Practice worksheet for identifying common and proper nouns, including examples and exercises.

Let’s go step by step to solve each part of the worksheet.

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Part 1: Is the underlined word a common noun or a proper noun? Write “common” or “proper”.

Remember:
- A common noun names any person, place, animal, or thing — not specific.
- A proper noun names a *specific* person, place, animal, or thing — and always starts with a capital letter.

Now let’s look at each sentence:

1. The girl likes to learn.
→ “girl” is not a specific girl — it could be any girl. So it’s a common noun.

2. She goes to two schools.
→ “schools” means any schools — not named ones. So it’s common.

3. She lives in the United States.
→ “United States” is the name of a specific country — and it’s capitalized. So it’s proper.

✔ Answers for Part 1:
1. common
2. common
3. proper

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Part 2: Underline the common nouns. Circle the proper nouns.

We’ll go sentence by sentence.

1. Amina has a brother and a sister.
- Common nouns: brother, sister (any brother/sister)
- Proper noun: Amina (a specific person’s name)

2. Their names are Adama and Awa.
- Common nouns: names (general term)
- Proper nouns: Adama, Awa (specific people’s names)

3. Their parents were born in Senegal.
- Common nouns: parents (any parents)
- Proper noun: Senegal (name of a country)

4. Amina goes to school on Saturday.
- Common nouns: school (could be any school), Saturday? Wait — days of the week are proper nouns!
→ Actually, “Saturday” is a proper noun because it’s the name of a specific day.
→ “school” is common.
→ “Amina” is also proper (already covered).
So:
- Common: school
- Proper: Amina, Saturday

5. She is learning a language called Wolof.
- Common nouns: language (general)
- Proper noun: Wolof (name of a specific language)

6. Awa read a book about the history of Senegal.
- Common nouns: book, history (general things)
- Proper nouns: Awa (person), Senegal (country)

✔ Let’s list them clearly:

Sentence 1:
Underline: brother, sister
Circle: Amina

Sentence 2:
Underline: names
Circle: Adama, Awa

Sentence 3:
Underline: parents
Circle: Senegal

Sentence 4:
Underline: school
Circle: Amina, Saturday

Sentence 5:
Underline: language
Circle: Wolof

Sentence 6:
Underline: book, history
Circle: Awa, Senegal

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Part 3: Underline common nouns, circle proper nouns, then write them in the chart.

Sentences:

1. Last August, David went to camp.
- Common nouns: camp (could be any camp)
- Proper nouns: August (month = proper), David (person’s name)

2. Many children go to a picnic on the Fourth of July.
- Common nouns: children, picnic (general terms)
- Proper nouns: Fourth of July (name of a holiday — specific event)

Wait — “Fourth of July” is one proper noun phrase (it’s the name of a U.S. holiday).

So:

Common nouns: camp, children, picnic
Proper nouns: August, David, Fourth of July

Now put them in the chart:

Common Nouns
camp
children
picnic

Proper Nouns
August
David
Fourth of July

*(Note: You can list them in any order, but make sure they’re sorted correctly.)*

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Final Answer:

Part 1:
1. common
2. common
3. proper

Part 2:
1. Underline: brother, sister | Circle: Amina
2. Underline: names | Circle: Adama, Awa
3. Underline: parents | Circle: Senegal
4. Underline: school | Circle: Amina, Saturday
5. Underline: language | Circle: Wolof
6. Underline: book, history | Circle: Awa, Senegal

Part 3 Chart:
Common Nouns: camp, children, picnic
Proper Nouns: August, David, Fourth of July