Common And Proper Nouns Quiz

Reviewed by Juliette Firla
Juliette Firla, MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Review Board Member
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.
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  • 1/25 Questions

    A man must not run with the bat. Identify the common noun in this sentence.

    • Man
    • Must
    • Not
    • With
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About This Quiz


Do you think you can properly utilize common and proper nouns? Test your knowledge with this interesting "Common and Proper Nouns Quiz". A proper noun is a noun that identifies a single body and refers to that body, such as London or Jupiter. It could refer to Los Angeles, Earth, IBM, and Bob.

The common noun refers to general items like sofa, TV, refrigerator, and dog. Since a dog has no name with it like Fido, it is considered common and not proper. So, are you ready to take this informative "Quiz on Common and Proper Nouns"? Let's get started!

Common And Proper Nouns Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    What is the proper noun in "Italy is known for its delicious food"?

    • Italy

    • Known

    • Delicious

    • Food

    Correct Answer
    A. Italy
    Explanation
    "Italy" is the proper noun because it names a specific country. Proper nouns are always capitalized and refer to unique places, people, or things, while common nouns are broad and general. By analyzing the sentence, "Italy" stands out as a proper noun because it uniquely identifies a country, unlike the word "food," which is a common noun referring to a general category of things. The analysis shows that "Italy" fits the proper noun criteria, offering a specific location rather than a general term like "nation" or "country."

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  • 3. 

    In "Tina met her friend at the restaurant," which word is a proper noun?

    • Tina

    • Friend

    • Met

    • Restaurant

    Correct Answer
    A. Tina
    Explanation
    A proper noun is a name used for an individual person, place, or organization. In the sentence "Tina met her friend at the restaurant", the word "Tina" is the only proper noun as it is the name of a person. The other words are common nouns.

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  • 4. 

    Which of the following is a common noun?

    • Teacher

    • Mr. James

    • Paris

    • NASA

    Correct Answer
    A. Teacher
    Explanation
    "Teacher" is a common noun because it refers to a general category of people who work in education, without specifying any individual. Unlike a proper noun, which refers to a specific person or entity, common nouns are used for generic, non-unique references. "Mr. James" would be a proper noun because it is a specific name, and names of places like "Paris" and organizations like "NASA" are also proper nouns. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they start a sentence, which further distinguishes them from proper nouns. Therefore, "teacher" is correctly identified as the common noun here.

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  • 5. 

    While living in the USA, he studied literature.  What is the proper noun in this sentence?

    • While

    • Living

    • USA

    • Literature

    Correct Answer
    A. USA
    Explanation
    "USA" is the proper noun in this sentence because it refers to a specific country, the United States of America. Proper nouns are used to name particular people, places, or things, and they are always capitalized. In this case, "USA" is a specific country, differentiating it from the general term "country," which would be a common noun. "The" is not part of the proper noun but is simply a definite article that precedes it. Proper nouns provide clear, unique identification of an entity, and "USA" fits this definition, making it the proper noun in the sentence.

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  • 6. 

    France and Germany have had great buildings. ________is a common noun in this sentence.

    • France

    • Germany

    • Great

    • Buildings

    Correct Answer
    A. Buildings
    Explanation
    "Buildings" is the common noun in this sentence as it refers to a general category of structures. Common nouns are used to describe general concepts or things without specifying a particular example. In contrast, "France" and "Germany" are proper nouns, as they are names of specific countries. The word "buildings" could refer to any number of structures in either country, without naming a specific building like the "Eiffel Tower" or the "Brandenburg Gate." Therefore, "buildings" fits the definition of a common noun because it represents a broad and non-specific category of things.

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  • 7. 

    Not all football players are Americans.  Which is the common noun in this sentence?

    • Not

    • Players

    • Are

    • Americans

    Correct Answer
    A. Players
    Explanation
    "Players" is the common noun in this sentence because it refers to people who participate in a game without specifying any particular individual. Common nouns describe general things, people, or places, and in this context, "players" refers to football players as a group, not naming any specific individuals. Proper nouns, on the other hand, would refer to specific people like "Tom Brady" or "Lionel Messi." In contrast, "players" is a general term that applies to any person playing football, making it a common noun. This term applies broadly to participants in sports.

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  • 8. 

    He went to college in Sydney, Australia. ______________ is a proper noun in this sentence.

    • He

    • College

    • In

    • Australia

    Correct Answer
    A. Australia
    Explanation
    "Australia" is the proper noun in this sentence as it refers to a specific country. Proper nouns name particular entities, such as people, places, or things, and they are always capitalized. "Australia" distinguishes this particular country from general terms like "continent" or "country," which would be common nouns. Proper nouns provide uniqueness and specificity, while common nouns are broader and refer to general categories. In this case, "Australia" is a unique place name, making it a proper noun. The capitalization of "Australia" follows the rules for proper nouns, highlighting its specific nature.

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  • 9. 

    Identify the proper noun in "The cat jumped on Sarah’s bed"?

