✏️ Jump to Practice Makes Perfect
When learning about nouns, one of the most common starting points is exploring the difference between concrete and abstract nouns.
Concrete nouns refer to things around us in the physical world.
Examples: chair, flower, building, thunder
Abstract nouns, in contrast, refer to intangible things, such as ideas, feelings, and qualities.
Examples: freedom, happiness, courage, childhood
Understanding this distinction helps us to better recognise noun patterns and build up our vocabulary.
Concrete & Abstract Nouns in Use
- They have gone for a swim in the lake.
- She ate an apple after lunch because she was still a bit peckish.
- Our dog always barks at the postman.
- The sun is strong today. Don’t forget to use sunscreen!
- He played his guitar to entertain the stranded passengers.
- Their friendship has lasted for over 30 years.
- Every street corner in this city seems to be steeped in history.
- A little kindness goes a long way.
- Procrastination is the thief of time.
- He has good memories from his childhood.
* Concrete Nouns / Abstract Nouns
Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns are words that we use for things that exist in the real, physical world. They name the things we can point to and recognise in everyday life.
Consider the below:
- What kind of device are you using to access this website? A PC? A tablet? A laptop? A mobile phone?
Each device named here (in bold and coloured green) – whether a PC, tablet, laptop, or phone – is a physical object that we can see, hold, and interact with. This is what makes them concrete nouns.
In fact, anything tangible in our world (from objects and people to animals and places) falls into the category of concrete nouns. This makes them essential for describing and discussing our lives: the food we eat, the places we visit, the activities we do, the weather we experience, the people and animals we meet, and the objects we use.
Identifying Concrete Nouns
We can usually identify concrete nouns by asking: ‘Can I experience this through one or more of my five senses?’
In other words, when we can see, touch, hear, taste, or smell something, it’s a concrete noun. Even if only one sense is engaged, that noun is still considered concrete.
Let’s look at some examples:
- 👀 Sight – The sky was a clear blue.
- 👃 Smell – The smell of coffee in the morning always kickstarts my day.
- 👅 Taste – Lemons taste tangy and sour.
- ✋ Touch – Cacti are rough and prickly to the touch.
- 👂 Hearing – The music from the concert could be heard for miles.
Types of Concrete Nouns
As we have seen, concrete nouns name physical things. They span every aspect of our physical world, from people to places to objects.
Below is a table that organises examples into four broad categories so we can see this range clearly.
| Category | Concrete Noun Examples |
|---|---|
| People | artist, firefighter, brother, man, woman, doctor, teacher, chef, farmer, lawyer |
| Places | library, beach, restaurant, garden, museum, gym, cinema, hospital, school, airport |
| Animals | elephant, bear, salmon, mouse, dog, tortoise, cat, bird, snake, tiger |
| Things | bicycle, computer, sandwich, cup, bottle, bus, boat, bread, apple, ball, mobile phone |
Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns refer to intangible things such as feelings, ideas, qualities, and states. They help us to describe what we think, feel, or experience internally.
Unlike concrete nouns (which represent physical things we can see, touch, taste, smell, or hear) abstract nouns do not exist in the physical world.
- She couldn’t contain her happiness.
- After securing a better job, he finally developed a sense of stability in his life.
- Progress may not always be visible, but every small victory moves us closer to the finish line.
Each abstract noun above (in bold and coloured blue) names something intangible. We cannot touch happiness, measure stability, or hold progress in our hands. Such things only exist as internal experiences in our minds, and this is what makes them abstract nouns.
Types of Abstract Noun
Abstract nouns cover the entire range of intangible human experience. They give us the vocabulary to discuss emotions, describe character traits, debate ideas, and express values and beliefs.
They can be loosely organised into categories based on what they express:
1) Feelings & Emotions: happiness, sadness, joy, anger, fear, love, surprise, excitement, worry, relief, gratitude, compassion, envy, curiosity, nostalgia, awe
2) States & Conditions: stability, confusion, health, isolation, stress, chaos, calmness, contentment, depression, optimism, comfort, poverty, wealth
3) Qualities: ambition, courage, creativity, honesty, empathy, bravery, generosity, resilience, patience, wisdom, confidence, integrity, kindness, loyalty
4) Ideas & Concepts: history, justice, freedom, time, knowledge, democracy, truth, culture, innovation, imagination, faith, beauty, equality, responsibility, power
5) Moments, Events, & Experiences: childhood, birthday, graduation, marriage, career, holiday, achievement, celebration, journey, memory, friendship
6) Actions & Processes: progress, growth, learning, communication, development, improvement, change, training, collaboration, motivation
Forming Abstract Nouns
Most abstract nouns are formed by adding suffixes (e.g., -ness / -ism / -ity) to adjectives, verbs, or other nouns.
