If you are preparing for English exams, especially the IELTS, understanding proper nouns will help you write grammatically correct sentences, speak accurately, and avoid confusion in reading or listening tasks. Mastery of proper nouns can contribute to a higher score across all four skills.
So what exactly is a proper noun? How is it different from a common noun? How should you use them? Discover all the answers with IDP IELTS in this guide.
1. What Are Common and Proper Nouns
Common Noun
A common noun is a general word used to refer to people, animals, places, things, or ideas. It does not specify a particular individual or item but refers to a whole group or class.
Examples of common nouns:
People: mother, boy, doctor, student, teacher
Animals: cat, mouse, lion, dog, pet
Objects: bag, pencil, book, shirt
Places: school, market, company, park
Proper Noun
A proper noun is a specific name for a person, place, organization, event, or concept. It distinguishes one particular entity from others in the same category.
Examples of proper nouns:
Names: Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey
Cities or places: Melbourne, New York, Perth, Toronto
Events: Tet, Christmas, Halloween, Mid-Autumn
Brands or organizations: Apple, Nike, Samsung, Google
2. Differences Between Common and Proper Nouns
Both types of nouns can function as the subject or object in a sentence and may appear in singular or plural form. However, they are used differently.
Feature | Common Noun | Proper Noun |
|---|---|---|
Meaning | Refers to general items or groups | Refers to specific names or titles |
Capitalization | Not capitalized (unless at the beginning of a sentence) | Always capitalized |
Conversion | Can become a proper noun when used as a name | Rarely becomes a common noun, unless it becomes a generic term |
Examples:
This afternoon, John will go to the park. → "John" is a proper noun, "park" is a common noun.
These are teachers from Monash University. → "teachers" is a common noun, "Monash University" is a proper noun.
3. Proper and Common Noun Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: Identify the Common and Proper Nouns in the Sentences
Jane borrowed my book to read.
Jack is a handsome boy.
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam.
Taylor Swift is a famous singer.
Dior is a well-known brand.
Monkey is his nickname.
Her party will take place on a beautiful beach in Bali.
The reporter went to Hanoi to collect news.
I am going to school to give the documents to Mark.
I have read the novel by Charles Dickens.
Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of the United Kingdom.
The writer penned a mystery novel.
The pilot prevented the plane from crashing.
The wise judge gave a fair verdict.
Andromeda is a large galaxy.
The Times is the newspaper I read daily.
Albert Einstein was a genius physicist.
The Mekong River is a long river in China.
J. K. Rowling authored the famous Harry Potter series.
My aunt works in the World Bank.
Answer Key:
Sentence | Common Noun | Proper Noun |
|---|---|---|
1 | book | Jane |
2 | boy | Jack |
3 | capital | Hanoi, Vietnam |
4 | singer | Taylor Swift |
5 | brand | Dior |
6 | nickname | Monkey |
7 | party, beach | Bali |
8 | reporter, news | Hanoi |
9 | school, documents | Mark |
10 | novel | Charles Dickens |
11 | monarch | Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom |
12 | writer, novel | - |
13 | pilot, plane | - |
14 | judge, verdict | - |
15 | galaxy | Andromeda |
16 | newspaper | The Times |
17 | physicist | Albert Einstein |
18 | river | The Mekong River, China |
19 | series | J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter |
20 | aunt | World Bank |
Exercise 2: Categorize the Following Nouns as Common or Proper
Word List: chicago, prince, lock, pond, venice, librarian, lily, blue whale, mary, sailor, european union, father, titanic, mars, lion, jungle, othello, bruce wayne, countess, moon
Answer Key:
Common Nouns | Proper Nouns |
|---|---|
prince | Chicago |
lock | Mary |
pond | Blue Whale |
lily | Venice |
librarian | European Union |
sailor | Titanic |
jungle | Moon |
father | Mars |
lion | Othello |
countess | Bruce Wayne |
Master Grammar Skills with IDP IELTS
We hope this article has helped you clearly understand what a proper noun is, how it differs from a common noun, and how to use both types correctly in sentences. By practicing regularly, especially with IELTS-style exercises, you will gain confidence and accuracy in your grammar.
At IDP, we provide free IELTS preparation resources including expert tips, videos, articles, and practice tests. Whether you plan to take the IELTS Academic or General Training test, you can register for the computer-based or paper-based IELTS exam with flexible schedules.
Register for the IELTS test with IDP today and take the next step toward your language goals.