EnglishGrammarCommon Noun

Common Noun

Ever wondered about the difference between proper nouns and common nouns? Curious to know more about them? This article is all about common nouns. It explains what a common noun is, how it’s different from a proper noun, and shows how common nouns are used in sentences. Explore these topics below to get a clear idea about common nouns.

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    Simple words like ‘dog,’ ‘professor,’ and ‘city’ are common nouns. They talk about general things, not specific ones, and they don’t start with a capital letter. These words usually need something like ‘a,’ ‘an,’ or ‘the’ before them. On the other hand, ‘Max,’ ‘Dr. Prakash,’ and ‘London’ are proper nouns. They’re special and talk about specific things, so they start with a capital letter.

    Also Check: Singular Noun

    Definition of Common Noun

    A common noun, as per Merriam-Webster, is a word that can have words like “a,” “an,” “some,” “every,” or “my” before it. It’s a name for any general thing or being. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a common noun is a word that names a bunch of similar things, like “table” or “book,” rather than one specific person, place, or thing.

    • My mother is an actress.
    • Barbara’s mother was the best cook in the city.

    However, when you talk to your mom or call her by her name, “Mother” becomes a proper noun.

    • “Mother, can you bake your brownies for the party?”
    • I asked Mother Thompson to join us at dinner.

    When to use common nouns?

    We use common words to talk about groups or ideas. Take the word ‘star,’ for example. It’s a common word because it’s used for all the shiny things we see in the night sky. Stars are those glowing things in space that twinkle above us. But ‘Sun’ is different—it’s a special name for the star in our solar system. Basically, if something is a thing, it’s probably a common word. Like jobs: doctor, teacher, police officer. And when we talk about people, we use common words too, like mom, dad, cousin, or friend.

    Common Noun Examples

    1. Animal: dog, cat, bird
    2. Fruit: apple, banana, orange
    3. Vehicle: car, bike, bus
    4. Place: park, school, beach
    5. Thing: table, chair, book

    Common Noun FAQs

    What is common nouns and examples?

    A Common nouns are regular, non-specific names for people, places, things, or ideas. Examples include city, dog, and teacher.

    What is common noun Class 7?

    In Class 7, common nouns are taught as names for general things or concepts, like book, tree, or school.

    What are 4 common nouns?

    Examples of 4 common nouns are car, chair, fruit, and country.

    What are 10 examples of common nouns?

    Ten examples of common nouns are table, bird, flower, boy, girl, book, river, mountain, building, and computer.

    What is common noun English?

    A Common noun in English refers to generic names for things like city, animal, or plant.

    What is the noun for common?

    The noun for common is commonality.

    What are common and proper nouns Grade 4?

    In Grade 4, students learn that common nouns are general names for things, while proper nouns are specific names for particular things, like teacher (common) versus Mrs. Smith (proper).

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