Grade 2Common and Proper NounsRecognition

Common and Proper Nouns Worksheet — Grade 2

Grade 2 worksheet practicing the difference between common and proper nouns, using identify, fill-blank, and multiple-choice exercises across 12 questions.

This worksheet gives second graders focused practice with one of the most important early grammar rules: knowing the difference between common nouns and proper nouns. A common noun names any person, place, or thing — like girl, city, or dog. A proper noun names one specific person, place, or thing — like Sofia, Chicago, or Fido — and it always begins with a capital letter. Getting this rule right helps students write names, places, and days of the week correctly in their own sentences. The sheet moves from recognition to use: students first circle proper nouns in short sentences, then fill in proper nouns where context gives one clear answer, and finally choose between options to lock in the capitalization rule. Use it for independent seat work, homework, or a quick review before a writing lesson.

Common and Proper Nouns Worksheet — Grade 2

Nouns are naming words. This sheet helps you tell the difference between common nouns and proper nouns — and remember when to use a capital letter.

Remember

  • A common noun names any person, place, or thing — for example: girl, city, dog.
  • A proper noun names one specific person, place, or thing — for example: Emma, Chicago, Fido.
  • A proper noun always starts with a capital letter, wherever it appears in a sentence.

Part A — Find the Proper Noun

Circle the proper noun in each sentence.

  1. 1.

    Maya has a red backpack.

  2. 2.

    We went to Lincoln Park.

  3. 3.

    Our teacher is Ms. Chen.

  4. 4.

    I live on Maple Street.

  5. 5.

    Carlos has a big orange cat.

Part B — Fill in the Proper Noun

Write the correct proper noun to complete each sentence.

  1. 6.

    The month after March is ____.

  2. 7.

    The day after Sunday is ____.

  3. 8.

    The last month of the year is ____.

  4. 9.

    We celebrate Thanksgiving in ____.

Part C — Choose the Right Answer

Circle the correct answer for each question.

  1. 10.

    Which word is a proper noun?

    1. a)pencil
    2. b)Zara
    3. c)book
  2. 11.

    Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?

    1. a)We swam in lake erie.
    2. b)We swam in Lake Erie.
    3. c)we Swam in Lake Erie.
  3. 12.

    Which word is a common noun?

    1. a)Friday
    2. b)teacher
    3. c)London
Answer key

Part A — Find the Proper Noun

  1. 1.Maya
  2. 2.Lincoln Park
  3. 3.Ms. Chen
  4. 4.Maple Street
  5. 5.Carlos

Part B — Fill in the Proper Noun

  1. 6.April
  2. 7.Monday
  3. 8.December
  4. 9.November

Part C — Choose the Right Answer

  1. 10.Zara
  2. 11.We swam in Lake Erie.
  3. 12.teacher

What this worksheet teaches

  • Identify whether a noun in a sentence is a common noun or a proper noun.
  • Write a proper noun correctly with a capital letter to complete a sentence.
  • Choose the correctly capitalized proper noun from a set of answer choices.

What is on the page

Part C — Choose the Right Answer prints “Which word is a proper noun?” with the options “pencil”, “Zara” and “book”; the key gives “Zara”.

The language it drills

“We went to Lincoln Park.” has one answer in the key: “Lincoln Park”.

Notes for the grown-up

  • Students often forget to capitalize proper nouns mid-sentence, treating them the same as common nouns.
  • When a student misses a capital, ask: Is this the name of one specific person, place, or thing?
  • Students are ready to move on when they apply the capital letter rule unprompted in their own writing.

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