Nouns that name a specific activity, group, person, place are thing are called proper nouns and they are always capitalized. Nonspecific nouns that refer to a general idea and not a specific person, place or thing, it usually not a proper noun and not capitalized.
PROPER NOUNS
Here are a few examples of proper nouns:
Mary Smith
Spanish class
The National Basketball Association
Smashmouth
The French Revolution
NONSPECIFIC NOUNS
Here are a few examples of nonspecific nouns:
A woman
A class
An association
A band
A war
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Collective nouns refer to a specific group of people. These are always singular unless they refer to the individuals in a group.
Here are a few examples:
Group
Club
Class
School
The group is eating lunch.
The members of the group are eating lunch.
The club is debating over what to do for the holidays.
The members of the club are debating over what to do for the holidays.
The class is studying French.
The members of the class are studying French.
The school is having a party.
The students of the school are having a party.
Some collective nouns are considered both singular and plural.
Singular: The jury is debating.
Individual members: The jury handed down their decision.
NEXT WEEK
Next week: Count vs. Noncount Nouns and Plural Nouns
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