Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 13: Capital Letters: Rules for Capitalization

Lesson 4: Proper Nouns B

In this Grade 5 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn the capitalization rules for proper nouns including historical events and periods, calendar items such as days, months, and holidays, nationalities and peoples, and names of businesses, brand names, and vehicles like ships and spacecraft. The lesson clarifies key distinctions, such as why seasons are not capitalized but holidays are, and why a product type like "truck" remains lowercase while a brand name like "Chevrolet" is capitalized. Practice exercises guide students in identifying and applying correct capitalization across a variety of real-world examples.

Section 1

Capitalizing Events, Periods, and Calendar Items

Definition

Capitalize the names of historical events and periods, special events, holidays, and other calendar items.

Explanation

Think of capital letters as spotlights for important times! We use them for big moments in history, like wars or special eras, and for fun special events, like a county fair. Also, remember to always capitalize the names of days, months, and holidays. But here's a tip: seasons like summer and fall don't get a capital letter.

Examples

  • Vietnam War [historical event]
  • the Stone Age [historical period]
  • Arizona State Fair [special event]
  • We have a test on Friday in November, right after Veterans Day. [day, month, and holiday]
  • My favorite season is fall, but I also love spring. [seasons of the year]

Section 2

Capitalizing Nationalities and Peoples

Definition

Words that name nationalities, races, or peoples begin with a capital letter.

Explanation

When you write about people from a certain country or belonging to a specific cultural group, their name gets a capital letter. This is because you are using a proper noun to show their specific identity. It’s a way of being respectful and accurate when talking about different people from around the world.

Examples

  • My pen pal is French. [French refers to a person of a particular nationality and should be capitalized.]
  • We read a fascinating book about the ancient Aztec. [Aztec refers to a specific people.]
  • My friend’s grandmother is Japanese. [Japanese refers to a nationality.]

Section 3

Capitalizing Businesses, Products, and Vehicles

Definition

The names of businesses and brand names are capitalized. The names of ships, trains, aircraft, and spacecraft are proper nouns and are capitalized.

Explanation

The name of a company (like General Mills) and its special brand name (like Cheerios) both get capital letters. But, you do not capitalize the general product type (like cereal). Famous vehicles get special treatment too—if it has a unique name like the Santa Fe train or the Challenger spaceship, it gets capitalized!

Examples

  • Sony television [The business name Sony is capitalized, but the product type television is not.]
  • USS Arizona [A specific ship's name is capitalized.]
  • Spirit of St. Louis [A specific aircraft's name is capitalized.]
  • Can you buy me a box of Kleenex tissues? [The brand name Kleenex is capitalized, but the product type tissues is not.]

Book overview

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Chapter 13: Capital Letters: Rules for Capitalization

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: First Words; Inter Salutations and Closings; The Pronoun I

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Proper Nouns and Common Nouns

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Proper Nouns A

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  4. Lesson 4Current

    Lesson 4: Proper Nouns B

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Proper Nouns C

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  6. Lesson 6

    Lesson 6: School Subjects and Proper Adjectives

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  7. Lesson 7

    Lesson 7: Titles of Persons and Creative Works

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Capitalizing Events, Periods, and Calendar Items

Definition

Capitalize the names of historical events and periods, special events, holidays, and other calendar items.

Explanation

Think of capital letters as spotlights for important times! We use them for big moments in history, like wars or special eras, and for fun special events, like a county fair. Also, remember to always capitalize the names of days, months, and holidays. But here's a tip: seasons like summer and fall don't get a capital letter.

Examples

  • Vietnam War [historical event]
  • the Stone Age [historical period]
  • Arizona State Fair [special event]
  • We have a test on Friday in November, right after Veterans Day. [day, month, and holiday]
  • My favorite season is fall, but I also love spring. [seasons of the year]

Section 2

Capitalizing Nationalities and Peoples

Definition

Words that name nationalities, races, or peoples begin with a capital letter.

Explanation

When you write about people from a certain country or belonging to a specific cultural group, their name gets a capital letter. This is because you are using a proper noun to show their specific identity. It’s a way of being respectful and accurate when talking about different people from around the world.

Examples

  • My pen pal is French. [French refers to a person of a particular nationality and should be capitalized.]
  • We read a fascinating book about the ancient Aztec. [Aztec refers to a specific people.]
  • My friend’s grandmother is Japanese. [Japanese refers to a nationality.]

Section 3

Capitalizing Businesses, Products, and Vehicles

Definition

The names of businesses and brand names are capitalized. The names of ships, trains, aircraft, and spacecraft are proper nouns and are capitalized.

Explanation

The name of a company (like General Mills) and its special brand name (like Cheerios) both get capital letters. But, you do not capitalize the general product type (like cereal). Famous vehicles get special treatment too—if it has a unique name like the Santa Fe train or the Challenger spaceship, it gets capitalized!

Examples

  • Sony television [The business name Sony is capitalized, but the product type television is not.]
  • USS Arizona [A specific ship's name is capitalized.]
  • Spirit of St. Louis [A specific aircraft's name is capitalized.]
  • Can you buy me a box of Kleenex tissues? [The brand name Kleenex is capitalized, but the product type tissues is not.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 13: Capital Letters: Rules for Capitalization

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: First Words; Inter Salutations and Closings; The Pronoun I

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Proper Nouns and Common Nouns

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Proper Nouns A

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  4. Lesson 4Current

    Lesson 4: Proper Nouns B

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Proper Nouns C

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  6. Lesson 6

    Lesson 6: School Subjects and Proper Adjectives

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  7. Lesson 7

    Lesson 7: Titles of Persons and Creative Works

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