Yes! Common nouns = Nouns name people, places, and things. Every noun can further be classified as common or proper. A common noun names general items.
Go into the kitchen. What do you see? Refrigerator, magnet, stove, window, coffee maker, wallpaper, spatula, sink, plate—all of these things are common nouns.
Leave the house. Where can you go? Mall, restaurant, school, post office, backyard, beach, pet store, supermarket, gas station—all of these places are common nouns.
Go to the mall. Who do you see? Teenager, grandmother, salesclerk, police officer, toddler, manager, window dresser, janitor, shoplifter—all of these people are common nouns.
The important thing to remember is that common nouns are general names of everyday items.
The Puritan communities that settled the United States were often escaping religious persecution in England, and part of their motivation for moving to the new continent was to gain freedom of religion. Therefore, they were interested in establishing a degree of separation between the state and the Church. They established congregational independence, which meant that the government could not intervene in the affairs of the congregation. Moreover, ministers were barred from holding public office.
However, this did not mean that Puritans believed the separation should be absolute. The government and the church were just two mechanisms to carry out the teachings of the Bible. Church attendance was mandatory and all citizens were taxed to contribute to the needs of the church.
