A common noun names a general place, but a proper noun names a specific place. Proper nouns are always capitalized.
Common noun: park
Proper nouns: Golden Gate Park, Central Park, Centennial Park
Common noun: baseball field
Proper nouns: Busch Stadium, American Family Field, Wrigley Field
Common noun: school
Proper nouns: Harvard University, Field Elementary School, Maine South High School
Common noun: restaurant
Proper nouns: McDonald’s, Panera Bread Company, Burger King
Common noun: ocean
Proper nouns: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean
Common noun: country
Proper nouns: Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain
Common noun: city
Proper nouns: Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Houston
Proper nouns name specific places. A proper noun begins with a capital letter.
▶It’s your turn. Find three words in this sentence that are proper nouns. These three proper nouns should be capitalized. We visited washington university in missouri.