclude, we have discussed the proper noun definition and examples in this blog. Finally, you are clear about what is a proper noun and its capitalized rule. Apart from this, you have solved a worksheet of proper nouns and identified the use very well. As you know, there are different parts of nouns, so after knowing the proper noun, you must read about the common noun, abstract noun, material noun, and compound nouns to make a strong foundation of the English language.

FAQs on Proper Nouns

1. What Is the Difference Between Common and Proper Nouns?

A common noun refers to a general people, place, or things, while a proper noun names specific, unique people, places, or things. Common nouns are generally not capitalized unless they are at the start of a sentence, but proper nouns will always capitalized.

2. Should Proper Nouns Always Be Capitalized?

Yes, proper nouns always be capitalize in English because they are specific names for individual people, place, or locations. 

3. What Is Proper Adjective?

A proper adjective is an adjective derived from a proper noun, which is a specific name of a place, person, or thing.

4. Can Proper Nouns Be Plural?

In most cases, proper nouns are singular. However, these nouns can have plural forms, when referring to multiple individuals, families, surnames, or groups. For example- the Khannas and the Smiths.

5. Are Days and Months Proper Nouns?

Yes, the names of days and months are considered proper nouns in English and are always capitalized. This is because they are specific names for particular periods, similar to proper nouns that name specific people or places.