Which type of noun is a specific name and is typically capitalized?

Which type of noun is a specific name and is typically capitalized?

• A. Proper nouns
• B. Common nouns
• C. Abstract nouns
• D. Collective nouns

Answer: (A)

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing, and it is always capitalized. This distinction matters because proper nouns point to a unique identity rather than a general class. For example, names like Maria, Paris, and Boeing identify particular people or places, so they’re capitalized. In contrast, common nouns name general items or classes and are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Abstract nouns name ideas or qualities, like freedom or happiness, and are also not capitalized unless at the start of a sentence. Collective nouns name a group, such as team or committee, and follow the same capitalization pattern as common nouns unless they’re part of a proper name.

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing, and it is always capitalized. This distinction matters because proper nouns point to a unique identity rather than a general class. For example, names like Maria, Paris, and Boeing identify particular people or places, so they’re capitalized.

In contrast, common nouns name general items or classes and are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Abstract nouns name ideas or qualities, like freedom or happiness, and are also not capitalized unless at the start of a sentence. Collective nouns name a group, such as team or committee, and follow the same capitalization pattern as common nouns unless they’re part of a proper name.