    • Cat

    • Jumped

    • Sarah

    • Bed

    Correct Answer
    A. Sarah
    Explanation
    "Sarah" is the proper noun because it refers to a specific person. Proper nouns are used for unique entities, in this case, Sarah, which differentiates her from a general term like "girl" or "person." Analyzing the context, "cat" and "bed" are common nouns because they refer to general items rather than specific ones. The proper noun provides clarity and uniqueness in the sentence, signaling a known individual rather than a general reference. Since proper nouns are capitalized and denote specific identities, "Sarah" meets these criteria.

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  • 10. 

    Zara attended school on Monday.  Identify the proper noun in this sentence.

    • Zara

    • Attended

    • The

    • School

    Correct Answer
    A. Zara
    Explanation
    "Zara" is the proper noun in this sentence because it refers to a specific person. Proper nouns are unique names for particular people, places, or things, and are always capitalized. Unlike common nouns, which refer to general items or categories, proper nouns provide a clear identifier for a specific entity. In this case, "Zara" is the unique name of an individual, making it a proper noun. Proper nouns like "Zara" distinguish someone from the general term "person" or "girl," which would be common nouns. The capitalization of "Zara" reflects its status as a proper noun.

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  • 11. 

    In the sentence "London is a busy city," what is the common noun?

    • London

    • Busy

    • Is

    • City

    Correct Answer
    A. City
    Explanation
    "City" is the common noun because it refers to a general category of places without naming any specific city. "London" is a proper noun because it is a specific place. Proper nouns provide specificity, while common nouns remain broad. In this case, "city" could refer to any city, not just London. Analyzing the use of the noun, "city" functions as a general term that could be replaced with any location, fitting the criteria of a common noun, making it the correct answer through elimination and analysis of noun types.

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  • 12. 

    What type of noun is the one in red? The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.

    • Common noun

    • Proper noun

    • Verb

    • Adjective

    Correct Answer
    A. Proper noun
    Explanation
    In this example, "Eiffel Tower" and "Paris" are proper nouns because they refer to unique and specific places, while a common noun would refer to general, non-specific items or entities. A proper noun uniquely identifies something, and these landmarks are distinct, well-known locations. The contrast between common and proper nouns is essential for understanding capitalization and noun classification. The word "Eiffel Tower" fits the definition of a proper noun because it refers to a particular monument, making option B, proper noun, the correct answer.

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  • 13. 

    The stone can be thrown in any direction.  __________ is a common noun in this sentence.

    • Stone

    • Could

    • Thrown

    • Any

    Correct Answer
    A. Stone
    Explanation
    In this sentence, "stone" is a common noun because it represents a general, non-specific object. It does not refer to any particular stone but could apply to any stone in general. Common nouns are broad and non-unique terms, whereas proper nouns would name specific entities such as "Stone Mountain" or "The Rosetta Stone." Common nouns are often used to discuss things in a generic way and are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. Since "stone" is a general term in this context, it is classified as a common noun, fitting this grammatical category.

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  • 14. 

    Which word in the sentence is a common noun? My brother visited the Grand Canyon last summer.

    • Brother

    • Grand Canyon

    • Last

    • Summer

    Correct Answer
    A. Brother
    Explanation
    In the sentence, "brother" is a common noun because it refers to a general relationship rather than a specific person. While "Grand Canyon" is a proper noun, identifying a specific and unique location, "brother" can apply to any male sibling. The common noun does not specify a particular individual or entity, which sets it apart from proper nouns like "Grand Canyon." This distinction shows how common nouns cover broad categories or general items, whereas proper nouns are specific. Therefore, "brother" as a general reference is the correct identification of the common noun.

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  • 15. 

    Cricket is a popular sport in India. __________ is a common noun in this sentence.

    • Is

    • Popular

    • Sport

    • India

    Correct Answer
    A. Sport
    Explanation
    "Sport" is the common noun in this sentence because it refers to a general type of physical activity or game. Common nouns are used for generic concepts, things, or places, and in this case, "sport" refers to athletic activities in a broad sense. It is not naming a particular sport, like "Cricket" or "Football," which would be proper nouns. Instead, "sport" is a general term that could apply to any competitive activity involving physical exertion. This makes it a common noun, as it fits the role of describing something in a non-specific and general manner.

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  • 16. 

    Identify the common noun: Sheila gave her dog a bath in the backyard.

    • Sheila

    • Dog

    • Backyard

    • Bath

    Correct Answer
    A. Dog
    Explanation
    In the sentence, "dog" is a common noun because it refers to a general type of animal rather than a specific one. Proper nouns like "Sheila" are names of specific individuals, and "backyard" could become a proper noun if it were part of a name like "Central Park." However, in this context, "dog" refers to a broad category of animals, making it a common noun. Common nouns represent non-specific items, concepts, or beings, while proper nouns are unique identifiers. Hence, "dog" is correctly identified as the common noun in this example.

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  • 17. 

    Which word is a common noun in "Maria loves to read books in the library"?

    • Maria

    • Loves

    • Books

    • Library

    Correct Answer
    A. Books
    Explanation
    In the sentence "Maria loves to read books in the library," "books" is the common noun because it refers to general reading material without specifying any particular book. Common nouns describe a general category, making "books" a fitting example. "Maria" and "library" are proper nouns since they refer to a specific person and place. Analyzing the sentence structure reveals that "loves" is a verb, not a noun. Therefore, "books" is the best fit for a common noun, aligning with grammatical rules of generalization without specificity or capitalization unless starting a sentence.

