The Difference Between Common and Proper Nouns

Homeschool Pop

This engaging animated video provides a clear and accessible introduction to the grammatical concepts of common and proper nouns. It begins by defining what a noun is—a person, place, or thing—before distinguishing between the two main types. Through a series of side-by-side examples (like "dog" vs. "Fido" and "city" vs. "Denver"), the narrator illustrates how common nouns name general items while proper nouns provide specific names for those items. A key focus of the video is the capitalization rule associated with proper nouns. The narrator explicitly points out that while common nouns generally start with lowercase letters, proper nouns always begin with a capital letter because they are specific names. This visual cue is reinforced throughout the examples, helping students identify proper nouns not just by meaning, but by their orthography. The video concludes with an interactive "Common or Proper?" game show segment that encourages active participation. This structure makes the video highly valuable for the classroom, as it moves from direct instruction to guided practice and finally to assessment. Teachers can use it to introduce the topic, reinforce the capitalization rule, or review concepts before a writing activity.