Proper noun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A proper noun is a noun that picks out a unique entity. This sets proper nouns apart from common nouns, which pick out classes of entities. Examples of proper nouns include:
- 1. Joel
- 2. the CSI
- 3. Paris
and examples of common nouns are:
- 1. man
- 2. organization
- 3. country
Proper nouns also differ from common nouns in not being able to co-occur with other expressions that common nouns can co-occur with. For example, in English, proper nouns normally can't be preceded by (in-)definite articles. This makes it seem that proper nouns behave as though they are full noun phrases. In other languages, like Spanish, proper nouns do, in fact, regularly co-occur with definite articles. Even in English, there are examples of proper nouns preceded by articles, as in the example below. However, one could argue, in this case, `Paris' is used as a common noun rather than a proper noun.
- 1. The John is smart. (incorrect)
- 2. This is very much like the Paris of my youth. (correct)sk:Vlastné podstatné meno
