Common and Proper Nouns
Tell general names from specific names and capitalize correctly.
What Is It?
A common noun is a general word for a person, place or thing (city, teacher, river). A proper noun is the specific name of one (Dhaka, Ms. Rahman, the Padma) and starts with a capital letter.
Why Do English Speakers Use It?
Capital letters signal names. Using them correctly makes your writing look professional and easy to read.
When to Use It
- Common nouns: My teacher lives in a big city.
- Proper nouns: people and places: Monica lives in Chattogram.
- Proper nouns: days, months, holidays: Monday, March, Eid
- Proper nouns: languages and nationalities: English, Bangladeshi, Japanese
When NOT to Use It
Don’t capitalize common nouns in the middle of a sentence: “I visited the museum”, not “the Museum”, unless it is part of a name.
Sentence Structure
| Common noun | Proper noun | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| country | Bangladesh | capitalize names |
| day | Friday | capitalize days and months |
| language | Bengali | capitalize languages |
Grammar Rules
- Proper nouns always start with a capital letter.
- Titles before names are capitalized: Doctor Khan, Aunt Rina.
- Seasons are not capitalized in English: summer, winter.
- Most proper nouns don’t take an article, but some do: the Sundarbans, the Bay of Bengal.
Real-Life Examples
- We flew to Kathmandu in April.
- My brother studies French.
- The river is wide. The Meghna is wider.
- Is Eid on a Friday this year?
Common Learner Mistakes
- I speak english.I speak English.
- We met on monday.We met on Monday.
- I love Summer.I love summer.
Quick Memory Tip
If it is the name on a map, a calendar, a passport or a language app, give it a capital.
Real Conversation
Monica: Which city are you visiting in December?
Joe: Sylhet! My friend Arif is getting married there.
Monica: Lovely. Winter is a great time to go.
Interactive Practice
Pick an answer to check your understanding.
Which word in this sentence needs a capital letter? “We visited the beach last july.”
Final Mini Quiz
One last check before you mark the lesson complete.
Which one is a proper noun?
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