Proper Nouns

Proper nouns and common nouns

Every noun may be either a proper noun or a common noun.

Proper nouns

Proper nouns describe a particular person, thing, place, or idea which is, or is imagined to be, unique in some way.

Proper nouns are spelt with a capital letter and are not normally preceded by articles.

Proper nouns include:

Personal names: Martin, Madonna, Katherine the Dutchess of Cambridge

Forms of address: Mum, Dad, Uncle John

Geographical names: Poland, Spain, the UK, California, Africa

Place names: Oxford Street, Silence Avenue

Months: January, March, December

Days of the week: Thursday, Sunday

Festivals: Easter, Christmas, Ramadan

Seasons: Spring or spring (written with a small letter is more common)

First names and well-known foreign places have their English equivalents, for example:

Charles for Karl

Rome for Roma