Proper Noun Capitalization Help

[Plagefille]

My DD 10 (almost 11) is still struggling with knowing when to capitalize nouns. She can't seem to distinguish between common nouns and proper nouns very well.

For example: Today she wanted the word "pirate" to be capitalized because it is the name of a person. (From the sentence: That pirate won't get away this time.) I tried to explain that there are many pirates and it was not this pirate's particular name. She was confused and thought that there are many people named Sarah, not just one, so we should not capitalize Sarah. 

My older two kids had no problems with this concept, but she is really struggling. Maybe I need a better way to explain it to her. Any ideas?

[Plagefille]

3 hours ago, happysmileylady said:

Maybe distinguish between things, types of things and names of things?

Like, you have dogs, breeds and then Malamutes

Or, people, pirates, and Captain Kidd

Or doctors, cardiologists and Dr Smith.

 

Thanks. I think this will help.

[Plagefille]

17 hours ago, OKBud said:

It has to be even more specific. 

If you had five pirates in a line-up holding their names, and the witness told the cop "it was the pirate! that's the guy that did it!!" the cop still wouldn't know who did it. 

The witness would have to say "It was the pirate named Jim!" 

Conversely, you'd never write, "It was the jim named Pirate!"

You can do a lot like that...

Which mountain was it? "It was the mountain named Mt. McKinley."

 Which dog stole the sausage? "The dog named Sam." 

A girl with seven brothers wouldn't tell her parents that her brother ate her cake, she'd tell them exactly which brother it was. So, Billy is capitalized but brothers is not. Because you're being specific. BUT! She still might say, "Just because he's my brother doesn't mean he can help himself to my cake!" Yes, there are lots of Billys in the world, but only the one ate the cake.   

It is the specificity which makes it a proper noun. So each time this comes up, play with the sentence and rewrite it. Ask if you could get more specific, or less specific, and write it that way too. Just spending the time manipulating the sentences with proper and common nouns back and forth should help her see the difference, but it will take time.

 

Thanks. I'll try this. Her brain just works differently from mine and I couldn't think of other ways to explain it.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Ask if she can put "the" in front of the word and have it still sound right.  

The pirate - sounds right

The Jack - doesn't sound right