2.2 Proper nouns

Here are some typical examples of proper nouns. Notice when we use the and when we use capital first letters.

Generally without the:

Type of proper nouns

Examples

Days, months and holidays

Monday, September, Easter, Christmas

Continents

Europe, Asia, Africa

Countries

England, Scotland, Catalonia, Cuba

Exceptions include

the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, the Philippines

States, countries, etc.

California, Yorkshire

Towns

London, Sheffield, Tarragona, Cairo

Exception

The Hague

Single mountains

Mount Everest, Mont Blanc, Mount Palomar

Single lakes

Lake Michigan, Lake Windermere, Lake Como

Roads, etc.

Oxford Street, Portobello Road, Fifth Avenue, Times Square

Parks

Regents Park, Hyde Park, Central Park

Buildings

Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey

Exceptions include

the Rockefeller Center

Magazines

Cosmopolitan, Time, Newsweek, Hello

Generally with the:

Type of proper nouns
Examples

Families

the Smiths, the Johnsons

Mountain ranges

the Alps, the Pyrenees

Groups of islands

the Balearics, the West Indies, the Canaries

Groups of lakes

the Great Lakes

Rivers

the (River) Thames, the (River) Amazon, the (River) Ebro

Seas

the Mediterranean (Sea), the Black Sea

Canals

the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal

Oceans

the Atlantic (Ocean), the Pacific (Ocean)

Hotels, pubs

the Ritz (Hotel), the Dorchester (Hotel), the Red Lion, the King and Queen

Theatres, cinemas

the Globe (Theatre), the ABC (Cinema)

Museums, galleries

the Science Museum, the Tate Gallery

Newspapers

The Times, The Observer, The Washington Post

See also nouns, general and nouns that modify other nouns.

Type of proper nouns		Examples
Days, months and holidays		Monday, September, Easter, Christmas
Continents		Europe, Asia, Africa
Countries		England, Scotland, Catalonia, Cuba
	Exceptions include	the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, the Philippines

States, countries, etc.		California, Yorkshire
Towns		London, Sheffield, Tarragona, Cairo
	Exception	The Hague
Single mountains		Mount Everest, Mont Blanc, Mount Palomar
Single lakes		Lake Michigan, Lake Windermere, Lake Como

Roads, etc.		Oxford Street, Portobello Road, Fifth Avenue, Times Square
Parks		Regents Park, Hyde Park, Central Park
Buildings		Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey
	Exceptions include	the Rockefeller Center
Magazines		Cosmopolitan, Time, Newsweek, Hello

Type of proper nouns	Examples
Families	the Smiths, the Johnsons
Mountain ranges	the Alps, the Pyrenees
Groups of islands	the Balearics, the West Indies, the Canaries
Groups of lakes	the Great Lakes
Rivers	the (River) Thames, the (River) Amazon, the (River) Ebro
Seas	the Mediterranean (Sea), the Black Sea
Canals	the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal
Oceans	the Atlantic (Ocean), the Pacific (Ocean)
Hotels, pubs	the Ritz (Hotel), the Dorchester (Hotel), the Red Lion, the King and Queen
Theatres, cinemas	the Globe (Theatre), the ABC (Cinema)
Museums, galleries	the Science Museum, the Tate Gallery
Newspapers	The Times, The Observer, The Washington Post