Common Noun – Definition, Examples and Usage

What Is a Common Noun?

Nouns can be divided into two main types: common nouns and proper nouns. While proper noun refer to specific names of people, places, brands, and other unique things, common noun are used for general terms that name people, places, animals, ideas, objects, and more.

Common Noun Definition

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a common noun is “a noun that can be used with words like a, an, some, or every, and refers to a member of a group or class of things.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a common noun as “a noun that names a group of similar things, such as ‘table’ or ‘book’, and not a specific person, place, or thing.”

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Examples of Common Nouns

1. Common Nouns Referring to People

• Man
• Woman
• Boy
• Girl
• Child
• Person
• Worker
• Student
• Farmer
• Citizen
• Neighbor

2. Common Nouns Referring to Animals

• Cat
• Dog
• Lion
• Horse
• Tiger
• Rabbit
• Monkey
• Sheep
• Deer
• Rat
• Kangaroo

3. Common Nouns Referring to Birds

• Pigeon
• Parrot
• Owl
• Peacock
• Duck
• Swan
• Crane
• Seagull
• Robin
• Falcon
• Hawk

4. Common Nouns Referring to Insects

• Ant
• Butterfly
• Caterpillar
• Grasshopper
• Moth
• Cockroach
• Dragonfly
• Ladybug
• Flea
• Termite
• Beetle

5. Common Nouns Referring to Reptiles

• Turtle
• Lizard
• Gecko
• Iguana
• Python
• Cobra
• Tortoise
• Anaconda

6. Common Nouns Referring to Places

• Library
• Park
• Hospital
• Station
• Market
• Office
• Village
• City
• Temple
• Museum
• Church

7. Common Nouns Referring to Objects

• Chair
• Table
• Pen
• Mobile phone
• Bicycle
• Bag
• Hat
• Glass
• Clock
• Towel
• Fan

8. Common Nouns Referring to Ideas

• Knowledge
• Peace
• Freedom
• Creativity
• Kindness
• Patience
• Justice
• Trust
• Loyalty
• Improvement

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Examples of Common Nouns Used in Sentences

Here are some examples of common nouns in sentences:

1. I forgot to bring my notebook to class today.
2. Can you tell me where the nearest park is?
3. The phone stopped charging last night.
4. Your jacket looks warm.
5. The children went to the zoo on the weekend.
6. Would you like to go shopping tomorrow?
7. David enjoys riding his new scooter.
8. The woman was fined for parking her car illegally.
9. Dad told me to close the window.
10. My coworker just got a new apartment.

Understanding the Difference Between Common Nouns and Proper Nouns

Nouns are broadly classified into common nouns and proper nouns. But what exactly sets them apart? Let’s break it down for clarity.

• Proper nouns are specific names given to people, places, objects, or events, making them unique and easily identifiable. For instance, names like Gateway of India, Amazon River, or Mars point to particular entities. Proper nouns always start with a capital letter.
• On the other hand, common nouns are general terms used to name ordinary things, people, or places. These are not specific and refer to a broader category. Examples include words like city, river, or planet.

The Key Difference:

• Proper Nouns: Specific and unique.
  • Example: Rashtrapati Bhavan, London, Eiffel Tower
• Common Nouns: General and non-specific.
  • Example: building, country, bridge

While proper nouns make something stand out as one of a kind, common nouns group things under a shared label. Think of it like this: “dog” is a common noun, but “Scooby-Doo” is a proper noun!

Proper Usage of Capitalization for Common Nouns

A common mistake in writing is capitalizing common nouns unnecessarily. Certain words, such as “manager” or “chairperson,” may seem important enough to warrant a capital letter, but unless they refer to something specific, they remain common nouns and should not be capitalized.

Examples:

Incorrect:

• The company has hired three Managers this year.
• Nelson Mandela was a Revolutionary Leader.

Correct:

• The company has hired three managers this year.
• Nelson Mandela was a revolutionary leader.

Specific Titles vs. General Terms

When a title is part of a specific name, it is capitalized. Otherwise, it remains lowercase.

Incorrect:

• Albert Einstein was the first Scientist to win the Nobel Prize for his work in Physics.
• During her tenure, President Sara Nelson introduced several reforms.

Correct:

• Albert Einstein was the first scientist to win the Nobel Prize for his work in physics.
• During her tenure, President Sara Nelson introduced several reforms.

In the second example, the title “President” is capitalized only because it precedes a specific name. If used generically or descriptively, it stays lowercase.

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Common Business Terms

Words like “board of directors” are often mistakenly capitalized in business settings. Unless the term is part of a proper noun (e.g., “Acme Corporation Board of Directors”), it should remain lowercase.

Incorrect:

• The Board of Directors has called an emergency meeting.
• He was invited to attend the Board’s Annual Gala.

Correct:

• The board of directors has called an emergency meeting.
• He was invited to attend the board’s annual gala.

Scientific and Monumental Terms

Even words describing significant scientific or historical concepts are lowercase unless they form part of a proper noun.

Incorrect:

• Galileo contributed to the study of the Expanding Universe.
• The Renaissance shaped European Culture.

Correct:

• Galileo contributed to the study of the expanding universe.
• The Renaissance shaped European culture.

However, specific theories or unique names like “The Renaissance” or “The Big Bang” retain capitalization because they are proper nouns.

Understanding when to capitalize helps maintain clarity and consistency in writing, ensuring that only specific names and titles receive their due emphasis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What Is a Common Noun?

A common noun is a word that identifies a general category of people, places, things, or ideas. Unlike proper nouns, which refer to specific names and are always capitalized, common nouns are only capitalized at the start of a sentence.

Q2: How Can You Identify Common Nouns?

Common nouns are not tied to anything specific. They refer to general people, places, or things rather than unique names. For instance, while “city” is a common noun, “New York” is a proper noun. If the noun isn’t a proper name, it’s a common noun—and it’s lowercase unless it starts a sentence.

Q3: Can You Share 10 Examples of Common Nouns?

Given below are ten common nouns that you might use daily:

• Child
• Teacher
• Dog
• Tree
• River
• Book
• Chair
• Fruit
• Bag
• Table