What is a common noun and what is a proper noun?

Answer 1

A common noun is a word for any person, place, thing, or idea. A common noun is capitalized only when it is the first word in a sentence. Examples:

• parent
• country
• cabbage
• peace

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, thing, or a title. A proper noun is always capitalized. Examples:

• Atticus Finch
• Australia
• Eiffel Tower
• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

More Examples:

• grocery store = common, but Papa's Grocery Store is proper
• the president = common, but President Barack Obama is proper
• my school = common, but Ronald Reagan High is proper
• woman = common, Hillary Clinton = proper
• fort = common, The Alamo = proper
• mountains= common, The Rocky Mountains = proper
• team = common, The Green Bay Packers = proper
• park = common , Disneyland = proper
• war = common, 'War and Peace' = proper
• secretary = common, US Secretary of State = proper

Further examples in which the first word is a common noun and the second is a proper noun:

• store: Safeway
• minister: Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• town: Cape Cod, MA
• city: London, England
• state: California USA
• province: Ontario, Canada
• lake: Lake Michigan
• apple: Mott's Apple Juice
• cat: Garfield
• doughnuts: Dunkin Donuts
• jungle: The Jungle Book
• love: Can't Help Falling In Love With You
• hope: Hope, NJ
• courage: The Red Badge of Courage
• mall: Mall of America
• bologna: Oscar Meyer
• man: George Washington
• woman: Marge Simpson

Even More Examples :

• Common nouns : state, country, teacher, school, city, cookie, doctor, bridge, table, sheep, drink or sweater.
• Proper nouns : Iowa, Nevada, France, Italy, University of Alabama, Christina, Mr. Tom, Tito's Taco Palace, Dr Barrows, Merritt Parkway Bridge, Coca Cola, Time Magazine, or President of the United States.

Each word of a proper noun is capitalized.

A common noun is capitalized only when it is the first word in a sentence.

Answer 2

Proper nouns are the unique names of people, places, or things. Common nouns are the words for general things.