Worksheet for identifying proper and common nouns in sentences.

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. Remember:

- Proper noun (P) = names a specific person, place, thing, or idea → always starts with a capital letter.
- Common noun (C) = general name for people, places, things, ideas → does NOT start with a capital letter (unless it’s at the beginning of a sentence).

We’ll look at the underlined word in each sentence and decide if it’s proper or common.

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1. The Lakers play basketball tonight.
→ “Lakers” is the name of a specific team → Proper noun → P

2. The family will eat together at the table.
→ “family” is a general group — not a specific named family → Common noun → C

3. The bear climbed up the tree.
→ “bear” is any bear — not a specific named bear → Common noun → C

4. I live in the state of Washington.
→ “Washington” is the name of a specific U.S. state → Proper noun → P

5. We traveled down the Mississippi River.
→ “Mississippi River” is the name of a specific river → Proper noun → P

6. The Texas Longhorns are a good football team.
→ “Texas Longhorns” is the name of a specific college team → Proper noun → P

7. We will play soccer at the park.
→ “soccer” is a sport — general term → Common noun → C

8. I will walk home after school.
→ “school” here means any school — not a specific named school → Common noun → C

9. We saw a lion at the zoo.
→ “zoo” is a general place — unless it’s named like “San Diego Zoo”, it’s common → Common noun → C

10. We went to Lake Arrowhead for vacation.
→ “Lake Arrowhead” is the name of a specific lake → Proper noun → P

11. The Boston Celtics won many championships.
→ “Boston Celtics” is the name of a specific NBA team → Proper noun → P

12. We need to prepare for going back to school.
→ Again, “school” is general — no specific name given → Common noun → C

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Final Answer:
1. P
2. C
3. C
4. P
5. P
6. P
7. C
8. C
9. C
10. P
11. P
12. C