Page 13 - Grammar Class 04

A common noun is a name given to a general category of people, places or things
which are of the same kind.

Read the following examples:

1. This building is very high.

2. The bird saved the life of an ant.

The words in colour in the above sentences are common nouns.

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place or thing. A proper noun
always begins with a capital letter.

Read the following examples:

1. Kartik is my best friend.

2. My birthday is in December.

The words in colour in the above sentences are specific names. Hence, they are
proper nouns.

Look at the given table carefully and observe the difference between common nouns
and proper nouns:

Common Noun Proper Noun

Mountain Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Everest

Ocean Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean

Cat Buttons, Fluffy

State Assam, West Bengal

Country United States, Australia, India

Man Mahatma Gandhi, Walt Disney, Rajat

Building Empire State Building, Rashtrapati Bhawan

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