Proper Nouns

A proper noun is a specific name given to a person, place, thing, or idea. Unlike common nouns, which refer to general things, proper nouns always start with a capital letter because they name unique, individual entities.

A How To Identify Proper Nouns.

  1. Does the noun refer to a specific person, place, thing, or idea?

    • Example: "city" (common) vs. "New York" (proper).

  2. Does the noun start with a capital letter?

    • Example: "dog" (common) vs. "Rex" (proper).

  3. Can you replace the noun with a general category?

    • Example: "Eiffel Tower" (proper) → "a landmark" (common).

  4. Is the noun a brand name or a title?

    • Example: "Nike" (proper) vs. "shoes" (common).

  5. Does the noun refer to a specific event, organization, or work?

    • Example: "The Olympics" (proper) vs. "a sports event" (common).

10 Example Sentences Using Proper Nouns

  1. Emma won first place in the spelling competition.

    "Emma" is a proper noun because it is the specific name of a person.

  2. Dr. Smith will be giving a lecture on heart health next week.

    "Dr. Smith" is a proper noun because it includes a title and a specific person’s name.

  3. We visited Paris last summer and explored the Eiffel Tower.

    "Paris" is a proper noun because it is the name of a specific city.

  4. My dad drives a Toyota because he likes reliable cars.

    "Toyota" is a proper noun because it is the name of a specific car brand.

  5. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth.

    "The Pacific Ocean" is a proper noun because it refers to a specific body of water.

  6. I watched Harry Potter again because it’s my favorite movie series.

    "Harry Potter" is a proper noun because it is the title of a specific book and movie series.

  7. My friends and I are going to Disneyland next weekend.

    "Disneyland" is a proper noun because it is the specific name of an amusement park.

  8. Amazon delivers packages very quickly to my house.

    "Amazon" is a proper noun because it is the name of a specific company.

  9. Our school will be closed on Independence Day.

    "Independence Day" is a proper noun because it is the name of a specific holiday.

  10. Microsoft just released a new update for Windows 11.

    "Microsoft" is a proper noun because it is the name of a well-known company.