Difference Between Common and Proper Nouns

In grade 2, kids move onto learn that nouns are classified as common or proper.

What’s a common noun?

A common noun is a non-specific person, place or thing.

For example: dog castle restaurant

What is a proper noun?

A proper noun is a specific person, place or thing.

For example: Fido Edinburgh Castle Milestone’s 

How do you tell a common noun apart from a proper noun?

In reading, it’s quite easy to make the distinction between common and proper nouns as the proper nouns are those words written with capital letters, such as Fido and Milestone’s. When students write, they’ll need to remember that specific nouns need the capital letters.

Worksheets to practice common and proper nouns

In our grade 2 grammar section we have a series of worksheets that ask students to identify the proper nouns and the common nouns in sentences.