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English · Grammar basics

Nouns & pronouns

Common, proper, and pronouns.

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What is a noun?

A noun is a naming word. It names a person, place, thing, or animal. Examples: teacher, park, pencil, dog. Nouns help us talk about the world around us.

Common nouns and proper nouns

A common noun is a general name for something. Examples: city, river, girl. A proper noun is the special name of a particular person, place, or thing. Proper nouns always start with a capital letter. Examples: London, River Thames, Emma.

What is a pronoun?

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun. We use pronouns so we don't repeat the same noun over and over. Examples: he, she, it, they, we, you, I. Pronouns make sentences shorter and easier to read.

Choosing the right pronoun

Pick a pronoun that matches the noun it replaces. Use he for a boy or man. Use she for a girl or woman. Use it for a thing or animal. Use they for more than one person or thing.

Worked examples

  1. 1. Find the proper noun: My friend alice lives in manchester near the sea.

    1. Look for names of particular people or places.
    2. Alice is the name of a specific person. Manchester is a specific city.
    3. Proper nouns need capital letters: Alice and Manchester.
    4. Answer: Alice and Manchester are the proper nouns.

  2. 2. Replace the noun with a pronoun: The cat sat on the mat. The cat purred.

    1. The noun is 'the cat' in the second sentence.
    2. We already mentioned the cat, so we can use a pronoun.
    3. The cat is a single animal, so we use 'it'.
    4. Answer: The cat sat on the mat. It purred.

  3. 3. Spot all the common nouns: My sister bought a new bicycle in the shop.

    1. Common nouns are general names for things, people, or places.
    2. Sister is a general word for a family member.
    3. Bicycle and shop are general names for a thing and a place.
    4. Answer: sister, bicycle, shop are all common nouns.

Try it yourself

Choose the correct pronoun: Tom and Zara went to the park. ____ played on the swings.

Ready to test yourself?

Take a short topic test — every question maps to a syllabus point so you’ll see exactly which parts you’ve mastered.