NOUNS

Nouns are the names we give to things, places, feelings, thoughts, people, animals and
qualities that make up our experience of the world.

Common Nouns

Names of things, types of people, places, animals.

e.g: road, table, chair, cat, accountant, hospital

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are the actual names we give to particular people, places, oraganisations,
products, job titles, days of the week, month.

E.g: Colombo, David Beckam, Sunday, Colombo International School, Prime Minister

Exercise 1: Circle the common nouns in the following sentences.

1) Four oranges for a pound. - 1

2) Leave your bicycle here. - 1
3) Entrance for visiting supporters -2
4) Seats at all prices. - 2

Exercise 2: Pick out the proper nouns in the following sentences.

1) Murray wins in triumph! - 1

2) Tuesday replay for Arsenal - 2
3) Chief Inspector of Schools Praises Teachers - 1
4) Wettest June on Record! - 1

Exercise 3: Fill in the gaps in the sentences with an appropriate common or proper noun.

1) It’s a lovely ________morning / evening______ today!

2) I’m singing in the ____class / choir / rain._____________
3) Cash in your _____cheque_____________ at the _______bank___________
4) ‘My favourite month is _____March______________’, says superstar ___Lebron
James_________.
5) ___Aishwarya Rai_____ is my favourite film star.

Exercise 4: Pick out the nouns in the following headlines and say whether they are
common or proper nouns.

1) ‘Litter is spoiling Countryside’, says Prime Minister.

Prime Minister – Proper noun
Countryside – common noun
 Litter – common noun

2) Tigers Still Survive in Africa.

Tigers – common noun
Africa – proper noun

3) ‘Players in Australia are Better’, claims Coach.

Australia – proper noun
Coach – common noun
Players – common noun

4) Price of Houses in Wales Increase.

Wales – proper noun
Price – common noun
Houses – common noun

Exercise 5: Fill in the gaps in the following passage with an appropriate common or proper
noun. Try not to use the same noun twice.

__Agatha ______ ____Christie_____ , the famous ____author_______ , has just completed

her latest novel. Her many __fans__ will be delighted by this latest ___novel_/ book
/publication ___ and her publishers, ____Heineman /illustrators____ and ___Oxford /
team_, are looking forward to massive _profits / ____sales____. The irrepressible
__writer /novelist_________ will be travelling the length and breadth of ______England_/
Europe________ and _______Australia_/ Asia______ to publicize her ____novel / book /
publication______________.

Choose an appropriate abstract or collective noun for each of these sentences.

1) I have given up all __hope______; stated ___team____ captain Althea Norman.

2) The __flock___________ of birds was migrating to its winter quarters.
3) The sighting of the creature was pure __luck____.
4) The __joy / happiness__ of seeing the litter of ____kittens/ puppies__ for the first
time was immeasurable.
5) ____Fear__ of flying stops whole ___groups____ of people from travelling by air.