3 Nouns

Common Nouns

Nouns are divided into common nouns and proper nouns.

Common nouns are words for people, animals, places,
or things.
These are words for people. They are common nouns.

artist

Word File
Here are more words for people:
actor lawyer
aunt judge
baby man
baker nurse
cook police officer acrobat
dentist singer
clown
doctor soldier
giant teacher astronaut

you kn
id o
D Another word for astronaut is
w
?

spaceman or spacewoman.


These are words for animals. They are common nouns.

eagle
zebra

deer

crocodile
bird

bear Word File

Here are more words for animals:
cat goose
cow hen
dog horse
dolphin mouse
duck parrot
fish shark
goat whale

These are words for places. They are common nouns.

beach

park

Word File
Here are more words for places:
airport market
cave mountain
library church playground
shop farm restaurant
hill school
Everfresh Co.
hospital seashore
hotel stadium
house supermarket
island temple
mall zoo

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These are words for things. They are common nouns.

basket

bed

drum

cake

blanket Word File

Here are more words for things:
bag kite
box ladder
bread lamp
can picture
chair radio
cot television
cup train
desk truck
door watch
gate egg window
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 Exercise 1
Underline the common nouns in these sentences.
1 There’s a little bird in the garden.
2 Who is your teacher?
3 Don’t eat that rotten apple.
4 Kate has a lovely doll.
5 I like reading stories.
6 My father is a doctor.
7 Every child has a dictionary.
8 Rudy hates bananas.
9 The phone is ringing.
10 Here’s a book for you.
Exercise 2
Here’s a mixed bag of words. Put each word under its
correct heading.

swimmer snail fire engine clown

letters flag river barber
mountain fox hotel parrot
granny taxi gardener camel

People Animals Places Things

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Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are names for particular people, places or

things. They always begin with a capital letter.

Omar

Beethoven

Word File Santa Claus

Here are some more names
of people:
Ali Baba
Florence Nightingale
Derek Jeter
Pauline
Lisa
Johnny Depp
Patrick
Harry Potter
Pinocchio
Robin Hood

you kn
id o Your own name and the names
D
of your friends are proper
w

Kim Lee
?

nouns too.
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The names of countries and their people are also
proper nouns.

American Egyptian Indian Italian Thai

Japanese Korean Malay Filipino Pakistani

Country People Country People

America Americans Korea Koreans
Egypt Egyptians Malaysia Malaysians
India Indians Pakistan Pakistanis
Italy Italians France the French
Japan the Japanese Thailand Thais
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The names of towns, cities, buildings and landmarks
are proper nouns.

Egypt

Hong Kong

the Great Wall of China

the Statue of Liberty

Tokyo Sydney
Bangkok New Delhi
London Denver the Grand Canyon
New York Central Park the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Paris the Eiffel Tower Brooklyn Bridge
Beijing Big Ben Pike’s Peak
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 The days of the week and months of the year are proper
nouns.

Days
Sunday March March March March
Monday 1 2 3 4
Sunday Monday Tuesda es day
y Wedn
Tuesday
Wednesday
March March Mar
Thursday ch
Friday
5 6 7
Thursday Friday Satu
rda
Saturday y
Months
January
February
March
January
February March April April
May
June
July
May June
July August August
September
October
December
November
e r October November December
Septemb

you kn
id o
D
January is the first month of the year.
w
?

Sunday is the first day of the week.

A table that shows the months, weeks and
days

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 The names of mountains, seas, rivers and lakes are
proper nouns.

Mount Everest

the Thames

Lake Michigan
the Alps the Himalayas
the Dead Sea the Pacific Ocean Niagara Falls
Mount Fuji the Yellow River
you kn
id o
D
w

You often use the before names of oceans,

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rivers, seas and ranges of mountains.

Mount means mountain.
It is often used in the names of mountains.
For example: Mount Everest
Mount St. Helens
The written short form for Mount is Mt.
For example: Mt. Everest, Mt. Fuji

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The names of festivals, some special events and holidays
are proper nouns, too.

Valentine’s Day

Father’s Day

Halloween

Word File
Here are more names of festivals and holidays:
Christmas Mother’s Day New Year’s Day
Memorial Day April Fool’s Day
Labor Day Thanksgiving Day
Independence Day St. Patrick’s Day

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 Exercise 1
Underline the proper nouns in the following
sentences.
1 July is often the hottest month in summer.
2 One day Ali Baba saw the forty thieves hiding in a
cave.
3 Shawn and Ashley are going to the beach for a swim.
4 Mr. Lee is reading a book.
5 “I am your fairy godmother,” said the old woman to
Cinderella.
6 Uncle Mike is a lawyer.
7 Next Tuesday is a public holiday.
8 Many children enjoyed the movie Lion King.
Exercise 2
Look at the words in the box. Which ones are common
nouns and which ones are proper nouns? Put each word
under its correct heading.

Lisa bank President Hotel United Bank

January beach White Sand Beach hotel
doctor month Dr. Wang girl

Common Nouns Proper Nouns

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Exercise 3
Write C for common or P for proper on the blank
before each noun.
1 _______ the White House
2 _______ the green dress
3 _______ the tall building
4 _______ the Empire State Building
5 _______ the Yellow River
6 _______ the muddy river
7 _______ the governor
8 _______ Governor Parker
9 _______ the Oregon Trail
10 _______ the winding trail

Exercise 4
Underline the nouns that should be capitalized. Circle the
nouns that should not be capitalized.
1 Robert louis Stevenson wrote treasure island.
2 The Capital of illinois is Springfield.
3 My Friends and I prefer Glittergums toothpaste.
4 Their Family visited Yellowstone national Park.
5 Juan and maria attend kennedy Middle school.
6 We had a Surprise Party for aunt Helen.
7 Spring and Fall are my favorite Seasons.
8 The Manager scolded his lazy Employees.

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