The table below shows common suffixes and their role in creating abstract nouns:
Abstract Noun Formation: Suffixes
| Suffix | Example Transformations | Parts of Speech Transformed |
|---|---|---|
| –ness | – Happy > Happi > Happiness | Adjective → Abstract Noun |
| –ity | – Creative > Creativ | Adjective → Abstract Noun |
| –y | – Historic > Histor | Adjective → Abstract Noun |
| –ion | – Decide > Decis > Decision | Verb → Abstract Noun |
| –ation | – Explore > Explor | Verb → Abstract Noun |
| –ment | – Enjoy > Enjoyment | Verb → Abstract Noun |
| –ing | – Read > Reading | Verb → Abstract Noun |
| –hood | – Child > Childhood | Noun → Abstract Noun |
| –ship | – Leader > Leadership | Noun → Abstract Noun |
| –ism | – Capital > Capitalism | Noun → Abstract Noun |
Note: Bear in mind that not all abstract nouns use suffixes. Some exist as root words and require no changes at all.
Examples include: truth, anger, love, fear, hope, grief, faith, power
Practice Makes Perfect: Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns
Concrete Nouns
Exercise 1: Identify the Concrete Noun
Identify the concrete noun(s) in each sentence.
- The cat is black and white.
- The sky was a clear blue.
- She always prefers to sit by a window on a plane.
- He drove his car to the beach.
- They went for a swim in the river.
- The children played ball in the garden.
- The warm bread, fresh from the oven, smelt delicious.
- The clock on the wall ticked loudly.
- The dog barked at the passing car.
- The vase on the table was filled with fresh, red roses.
Exercise 1: Answers [Click]
- cat
- sky
- window / plane
- car / beach
- river
- children / ball / garden
- bread / oven
- clock / wall
- dog / car
- vase / table / roses
Exercise 2: Concrete vs. Abstract Sorting
Sort the words below into concrete and abstract nouns.
Nouns: happiness, dog, courage, mountain, friendship, desk, river, hope, music, beauty, lamp, car, determination, apple, flower, dream, ocean, justice, house, kindness
Exercise 2: Answers [Click]
Concrete Nouns: dog, mountain, desk, river, music, lamp, car, apple, flower, ocean, house
Abstract Nouns: happiness, courage, friendship, hope, beauty, determination, dream, justice, kindness
Exercise 3: Match the Concrete Noun to the Senses it Engages
List the senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing) we use to experience each concrete noun.
- sky _________________________________
- coffee ______________________________
- lemon ______________________________
- cactus ______________________________
- music ______________________________
Exercise 3: Answers [Click]
- sky: sight
- coffee: smell, taste, sight, touch
- lemon: taste, smell, sight, touch
- cactus: touch, sight, taste (though tasting is not recommended)
- music: hearing
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct concrete noun to complete each sentence.
- The excited puppy chased the __________ across the floor.
(a) happiness
(b) window
(c) book
(d) ball - She placed the fresh bouquet of __________ into a glass vase by the window.
(a) leaves
(b) flowers
(c) blanket
(d) kindness - From the top of the hill, we could see the vast blue __________ for as far as the eye could see.
(a) ocean
(b) city
(c) forest
(d) freedom - He grabbed a __________ from the drawer to slice the loaf on the table.
(a) plate
(b) spoon
(c) knife
(d) bravery - The crowd cheered as the sound of the __________ filled the concert hall.
(a) music
(b) guitar
(c) stage
(d) inspiration
Exercise 4: Answers [Click]
- (d) ball
- (b) flowers
- (a) ocean
- (c) knife
- (a) music
Exercise 5: Concrete Nouns in Different Environments
Think about what you can typically find in these environments. List at least 3 concrete nouns for each.
- What can you see in your bedroom?
- What can you see at the beach?
- What can you see in an office?
- What can you see in the gym?
- What can you see in your kitchen?
- What can you see at the park?
- What can you see in a classroom?
- What can you see in a supermarket?
- What can you see in a garage?
- What can you see on a busy street?
Exercise 5: Example Answers [Click]
- Bedroom: bed, pillow, wardrobe, lamp, mirror, blanket, curtains, books, clock, rug
- Beach: sand, waves, seashells, sun, umbrella, towel, lifeguard, bucket, surfboard, seagull
- Office: desk, chair, computer, keyboard, stapler, notepad, printer, phone, monitor, clock
- Gym: treadmill, dumbbells, bench, barbell, yoga mat, locker, water bottle, resistance bands, mirror, exercise bike
- Kitchen: refrigerator, sink, stove, knife, plate, kettle, cupboard, toaster, mug, cutting board
- Park: tree, bench, path, pond, playground, bird, swing, grass, fountain, flower
- Classroom: desk, whiteboard, books, globe, ruler, poster, chair, backpack, marker, window
- Supermarket: trolley, basket, shelf, fruit, vegetables, milk, cereal box, cashier, receipt, bag
- Garage: car, toolbox, wrench, bicycle, tire, ladder, drill, bucket, oil can, workbench
- Busy street: pavement, bus, traffic light, sign, car, shop window, lamppost, cyclist, pedestrian, road
Abstract Nouns
Exercise 1: Abstract Noun Identification
Identify the abstract noun(s) in each sentence.
