Proper Nouns: Explore the definition of a proper noun, how to use a proper noun in a sentence, and examples of proper nouns in this article. Try out the identification exercises too to test your knowledge of proper nouns.
Definition:
Proper nouns are the specific names of people, places, and things. They are always capitalized, and they can be difficult to remember.
Examples
People: Mr. Smith, Mrs. Nguyen, Dr. Jones
Places: Detroit, Michigan, Roosevelt High School
Things: computer, television, couch
Organizations: National Honor Society, Red Cross
Tips
Here are some tips to help you remember proper nouns:
1. Pay attention to the first letter of each word. Proper nouns are always capitalized, so if you see a word that starts with a capital letter, it is probably a proper noun.
2. Remember specific names. If you can remember the name of a specific person, place, or thing, then you can remember the proper noun.
3. Look for clues in the sentence. Sometimes proper nouns are clues to other words in the sentence. For example, if you see the word "Germany," you might be able to guess that the proper noun is "Berlin."
4. Use context clues. If you are not sure what a proper noun is, try to use context clues to figure it out. For example, if you see the sentence "I went to the store," the word "store" is probably not a proper noun. But if you see the sentence "I went to Walmart," the word "Walmart" is probably a proper noun.
5. Ask someone. If you are still not sure, you can always ask someone. A friend, a teacher, or even a parent can usually help you remember proper nouns.