Common

normal, everyday things

• start with a lowercase letter

• general things or places

• examples:​

  • crab = crab is common

  • Nairobi is a lion. = Nairobi is NOT common because she is a specific lion, but the word lion IS common​

  • the boat = boat is common

  • the Mayflower = Mayflower is NOT common, since it is a specific boat​

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Proper

specific, fancy people, places, & things

• start with an UPPERCASE letter

• very specific people, places, or things

• examples:​

  • Bartholomew is a jerk. = Bartholomew is a proper noun because he is specific

  • The boy is a jerk. = boy is NOT a proper noun because it is just a general boy whose name we do not know

  • Carrington was first in line for the movie. = Carrington is a proper noun because he is specific; line is NOT a proper noun because it is just a general line; movie is NOT a proper noun because it is a general movie whose name we do not know

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Concrete

tangible, touchable

• if you can reach out and grab it, it is concrete

• a noun can be both common and concrete...or proper and concrete; they are in different categories

  • Common vs. Proper------AND-----Concrete vs. Abstract

• examples:​

  • Sally was in love with her new dress. = Sally is concrete (and proper); dress is concrete (and common); love is abstract (and common)

  • Lillian felt a lot of frustration. = Lillian is concrete (and proper); frustration is abstract (and common)

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Abstract

an idea; something that you cannot physically touch with your hands

• not tangible...so, we are looking at thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc.; you can FEEL that stuff, but you cannot reach out and actually touch it with your hand

• AGAIN...a noun can be both common and concrete...or proper and concrete; they are in different categories

  • Common vs. Proper------AND-----Concrete vs. Abstract

• examples:​

  • There was a lot of anger toward Amber during the trial. = anger is abstract (and common); Amber is concrete (and proper); trial is concrete (and common)

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