Common and Proper Nouns
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Proper nouns tell us about specific people, places or things. Common nouns could refer to any old person, place or thing, even if we point out which one. Since our names are important and special, we capitalize proper nouns, but don't capitalize common nouns.
Example: cat (could be any old cat, so it's a common noun and not capitalized.)
Patches (refers to a very specific cat, so it's a proper noun and capitalized.)
This is my cat. (No name, so it's a common noun and not capitalized.)
Patches is my cat. (Patches is the name, so it's a proper noun. Cat isn't capitalized because it's a common noun.)
Each sentence below has at least one common noun. Change one noun (or more) in each sentence to a proper noun. If there is more than one noun in the sentence, you only have to change one, but you can change more. You may need to replace the noun with a phrase, such as changing building to Buckingham Palace. You might also need to replace a phrase that includes a noun with a single word, such as replacing the phrase, "a very tall girl" with the word, "Susan."
1. My brother and sister and I went to the circus yesterday.
2. My ballet teacher went to a famous dancing school when she was younger.
3. My aunt was born in another country.
4. I love the movie because it has a lot of action in it.
5. He is my hero.
OR
She is my hero.
6. I could sing that song all day.
7. I go there every weekend.
8. The president worried about the problem for months.
9. The club had an awards ceremony last night.
10. The website is very educational.
