English/Parts of Speech/Nouns/Concrete and abstract Nouns
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Concrete and abstract nouns are two types of nouns.
[change] Concrete nouns
Concrete nouns are words for things that you can touch and see. Look at the following sentence:
- Sally moved gracefully across the room without fear.
Let's look at that sentence with the nouns in red:
- Sally moved gracefully across the room without fear.
Out of these nouns, which ones can you touch and see? Ask yourself those questions when trying to find out if a noun is concrete.
- Sally - Can you touch and see Sally? Yes, you can touch and see Sally.
- Room - Can you touch and see the room? Yes, you can touch and see the room.
- Fear - Can you touch and see fear? No. Fear is not physically in the room.
[change] Abstract nouns
Abstract nouns are things that you cannot touch or see, like fear. Look at the following sentence:
- Hate and love aren't bricks.
Now look at it with the nouns in red:
- Hate and love aren't bricks.
Out of these nouns, which ones can't you touch or see? Ask these questions when trying to find out if a noun is abstract.
- Hate - Can you touch and see hate? No, you cannot, so it is abstract.
- love - Can you touch and see love? No, you cannot, so it is abstract.
- Bricks - Can you touch and see bricks? Yes, you can, so it is not abstract.
