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Common Nouns, Definition, Examples And Uses

Common Nouns are words that represent general people, things, places, or ideas. Read more about the Common Nouns, Definition, Examples, Uses and difference between Common Nouns and Proper Nouns.
authorImageManoj Kumar11 Oct, 2023
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Common Nouns

Common Nouns: Common nouns are everyday words that represent general people, things, places, or ideas. They're usually not written with capital letters unless they're the first word in a sentence, unlike specific names or "proper nouns" that always start with capital letters. Examples of Common Nouns are cars, books, houses, dogs, etc.

What is a Common Noun

Nouns fall into two groups: common nouns and proper nouns. Proper nouns are names for specific things like people, places, and brands. They include months, days, and significant historical events. Also, they refer to nationalities, countries, and languages. On the other hand, common nouns are everyday words used for general things such as people, places, animals, and objects, not unique or specific ones.

Common Noun Definition

A common noun is a general word used to name non-specific people, places, things, or ideas. It refers to ordinary, everyday items and is not capitalized, except when it starts a sentence. Common nouns are used to talk about things in a general or common sense, rather than particular or unique ones. For example, "dog," "city," and "book" are all common nouns because they can apply to any dog, any city, or any book, rather than a particular, individual one.

Examples of Common Nouns

Here are some examples of Common Nouns.
  • Dog
  • Cat
  • Car
  • Tree
  • House
  • Book
  • Chair
  • Table
  • City
  • Ocean
  • Flower
  • Child
  • Teacher
  • Computer
  • Phone
  • Sun
  • Moon
  • River
  • Bird
  • Coffee
  • Music
  • Friend
  • Restaurant
  • School
  • Park

Common Nouns Examples in Sentences

  • Coffee: The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen.
  • Bus: We waited at the bus stop for the next bus to arrive.
  • Shoes: She chose a stylish pair of shoes to wear to the party.
  • Beach: The children built sandcastles on the sunny beach.
  • Doctor: The doctor prescribed medication to treat the illness.
  • Movie: Let's go to the movies this weekend to see the new release.
  • Pen: I borrowed a pen from my coworker to take notes.
  • Museum: The museum displayed an impressive collection of art.
  • Bicycle: Riding a bicycle is a fun and healthy activity.
  • Market: The farmers' market sells fresh produce and handmade goods.
  • Airplane: We boarded the airplane for our international flight.
  • Cellphone: Don't forget to charge your cellphone overnight.
  • Rain: The rain began to fall just as we left the store.
  • Piano: He played a beautiful melody on the grand piano.
  • Garden: The garden is full of colorful flowers and plants.
  • Letter: I received a heartfelt letter from my pen pal.

Difference Between Common Nouns And Proper Nouns

Common nouns and proper nouns are two distinct categories of nouns in the English language. Check the Difference Between Common Nouns And Proper Nouns in the table given below.
Difference Between Common Nouns And Proper Nouns
Features Common Nouns Proper Nouns
Definition Refer to general, non-specific people, places, things, or concepts. Specify a particular, unique person, place, or thing, always capitalized.
Capitalization Not capitalized unless at the beginning of a sentence. Always capitalized.
Specificity General and can apply to many different entities or instances. Specific and unique to a particular entity.
Examples teacher, country, mountain, ocean, car Ms. Smith, France, Mount Everest, Pacific Ocean, Toyota
Usage Used in everyday language to talk about general things and concepts. Used to specify and identify unique entities (people, places, titles, brands).
Article Usage Often require articles (e.g., "a dog," "the book") to specify their reference. Typically do not use articles (e.g., "Paris" instead of "the Paris").

Common Nouns That Can Be Proper Nouns

Common nouns can become proper nouns when they are used to refer to specific, unique entities or individuals. Here are some examples:

1. River

  • Common Noun: "The river is beautiful."
  • Proper Noun: "We went for a swim in the Mississippi River."

2. Mountain:

  • Common Noun: "The mountain range is impressive."
  • Proper Noun: "Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world."

3. Day:

  • Common Noun: "It's a beautiful day."
  • Proper Noun: "Independence Day is a national holiday."

4. City:

  • Common Noun: "The city is bustling with activity."
  • Proper Noun: "New York City is known as 'The Big Apple'."

5. Planet:

  • Common Noun: "A planet orbits a star."
  • Proper Noun: "Earth is the third planet from the sun."

6. Month:

  • Common Noun: "June is a warm month."
  • Proper Noun: "My birthday is in June."

7. Street:

  • Common Noun: "The street was quiet."
  • Proper Noun: "I live on Elm Street."

8. Company:

  • Common Noun: "The company produces electronics."
  • Proper Noun: "Apple Inc. is known for its innovative products."

9. Language:

  • Common Noun: "Language is a means of communication."
  • Proper Noun: "Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages."

10. Animal:

  • Common Noun: "The animal kingdom is diverse."
  • Proper Noun: "Lassie is a famous dog in television history."
English Related Links
Abstract Nouns Parts of Speech
Collective Nouns Proper Nouns

What is called Common Nouns?

A common noun is a type of noun that refers to general, non-specific people, places, things, or concepts. Common nouns are not the names of specific individuals or entities but are used to talk about categories or groups of things.

What is the 10 examples of Common Nouns?

The 10 examples of Common Nouns are Dog, City, Car, Book, Teacher, Mountain, River, Child, Phone, Restaurant.
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