Distinction between common noun and proper noun

type=com type=prop

Description Example Description Example

names of products used as common nouns un cola /type=com   names of products Coca-Cola /type=prop  

professions, designations of persons un monsieur /type=com  , un docteur /type=com  , une vierge /type=com   titles used as vocatives Monsieur /type=prop  , Docteur /type=prop  , Dr. /type=prop  , la Vierge Marie /type=prop  

currencies as common nouns un franc /type=com   currencies 100 FF /type=prop  

first or last name used as common noun il est un vrai tartuffe /type=com   first or last name Tartuffe /type=prop  

regional products vin de bourgogne /type=com  , de l'emmenthal /type=com   names of regions la Bourgogne /type=prop  , l' Emmenthal /type=prop  

generic geographical noun des ıles /type=com   sauvages names of regions les ıles Sauvages /type=prop  

common nouns for individual objects la terre /type=com   names of planets la Terre /type=prop  

historical events, regimes la révolution /type=com   historical events, regimes as proper nouns la Révolution française /type=prop  

literary, philosophical, etc. currents le surréalisme /type=com   foreign names of literary, philosophical etc. currents with capital letters le Sturm und Drang /type=prop  

abbreviations for descriptive NP's un H.L.M. /type=com   abbreviations for non-descriptive NP's la C.A.F. /type=prop  

Notice that for some common nouns the reference got lost to the proper nouns:

• béchamel(le) /pos=n & type=com  
• gibus(le) /pos=n & type=com  
• macadam /pos=n & type=com  
• poubelle /pos=n & type=com  
• silhouette /pos=n & type=com  
• massicot /pos=n & type=com