Explanation: In the sentence "We went to Mumbai by train," the term "Mumbai" is a proper noun. A proper noun is a specific name for a particular person, place, or thing. It is always capitalized in writing. In this context, "Mumbai" refers to a specific city in India, making it a proper noun.
To understand proper nouns better, let's break down the sentence and identify the parts of speech:
- "We" is a pronoun, referring to a group of people including the speaker.
- "went" is a verb, indicating the action of traveling.
- "to" is a preposition, showing the direction of the action.
- "Mumbai" is a proper noun, the name of a specific city.
- "by" is a preposition, indicating the means of travel.
- "train" is a common noun, referring to a general mode of transportation.
Proper nouns are distinct from common nouns, which refer to general things, people, or places. For example, "city" is a common noun, while "Mumbai" is a proper noun. Proper nouns are always capitalized, regardless of their position in a sentence. This rule helps readers identify specific entities quickly.
In the context of the sentence, "Mumbai" is the only proper noun because it is the name of a specific city. "Train" is a common noun because it refers to a general mode of transportation, not a specific train or brand. "We" is a pronoun, not a proper noun, as it is a general reference to a group of people.
Understanding the difference between proper and common nouns is crucial for correct grammar and clear communication. Proper nouns help specify and identify unique entities, while common nouns refer to general categories. This distinction is important in various competitive examinations and general knowledge tests, where questions often test the ability to identify and use proper nouns correctly.