This means something is right or correct for the situation. It follows the rules and fits well. Learners use this to say if something is the right way.
She wore proper clothes to school.
Use proper tools for the job.
This meaning means something belongs only to a person or thing. It shows it is the real or exact one for them.
This is her proper place to live.
He has his proper name online.
This use means something is the main or complete type, not just a small or fake part. It shows it is the real one.
He is the proper leader of the group.
It is a proper house, not a tent.
This use means 'in the exact place or sense.' For example, 'city proper' means the exact city area, not the suburbs.
They live in London proper, not outside.
The city proper has many parks.
This means to be polite and behave the right way in social places. It shows good manners and respect.
Please use proper manners at dinner.
He was always proper and polite.
This refers to names of special people, places, or things. These words always start with a big letter.
Paris is a proper noun.
John is a proper name.
This meaning is used in math to show part of something, not the entire amount. A proper subset has fewer elements than the whole set.
A proper subset is smaller than the full set.
It is a proper fraction, less than one.
