- 2-minute read
- 21st December 2013
Abstract and Concrete Nouns Explained
Nouns are naming words and an essential part of the English language. They fall into two main categories: concrete and abstract. It is vital to learn how to use both types in your written work, particularly abstract nouns, which can be tricky. This blog post will take a quick look at the basic definitions of these nouns and offer examples to clarify how they should be used.
Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns are fairly simple to understand, as they basically refer to things that are solid, like concrete, and that physically exist around us.
This means that we can experience concrete nouns through our five senses, in that we can touch, see, smell, taste, and/or hear them.
Examples of concrete nouns include:
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- People (man, woman, dentist, proofreader)
- Animals (dog, cat, bird, bee)
- Objects (clock, book, computer, pizza)
- Places and geographical features (mountain, valley, Norwich, France)
Abstract Nouns
In contrast to concrete nouns, abstract nouns name things that do not exist physically, such as thoughts, ideas or concepts. They are therefore used to denote things that we can’t see, smell, taste, and/or hear.
Examples of abstract nouns include:
- Qualities and characteristics (beauty, kindness, wit)
- Emotions and states of mind (love, happiness, anger)
- Concepts and ideas (justice, freedom, truth)
- Events and processes (progress, Thursday, Christmas)
Proofreading by the Experts
If you’re still unsure about the difference between concrete and abstract nouns, let the experts at Proofed help you with your noun usage today!
