What Is a Common Noun? | Definition, Rules & Examples


Common noun is a type of noun which is one of eight parts of speech in English. As parts of speech are the backbones of the English language, much importance should be dedicated to learning all parts of speech including common nouns. 


This article covers all you need to know about common noun.

1. Common Noun: Definition and Meaning

2. Common Noun Examples 

3. How to Recognize a Common Noun?

4. Examples of Common Nouns Used in Sentences

5. Common Noun VS Proper Noun

6. Common Mistakes in Common Nouns

7. FAQs - Common Noun


Common Noun: Definition and Meaning

Merriam-Webster defines a common noun as "A noun that may occur with limiting modifiers (such as a or an, some, every and my) and that designates any one of a class of beings or things.".

Cambridge Dictionary defines a common noun as "A noun that is the name of a group of similar things, such as "table" or "book" and not of a single person, place or thing.".

From the above-mentioned definitions, we can conclude that:

  • A common noun is a type of noun.
  • A common noun accepts modifiers such as the, a(n) or some.
  • A common noun refers to a common name of similar things.
  • Unlike a proper noun, a common noun is not capitalized unless it's at the beginning of a sentence. 

Common Noun Examples 

  • book
  • table
  • notebook
  • boy
  • girl
  • man
  • woman
  • male 
  • female
  • child
  • teacher 
  • student
  • professor 
  • city 
  • village
  • town
  • actor 
  • actress

Use of Common Nouns in Sentences

a. There's a boy in the room.

b. The teacher came and asked me why I was late.

c. Where's your watch?

d. Where's my bottle?

e. The girl is present here.

f. A man is sitting there.

g. A renowned actor is coming to perform here.

h. Where did you keep my book?

i. I belong to a small city.

j. Are you going to the market?

How to Identify a Common Noun?

Identifying a common noun is an easy task. All you need to do is to follow the below-given steps to successfully identify a common noun.

Step 1. Make sure that the noun used refers to a non-specific person (such as boy), place (such as town) or thing (such as table).

Step 2. Make sure that the noun accepts modifiers (such as boy accepts modifiers like the, a or my.).

Step 3. Finally make sure that the noun is not capitalized unless at the beginning.

If a noun fulfills all the above-given criteria, then it's a common noun.

Common Noun VS Proper Noun

To distinguish between common and proper nouns, you need to look at the similarities and dissimilarities between the two. Look at the same below.

Similarities 

  • Both common and proper nouns are the types of noun.
  • Both common and proper nouns refer to people, places or things.
Dissimilarities 
  • A common noun refers to a common name of people, places or things ( such as boy, city and table), while a proper noun refers to a unique name of people, places or things (such as John, Japan and Tom and Jerry).
  • A common noun is not always capitalized, whereas a proper noun is always capitalized.
  • A common noun accepts modifiers, while a proper noun does not.

Common Mistakes in Common Nouns

Rule 1. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they're used at the beginning of a sentence.

Incorrect: I saw him in the Room.

Correct: I saw him in the room.

Rule 2. A common noun used as a title of a person which is actually a proper is capitalized.

Incorrect: He is the newton of our class.

Correct: He is the Newton of our class.

Rule 3. Some of the nouns can be used as both common and proper nouns. Nouns of this type should be treated accordingly. When they're proper nouns, they should be capitalized otherwise shouldn't be.

Incorrect: You should be here with your Mom tomorrow.

Correct: You should be here with your mom tomorrow.

Incorrect: Let's have breakfast, mom.

Correct: Let's have breakfast, Mom.


Common Noun FAQs 

What's a common noun?

A common noun is a type of noun that refers to a common name of a thing. Common nouns accept modifiers and are not capitalized unless they're at the beginning of a sentence.

10 Examples of Common Nouns

a. There's a boy in the room.

b. The teacher came and asked me why I was late.

c. Where's your watch?

d. Where's my bottle?

e. The girl is present here.

f. A man is sitting there.

g. A renowned actor is coming to perform here.

h. Where did you keep my book?

i. I belong to a small city.

j. Are you going to the market?