- The community demanded justice during the protest.
- Procrastination is the thief of time.
- His dedication to making the world a better place was inspirational.
- “With great power comes great responsibility.” – Uncle Ben [Spider-Man, 2002]
- A wave of happiness engulfed them as they were told they had won the lottery.
- His thirst for knowledge led him to devour countless books, but don’t ask him to change a light bulb.
- The rescue team showed remarkable courage despite the looming danger.
- Her compassion for others shone through in every act of kindness.
- Their creativity transformed the drab room into a vibrant art studio.
- Hot, parched, and drenched in sweat, she stumbled through the dense jungle. As she paused for a rest, a moment of realisation struck: ‘immersive adventure’ sounded much better in the travel brochure.
Exercise 1: Answers [Click]
- justice
- Procrastination / time
- dedication
- power / responsibility
- happiness
- knowledge
- courage / danger
- compassion / kindness
- creativity
- moment / realisation / adventure
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct abstract noun to complete each sentence.
- Her graduation was a proud __________ for the entire family.
(a) awe
(b) achievement
(c) effort
(d) discovery - Without __________ the world would still be relying on cave paintings for communication.
(a) innovation
(b) nostalgia
(c) chaos
(d) doubt - Even the smallest act of __________ can brighten someone’s day.
(a) fear
(b) farewell
(c) kindness
(d) decision - The team celebrated their __________ after months of hard work.
(a) curiosity
(b) ambition
(c) reflection
(d) victory - The identity of the office sandwich thief remains a __________.
(a) mystery
(b) celebration
(c) wisdom
(d) integrity
Exercise 2: Answers [Click]
- (b) achievement
- (a) innovation
- (c) kindness
- (d) victory
- (a) mystery
Exercise 3: Abstract vs. Concrete – Understanding Nouns in Context
Determine whether each underlined word is an abstract noun or a concrete noun.
- Her excitement could not be hidden when her friends surprised her with a party.
- The artist captured the beauty of the mountains in his painting.
- The crackling fire and the sounds of nature made everything feel peaceful.
- The bridge has stood for centuries, a testament to the ingenuity of its ancient Roman builders.
- It took a lot of courage for Tony to sing karaoke at the work party, and even more courage to face his colleagues the next morning.
Exercise 3: Answers [Click]
- Abstract noun (excitement)
- Abstract noun (beauty)
- Concrete noun (fire)
- Concrete noun (bridge)
- Abstract noun (courage)
Exercise 4: Forming Abstract Nouns with Suffixes
Select the correct suffix from the list below to form an abstract noun.
Suffix list: –ation / -ness / -hood / -y / -ment / -ion / -ism / -ity / -ing / -ship
Example: happy → happiness (replace y with i, then add -ness).
- happy > happiness
- creative >
- historic >
- decide >
- explore >
- enjoy >
- read >
- child >
- leader >
- capital >
Exercise 4: Answers [Click]
- Suffix: [ -ness ] / happy → happiness
- Suffix: [ -ity ] / creative → creativity
- Suffix: [ -y ] / historic → history
- Suffix: [ -ion ] / decide → decision
- Suffix: [ -ation ] / explore → exploration
- Suffix: [ -ment ] / enjoy → enjoyment
- Suffix: [ -ing ] / read → reading
- Suffix: [ -hood ] / child → childhood
- Suffix: [ -ship ] / leader → leadership
- Suffix: [ -ism ] / capital → capitalism
Exercise 5: Abstract Nouns in Different Situations
Think about the abstract nouns you might associate with each situation.
- What abstract nouns might you associate with a birthday party?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with starting a new job?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with studying for an exam?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with spending time with family?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with going on an adventure?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with watching a sunset?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with playing a team sport?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with a wedding?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with a rainy day?
- What abstract nouns might you associate with completing a challenging project?
Exercise 5: Example Answers [Click]
- A birthday party: happiness / excitement / gratitude
- Starting a new job: excitement / nervousness / hope / ambition
- Studying for an exam: stress / determination / focus
- Spending time with family: love / joy / happiness / comfort
- Going on an adventure: excitement / courage / freedom
- Watching a sunset: peacefulness / awe / nostalgia
- Playing a team sport: collaboration / resilience / competition
- A wedding: love / commitment / celebration
- A rainy day: calmness / sadness / reflection / peacefulness
- A challenging project: relief / satisfaction / accomplishment