Common and Proper Nouns ESL Games and Worksheets
In this engaging common and proper nouns game, students associate brand names with pictures of common nouns and play a game where they race to find proper nouns that correspond with the common nouns. Working alone, students write a proper noun in the form of a brand name for each common noun picture and write it in the box on the worksheet. Students then cut their worksheets into picture cards and word cards. One student takes one set of picture cards and all the word cards are spread out face-up on the table. The student with the picture cards then shows one picture to the group members and calls out the common noun, e.g. hamburger. The other students then race to find a proper noun card that corresponds with the common noun. The first student to pick up a suitable card and say the proper noun (e.g. Whopper) wins and keeps the two cards. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner. Students can play several rounds, giving each student a chance to call out the common nouns.
This free common and proper nouns game is useful for illustrating the difference between the two types of nouns. First, in pairs, students sort common nouns and proper nouns into their respective groups by taking it in turns to turn over a noun card and place it under the correct heading. For each correctly matched noun, pairs score a point. Pairs then race to score an extra point by making a meaningful sentence with the common or proper noun. The first pair to do this scores the extra point. The pair with the most points at the end of the game wins. If students need extra practice, they can move on to play a pelmanism game with the cards in which they take it in turns to turn over two cards. If the two cards match (i.e. the proper noun gives a specific example of the common noun, e.g. drink - Coca-Cola), the student keeps the two cards and has another turn. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins.
In this fast-paced common and proper nouns game, students race to change common nouns to proper nouns. One student goes first, picks up a card from their pile, and reads the common noun on the card to the group, e.g. website. The other students then race to say a proper noun for the common noun written on the card. The first student to give a correct answer (e.g. Facebook) wins and keeps the card. Then, the next student picks up a card from their pile and reads it to the group and so on. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
In this useful common and proper nouns worksheet, students identify and practice using common and proper nouns. Students begin by putting nouns under the correct heading, common nouns or proper nouns, capitalizing the proper nouns. Students then draw lines between the words to match each common noun with a proper noun. Next, students underline common nouns and capitalise proper nouns in a set of sentences. Finally, students write their own sentences with the proper nouns from the worksheet using at least one common noun in each sentence.
Here is a fun common and proper nouns game to play in class. Draw a Jeopardy-style quiz board with points at the top and categories down the side. Choose a square from the board (e.g. true or false 100) and read the corresponding quiz question to the class, e.g. 'True or false? The word 'table' is a proper noun'. The first student to raise their hand and give the correct answer wins that square for their team (i.e. false) and the number of points in the square. The winning team then gets to choose the next square. However, any team can try to answer. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
