What Are Common Nouns?

Understanding common nouns is a useful skill when trying to improve your English skills. A common noun is a type of noun that typically names something such as a physical object, a person, place, or idea. These types of nouns are one of the most frequently-used nouns in the English language. Knowing when and how to use the right common nouns can help to ensure that your writing and speech come across clearly.

Types of Common Nouns

Common nouns are similar to proper nouns in that they both refer to objects, people, ideas and other nouns. One difference between the two is that common nouns do not begin with a capital letter. For example, the following sentence contains both a common and proper noun. “John walked to the store.” The common nouns in this sentence are “John” and “store” while the proper noun is “John.”

Examples of Common Nouns

Common nouns can refer to almost any person, place, thing or idea. Some examples of common nouns are “person,” “place,” “animal,” “idea,” “thing,” “power,” “car” and “mountain.” More specific types of common nouns include “table,” “chair,” “dog,” “cat,” “tree,” “office,” “city” and “country.” Common nouns do not need to be specific.

Using Common Nouns Effectively

When using common nouns, it is important to use the right one for the right situation. For example, if talking about the amount of money a person has, use the word “amount” rather than “money.” When talking about a person’s home, use the word “home” rather than “house.” Additionally, when using a common noun, make sure to add any adjectives that are necessary to make the noun more specific. For example, instead of saying “dog,” say “small dog.”

Common nouns are a vital part of written and spoken language. While there are many types of nouns, common nouns are some of the most versatile and frequently used. Learning to recognize and properly use common nouns can help ensure that your writing and speaking are clear and effective.