Difference between Common Noun and Proper Noun

Common Noun vs Proper Noun

What is a common noun?

Common = class

The noun that refers to a class or group of anything. 

For example, boy (refers to all boys) and man (refers to every man, not any particular man). Like this book, river,  country, car, girl,  cow, animal, etc.

Examples of common nouns with sentences:

1. Books are full of knowledge. 

2. Most animals live in forests.

3. Trees give us shadows. 

4. Not all rivers are full of water every time.

What is a proper noun?

Proper = particular 

The noun that denotes something particularly. 

Such as Rakesh (name of a particular person), Delhi (name of a specific state), and India( name of a certain country).

More examples like the Ganges, the Himalayas,  the Thames, etc.

Examples of proper nouns with sentences:

1. Rakesh has a brave dog.

2. Delhi is a crowded state.

3. There are different types of people living in India.

4. Rabindranath was an excellent poet.

Common Noun vs Proper Noun

*There are some cases when the proper noun becomes common:

When a proper noun is used to describe an object of a similar character.

Ex: Rabindranath is the Shakespeare of India.

Here in the example, the noun Shakespeare is common as Rabindranath is compared to the great poetic qualities like Shakespeare. 

Learn the usage of In and At preposition.