Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns are things you can experience with your five senses — see, touch, hear, smell, or taste.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| People | teacher, friend, doctor |
| Animals | cat, eagle, dolphin |
| Places | school, mountain, kitchen |
| Objects | pencil, chair, computer |
| Food | apple, bread, pizza |
I put the book on the table. (You can see and touch both.)
Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns are things you cannot physically experience — they are ideas, emotions, qualities, and concepts.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Emotions | happiness, fear, love, anger |
| Qualities | bravery, honesty, kindness |
| Ideas / Concepts | freedom, justice, knowledge |
| States | childhood, health, success |
She showed great courage during the storm. (You cannot see or touch courage.)
How to Form Abstract Nouns
Many abstract nouns are formed by adding a suffix to another word:
| Suffix | Example |
|---|---|
| -ness | kind → kindness, sad → sadness |
| -ity | equal → equality, real → reality |
| -tion / -sion | decide → decision, create → creation |
| -ment | achieve → achievement, move → movement |
| -hood | child → childhood, neighbour → neighbourhood |
Some nouns can be both concrete and abstract depending on context:
- She broke her arm. (concrete — body part)
- The country's military arm decided the policy. (abstract — branch/division)
Real world: speech or essay opening
Education gives us knowledge, but true wisdom comes from experience. The teachers in this school work hard every day to build confidence and curiosity in their students.
Real world: news report
The government announced new measures to improve equality and justice. The president spoke about freedom, democracy, and the happiness of the people.
Practice Problems
Sort these: love, dog, mountain, freedom, pencil, patience.
Show answer
Form the abstract noun from 'happy'.
Show answer
Is 'music' concrete or abstract? Explain.