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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: A question for ESL teachers...
Why don't we capitalise names of the seasons - summer, winter, spring, autumn.... but, we capitalise the days of the week, the months of the year.. and of course, other unque names?
Obviously, answers of 'no why' are unacceptable!
10 years 19 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
'Cause seasons are not proper nouns, and days and months are named after the Norse gods, so they are proper nouns.
I do cap. seasons, and till now I didn't know that's not necessary.
icnif77:
I'm not that good!Today is my off day, so I guess I had to 'teach' somebody some Grammar.
This Q is widely discussed on Internet.
Capital Letters and the Seasons
The four seasons are not normally written with capital letters. However, if a season is given a human trait (i.e., personified), then – under an old ruling – it can be given a capital letter.
Examples:
He was touched by Winter's icy breath.
(winter given a human trait - use a capital letter)
Where are you going this winter?
(no human trait - use a lowercase letter)
The leaves had been subjected to Autumn's touch.
(human trait -A is correct)
The trees were all the colours of autumn.
(no human trait -a is correct)
This is the second time I have been skiing this Winter.
(no human trait -W should be w)
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/capital_letters_spring_summer_autumn_winter_seasons.htm#7APxLAXcERfq3vmr.99
Shining_brow:
However, isn't a 'proper noun' almost an arbitrary feature? 'No', you say, but if days and months ARE, then logically, so should the seasons!! I'm not seeing a logical reason for why a season isn't considered to have a proper name!
icnif77:
Because sun and moon were considered gods, and days and months are named after the gods, and seasons aren't. Add-it: 'Go to Church, now!'
Shining_brow:
Months... while Jan - Aug are named after people/gods, Sept-Dec are purely numeric...
Seasons are not proper nouns (capitalized) because they are informal names for a period of time between solstices (Summer and Winter) and equinoxes (Spring and Autumnal) - note the caps there.
Sinobear:
THE Winter Solstice, THE Summer Solstice, THE Vernal Equinox, THE Autumnal Equinox.
...summer, winter, spring, autumn, equinox, solstice.