Common noun: know the concept and uses

O common noun it is the generic name given to the same group of beings or objects or that designates an abstraction. In other words, it's the name that does not individualize or specifies a certain animate or inanimate being, as it serves all individuals of the same category, and therefore comes in lower case.

Read more: Substitution process: concept and examples

Common Noun Uses

O substantive and the word class which names beings, things, qualities, spaces, feelings, processes, groups, actions, among others. Within this class, it is possible to find subdivisions, such as the common noun. See an example:

• I saw a star today.

In the sentence, "star" is a common noun because:

• name a thing;

• does not specify this thing in relation to others of the same category: it is the same word for any star.

Another example:

• I took mine puppy to walk around.

In the sentence, "dog" is a common noun because:

• name a being;

• the word alone does not specify that being. Although we know it's the speaker's dog, that's only understood because of the context. The word "dog" by itself

  does not specify an individual from that group, it suits any dog ​​indiscriminately.

See too: Classification of nouns - types, functions, examples

common noun X proper noun

The classification of the noun in common or proper can be easily observed, as proper nouns always start with a capital letter.

Within this logic, the nouns they can be common or proper. If common nouns are generic names for the same group, the Nameown will be the opposite: he specific an individual or object in relation to others of the same category. So the proper noun comes in capital letter. See the example:

• I saw Alpha Centauri A fur telescope.

“Alpha Centauri A” is the name of a star. In the sentence, "Alpha Centauri A" is a proper noun because:

• name a thing;

• specifies this thing in relation to the others of the same category: only one of the stars is called Alpha Centauri A. It is the name of that star.

“Telescope”, in turn, is a common noun, as it is a word used for any telescope.

One more example:

• I took the rex to walk around.

In the sentence, "Rex" is a proper noun because:

• name a being;

• the word alone specific that being. “Rex” is the proper name for that particular dog.

See in the table some more examples of the difference between common noun and proper noun:

SUBSTANTIVE
COMMON	OWN
men	Philip
surname	Silva
parents	Angola
athlete	Daiane dos Santos
Prince	Charles

By Guilherme Viana
Portuguese teacher

Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/substantivo-comum.htm