Common and proper nouns worksheets
A common noun names any person, place, or thing: girl, city, dog. A proper noun names one specific one and always starts with a capital letter: Maya, Chicago, Rex. Second graders sort words into the two groups.
By grade
What students need to know
A common noun names any one (city, girl, day). A proper noun names a specific one and starts with a capital (Chicago, Maya, Monday).
This skill runs from 1st grade through 3rd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.
Common and proper nouns across the grades
1st grade
Some nouns name any old thing (dog, park); proper nouns name one special one (Rex, Utah) and wear a capital letter to show it. First graders sort simple words into the two piles.
2nd grade
A common noun names any person, place, or thing: girl, city, dog. A proper noun names one specific one and always starts with a capital letter: Maya, Chicago, Rex. Second graders sort words into the two groups.
3rd grade
Common nouns name a general kind (river, holiday, teacher); proper nouns name a specific one and are capitalized (Lake Michigan, Thanksgiving). Third graders sort trickier pairs and explain why each word does or doesn't get a capital.
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