Common nouns name all persons, places, things or animals in a general way and they are not to be capitalized unless they begin a sentence or it's part of a title. Examples of this type of nouns are castle, diamond, mint, finger, animal, person, thing.
As for proper nouns, they name a particular person, place, or thing within a general class and they always begin with a capital letter. Some examples are Robinson, Oxford, London, Peru.
1. Abraham Lincoln - president
Abraham Lincoln is a proper noun that names a particular person, while president is a common noun that names a person in general.
2. automobile - Totoya
Automobile is a common noun because it names a type of vehicle in general, while Toyota is a proper noun because it names a particular type or brand of vehicle.
3. book - To Kill a Mockingbird
Book is a common noun because it names books in general, while To Kill a Mockingbird is a proper noun because it names a particular book.
4. state - Alabama
State is a common noun because it names states in general, while Alabama is a proper noun because it names a particular or specific state.
5. Meryl Streep - actress
Meryl Streep is a proper noun that names a particular person, while actress is a common noun because it names any person working as an actress.
6.Charles Dickens - writer
Charles Dickens is a proper noun because it names a particular person, while writer is a common noun because it names any person that makes a living with writing or that does it constantly.
7. movie - Toy Story
Movie is a common noun because it names a recorded sequence of images displayed on a screen in general, while Toy Story is a proper noun because it names a particular movie.
