English Language Arts
Grade 4
15 min
Capitalizing the names of people and pets
Capitalizing the names of people and pets
What you'll learn
- Identify the narrator's point of view (first-person, second-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient) in at least 3 out of 4 short story excerpts.
- Explain how the narrator's point of view influences the reader's understanding of characters and events in a given text, providing at least two specific examples from the text.
- Distinguish between third-person limited and third-person omniscient point of view by accurately classifying 4 out of 5 different textual examples.
- Apply knowledge of point of view to rewrite a short paragraph from one point of view (e.g., first-person) to another (e.g., third-person limited), maintaining consistent character voice and plot.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the names of people and pets in a sentence.
Explain why names of people and pets are capitalized.
Apply capitalization rules to first, middle, and last names.
Correctly capitalize initials used in names.
Differentiate between a common noun (e.g., 'dog') and a proper noun (e.g., 'Fido').
Proofread sentences and correct capitalization errors in the names of people and pets.
Have you ever seen your name written as 'maria' instead of 'Maria'? 🤔 Names are special, and they need a capital letter to show just how important they are!
Today, we will learn the super important rule for capitalizing the names of people and pets. This rule helps make our writing clear and shows respect for the individuals we are writi...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Capital LetterA large or uppercase letter (like A, B, C) used at the beginning of a sentence or for a proper noun.The 'S' in 'Sarah' is a capital letter.
Proper NounA name used for a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are always capitalized.Instead of just 'boy', a proper noun is 'David'. Instead of 'cat', a proper noun is 'Whiskers'.
Common NounA name for a general person, place, or thing. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.The words 'girl', 'teacher', and 'dog' are common nouns.
First NameA person's given name, which comes before their family name.In 'Maria Garcia', the first name is 'Maria'.
Last NameA person...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Name Capitalization Rule
Always capitalize the first letter of each part of a person's or pet's name.
This rule applies to first names, middle names, last names, and the names you give your pets. It signals to the reader that you are talking about a specific, unique individual.
The Initial Capitalization Rule
An initial in a name must be a capital letter and is usually followed by a period.
When you shorten a name to its first letter, like a middle name, that letter must be capitalized to show it stands for a proper name.
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Challenging
Read the paragraph. How many capitalization errors related to the names of people or pets can you find? 'My friend li wei and I went to the park. We saw mr. smith walking his dog, buddy. li said that buddy is a very friendly dog.'
A.Four
B.Three
C.Five
D.Two
Challenging
A new student's full name is Mary Anne O'Malley. Which sentence shows her name written INCORRECTLY?
A.I think Mary Anne O'Malley is in our class.
B.Have you met Mary anne O'Malley yet?
C.The teacher called for Mary Anne.
D.Her last name is O'Malley.
Challenging
Why is 'Rover' capitalized in the sentence 'My dog Rover loves to play,' but 'dog' is not?
A.Rover is a more important word than dog.
B.Words with five letters are always capitalized.
C.Rover is the specific name of a particular dog, making it a proper noun.
D.Rover is at the end of the phrase 'My dog Rover'.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Capitalizing the names of people and pets"?
Capitalizing the names of people and pets is a Grade 4 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Capitalizing the names of people and pets?
You'll be able to: Identify the narrator's point of view (first-person, second-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient) in at least 3 out of 4 short story excerpts; Explain how the narrator's point of view influences the reader's….
Is "Capitalizing the names of people and pets" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Capitalizing the names of people and pets?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.