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  • 18. 

    Which word SHOULD NOT be capitalized because it is a common noun?

    • Elephant

    • France

    • Microsoft

    • Mount Everest

    Correct Answer
    A. Elephant
    Explanation
    "Elephant" is a common noun because it refers to any member of the species, without specifying a particular elephant. Proper nouns, on the other hand, such as "France," "Microsoft," and "Mount Everest," are specific names of places or entities and are always capitalized. The word "elephant" could apply to any of these animals in general and does not identify an individual elephant by name. As common nouns represent general categories, they should not be capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence, making "elephant" the correct answer for this question.

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  • 19. 

    Dr. Paul wrote five rules for football. Which is the common noun in this sentence?

    • Dr. Paul

    • Wrote

    • Five

    • Rules

    Correct Answer
    A. Rules
    Explanation
    "Rules" is a common noun in this sentence because it refers to a general set of guidelines or regulations. Common nouns are general names for a person, place, thing, or idea, and they do not specify a particular instance. In contrast, a proper noun refers to a specific name or title, such as "Dr. Paul," which identifies a particular individual. Common nouns are usually lowercase unless they begin a sentence. In this case, "rules" is not specific to any individual set of rules, making it a common noun and fitting the criteria of general classification.

     

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  • 20. 

    The inventor of basketball was born in Canada.  The proper noun in this sentence is ________. 

    • The

    • Basketball

    • Born

    • Canada

    Correct Answer
    A. Canada
    Explanation
    "Canada" is the proper noun in this sentence as it names a specific country. Proper nouns are used to identify unique entities, such as particular people, places, or things, and they are always capitalized. In this case, "Canada" refers to a unique country, distinguishing it from a general term like "nation" or "country," which would be common nouns. Proper nouns give specific details and uniqueness to a name, whereas common nouns are more general. Since "Canada" refers to a specific geographical entity, it is considered a proper noun and is capitalized accordingly.

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  • 21. 

    Which word is a common noun in "The teacher gave the students homework"?

    • Teacher

    • Gave

    • Students

    • Homework

    Correct Answer
    A. Teacher
    Explanation
    "Teacher" is the common noun because it refers to a general profession, not a specific individual by name. Proper nouns would identify someone like "Mr. Smith," but here "teacher" applies to anyone in that role. The word "students" is also a common noun, but the question asks specifically for the "teacher." Analyzing the sentence, the use of "teacher" fits the description of a general term, indicating a person performing a job rather than naming someone. Thus, "teacher" is the correct common noun because it’s not unique to any particular person.

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  • 22. 

    Identify the common noun in "The car is parked outside the building"?

    • Car

    • Parked

    • Outside

    • Building

    Correct Answer
    A. Car
    Explanation
    "Car" is the common noun in this sentence because it refers to a vehicle in a general sense. It doesn’t specify which car, making it a common noun by definition. The analysis reveals that "parked" is a verb, and "outside" and "building" are a preposition and common noun, respectively. In this context, "car" serves as the general subject of the sentence. Proper nouns would name specific cars like "Tesla Model S," but here, the noun is used generically. Thus, "car" is correctly identified as the common noun through elimination and noun classification.

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  • 23. 

    Which word is a common noun in "The mountain was visible from the house"?

    • Mountain

    • Visible

    • From

    • House

    Correct Answer
    A. Mountain
    Explanation
    "Mountain" is a common noun because it describes a general geographical feature without referring to a particular mountain. The word "visible" is an adjective, and "from" and "house" are preposition and common noun, respectively. By analyzing the sentence, "mountain" is the general term, indicating it could apply to any mountain, making it a common noun. Proper nouns like "Mount Everest" would specify, but here, the reference is generic. The analysis of grammatical structure supports that "mountain" is the correct common noun because it applies broadly and lacks specificity.

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  • 24. 

    Identify the common noun in "The children played in the park"?

    • Children

    • Played

    • Park

    • In

    Correct Answer
    A. Children
    Explanation
    "Children" is the common noun in this sentence because it refers to young people in a general sense. It doesn’t specify which children, making it a common noun. The word "played" is a verb, and "park" is also a common noun, but analyzing the sentence shows that "children" fits best as the main general subject. Proper nouns would name specific children, like "Alice" or "John." The analysis shows "children" fits the definition of a common noun, applying to any group of young individuals, thereby excluding specific or proper references.

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  • 25. 

    What is the proper noun in "James went shopping in Paris"?

    • James

    • Shopping

    • Paris

    • Went

    • A and C

    Correct Answer
    A. A and C
    Explanation
    A proper noun is a noun that refers to a specific person, place, or thing. In the sentence "James went shopping in Paris", the words "James" and "Paris" are proper nouns as they refer to a specific person and a specific place, respectively. The other words are not proper nouns: "went" is a verb and "shopping" is a gerund.

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Juliette Firla |MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.

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