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

Lesson 5: Proper Nouns C

In this Grade 5 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn the capitalization rules for proper nouns covering buildings, monuments, and awards (such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Caldecott Medal), as well as religions, holy days, sacred writings, deities, and astronomical bodies like planets, stars, and constellations. The lesson also clarifies special cases, including when earth, sun, and moon are and are not capitalized. Practice exercises reinforce correct capitalization through sentence-level application of each rule.

Section 1

Proper Nouns: Buildings, Monuments, Memorials, and Awards

Definition

The names of buildings and other structures are proper nouns and are capitalized. The names of monuments and memorials are capitalized. The names of special awards and prizes are also capitalized.

Explanation

Think of this as giving a special title to a place or an achievement! If it's the official, one-of-a-kind name on the sign—like the Eiffel Tower—it gets a capital letter. But if you're just talking about any old tower or a general prize, you use lowercase.

Examples

  • My family visited the Lincoln Memorial last summer. [The words Lincoln Memorial name a specific monument.]
  • Her favorite book won the Newbery Medal. [The Newbery Medal is a special award.]
  • We saw a play at the Globe Theatre in London. [The Globe Theatre is the name of a particular building.]

Section 2

Proper Nouns: Religions, Holy Days, and Sacred Texts

Definition

The names of religions and their followers are capitalized. Also capitalize the names of holy days and celebrations, sacred writings, and specific deities.

Explanation

This rule is all about respecting different beliefs. When you're talking about a specific religion like Buddhism, a special holiday like Hanukkah, a holy book like the Bible, or a god like Zeus, you always use a capital letter. It's like using a person's proper name!

Examples

  • The holy book of Judaism is called the Torah. [Judaism is a religion, and the Torah is a sacred writing.]
  • Many Christians celebrate Easter in the spring. [Christians are followers of a religion, and Easter is a holy day.]
  • In Hinduism, Vishnu is a principal deity. [Hinduism is a religion, and Vishnu is a specific deity.]

Section 3

Proper Nouns: Nationalities, Races, and Peoples

Definition

Capitalize the names of nationalities, races, and peoples.

Explanation

This rule is about how we name groups of people based on where they're from or their shared background. Words like Mexican, Asian, or French are proper nouns because they refer to specific groups of people. Using a capital letter is a way to be both specific and respectful.

Examples

  • My neighbor is Irish and loves to cook traditional stew. [Irish is a nationality.]
  • We learned about the history of Native Americans in class. [Native Americans are a specific people.]
  • The festival featured dancers from Brazilian and Portuguese cultures. [Brazilian and Portuguese are nationalities.]

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 4

    Lesson 4: Proper Nouns B

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  5. Lesson 5Current

    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

Proper Nouns: Buildings, Monuments, Memorials, and Awards

Definition

The names of buildings and other structures are proper nouns and are capitalized. The names of monuments and memorials are capitalized. The names of special awards and prizes are also capitalized.

Explanation

Think of this as giving a special title to a place or an achievement! If it's the official, one-of-a-kind name on the sign—like the Eiffel Tower—it gets a capital letter. But if you're just talking about any old tower or a general prize, you use lowercase.

Examples

  • My family visited the Lincoln Memorial last summer. [The words Lincoln Memorial name a specific monument.]
  • Her favorite book won the Newbery Medal. [The Newbery Medal is a special award.]
  • We saw a play at the Globe Theatre in London. [The Globe Theatre is the name of a particular building.]

Section 2

Proper Nouns: Religions, Holy Days, and Sacred Texts

Definition

The names of religions and their followers are capitalized. Also capitalize the names of holy days and celebrations, sacred writings, and specific deities.

Explanation

This rule is all about respecting different beliefs. When you're talking about a specific religion like Buddhism, a special holiday like Hanukkah, a holy book like the Bible, or a god like Zeus, you always use a capital letter. It's like using a person's proper name!

Examples

  • The holy book of Judaism is called the Torah. [Judaism is a religion, and the Torah is a sacred writing.]
  • Many Christians celebrate Easter in the spring. [Christians are followers of a religion, and Easter is a holy day.]
  • In Hinduism, Vishnu is a principal deity. [Hinduism is a religion, and Vishnu is a specific deity.]

Section 3

Proper Nouns: Nationalities, Races, and Peoples

Definition

Capitalize the names of nationalities, races, and peoples.

Explanation

This rule is about how we name groups of people based on where they're from or their shared background. Words like Mexican, Asian, or French are proper nouns because they refer to specific groups of people. Using a capital letter is a way to be both specific and respectful.

Examples

  • My neighbor is Irish and loves to cook traditional stew. [Irish is a nationality.]
  • We learned about the history of Native Americans in class. [Native Americans are a specific people.]
  • The festival featured dancers from Brazilian and Portuguese cultures. [Brazilian and Portuguese are nationalities.]

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 4

    Lesson 4: Proper Nouns B

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  5. Lesson 5Current

    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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