Here's a breakdown:
* Proper Nouns: These are unique names that identify a specific person, place, or thing. They are always capitalized.
* Examples: John, London, Eiffel Tower, Amazon River, Christianity
* Non-Proper Nouns: These are general names that refer to a category or type of person, place, or thing. They are not capitalized.
* Examples: man, city, building, river, religion
Here's a table to help you understand the difference:
| Proper Noun | Non-Proper Noun |
|---|---|
| John | man |
| London | city |
| Eiffel Tower | building |
| Amazon River | river |
| Christianity | religion |
Important Note: Non-proper nouns can be used in a specific context to refer to a specific person, place, or thing. In that case, the word would become a proper noun and should be capitalized.
For example:
* "The doctor arrived." (doctor is a non-proper noun, referring to a general category)
* "Dr. Smith arrived." (Dr. Smith is a proper noun, referring to a specific doctor)
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!