Americans from Other Lands
Capitalization: Proper Nouns
A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing.
| Capitalize the proper names of: | Examples |
|---|---|
| countries, cities, and states | John Muir was born in Scotland in 1838. He moved to Portage, Wisconsin, when he was 11 years old. |
| bodies of water | Muir walked 1,000 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. |
| landforms | Muir studied the plants and animals of the Yosemite Valley. |
Study Sentences
Say the sentences. Look at the underlined words. Do they need capital letters? If so, tell why.
1. Guangzhou needs a capital letter.
It is the name of a city.
1. I. M. Pei was born in guangzhou, China.
2. In 1935, he came to massachusetts to study architecture.
3. One of the buildings he designed is at the foot of the rocky mountains.
4. Another is next to boston harbor.
5. He designed other buildings across the country.
6. Alexandra Nechita was born in romania.
7. Now the young artist lives in Los Angeles, California, near the pacific ocean.
8. She designed a giant angel sculpture in the city.
9. Her other artwork is in galleries from hawaii to new york.
10. When she was 12 years old, she met the Emperor of japan.
Write Sentences 
11.–20. Write the sentences above with the correct capitalization.
11. I. M. Pei was born in Guangzhou, China.