What is a Proper Noun?
A proper noun is the specific name of a particular
person, place, thing, or organization. Unlike common nouns, which refer to
general items or people, proper nouns are unique names.
Proper nouns always begin with a capital letter, no matter where they appear in a
sentence.
Key Features:
- Refer to specific names (not general ones)
- Always capitalized
- Help distinguish one individual
thing from others in the same group
Examples of Proper Nouns:
Let’s explore some categories with examples:
👤 Specific People:
- Mr. Johnson (a specific teacher)
- Taylor Swift (a famous person)
- Harry Potter (a specific fictional character)
"Mr. Johnson" is a proper noun, while teacher is a
common noun.
📍 Specific Places:
- New York (a specific city)
- Mount Everest (a specific mountain)
- Lincoln High School (a specific school)
"City" is a common noun. "New York" is a proper noun.
🛍️ Specific Brands or Companies:
- Amazon
- Nike
- McDonald's
These are names of specific companies or brands, so they are proper
nouns.
📚 Titles of Books, Movies, or Songs:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone
- The Lion King
- Let It Go (song)
Titles are capitalized and treated as proper nouns because they refer to
a specific creative work.
