8/17/2016 Concrete and Abstract Nouns

ConcreteandAbstractNouns
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ConcreteandAbstractNouns.htm

TheFarlexGrammarBook>EnglishGrammar>PartsofSpeech>Nouns>ConcreteandAbstractNouns

ConcreteandAbstractNouns
Allnounsservetonameaperson,place,orthing.Dependingonwhethertheynameatangibleoranintangible
thing,nounsareclassedasbeingeitherconcreteorabstract.

ConcreteNouns
Concretenounsnamepeople,places,animals,orthingsthatareorwerephysicallytangiblethatis,theycanor
couldbeseenortouched,orhavesomephysicalproperties.Forinstance:
rocks
lake
countries
people
child
air
water
bread

Propernounsarealsousuallyconcrete,astheydescribeuniquepeople,places,orthings.
Mary
TheQueen
Africa
myMacBook
aPepsi

AbstractNouns
Abstractnouns,astheirnameimplies,nameintangiblethings,suchasconcepts,ideas,feelings,characteristics,
attributes,etc.youcannotseeortouchthesekindsofthings.

Herearesomeexamplesofabstractnouns:
love
hate
decency
conversation
emotion
aspiration
excitement
lethargy

Gerunds,verbsthatendiningandfunctionasnouns,arealsoabstract.Forexample:
running
swimming
jumping
reading
writing
loving
breathing
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Concrete-and-Abstract-Nouns.htm 1/5
8/17/2016 Concrete and Abstract Nouns

Theseallnameactionsasconcepts.Theycannotbeseenortouched,soweknowtheyarenotconcrete.

CountableNounsvs.UncountableNouns
Bothconcreteandabstractnounscanbeeithercountableoruncountable,dependingonwhattheyname.

CountableNouns
Countablenouns(alsoknownascountnouns)are,asthenamesuggests,nounsthatcanbecountedasindividual
units.

Concretecountablenouns
Manyconcretenounsarecountable.Considerthefollowing,forexample:
cup
ambulance
phone
person
dog
computer
doctor

Eachofthesecanbeconsideredasanindividual,separableitem,whichmeansthatweareabletocountthemwith
numberswecanhaveone,two,five,15,100,andsoon.Wecanalsousethemwiththeindefinitearticlesaand
an(whichsignifyasinglepersonorthing)orwiththepluralformofthenoun.Forexample:

Singular Plural

acup twocups
anambulance severalambulances
aphone 10phones
aperson manypeople

Abstractcountablenouns
Eventhoughabstractnounsarenottangible,manyofthemcanstillbecountedasseparableunits.Likeconcrete
nouns,theycantakeeitheraoranorbemadeplural.Forexample:

Singular Plural

aconversation twoconversations
anemergency severalemergencies
areading 10readings
anaspiration manyaspirations

UncountableNouns
Uncountablenouns,ontheotherhand,arenounsthatcannotbeconsideredasseparateunits.Theyarealso
knownasnoncountormassnouns.

Concreteuncountablenouns
Concretenounsthatareuncountabletendtobesubstancesorcollectivecategoriesofthings.Forinstance:
Substances:wood,smoke,air,water
Collectivecategories:furniture,homework,accommodation,luggage

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Concrete-and-Abstract-Nouns.htm 2/5
8/17/2016 Concrete and Abstract Nouns

Uncountablenounscannottaketheindefinitearticlesaoraninasentence,becausethesewordsindicateasingle
amountofsomething.Likewise,theycannottakenumbersorpluralforms,becausetherecannotbemultipleunitsof
them.Forexample:
Isee(some*)smokeoverthere.(correct)
Iseeasmokeoverthere.(incorrect)
Idonthave(any*)furniture.(correct)
Idonthavefurnitures.(incorrect)
(*Weoftenusethewordssomeoranytoindicateanunspecifiedquantityofuncountablenouns.)

However,uncountablenounscansometimestakethedefinitearticlethe,becauseitdoesnotspecifyanamount:
Theyreswimminginthewater.
Thehomeworkthisweekishard.

Abstractuncountablenouns
Alargenumberofabstractnounsareuncountable.Theseareusuallyideasorattributes.Forinstance:
Ideasorconcepts:love,hate,news*,access,knowledge
Attributes:beauty,intelligence,arrogance,permanence
(*Eventhoughnewsendsinans,itisuncountable.Weneedthissbecausewithoutit,newswouldbecome
new,whichisanadjective.)

Again,thesecannottakeindefinitearticlesorbemadeplural.
Hesjustlookingforlove.(correct)
Hesjustlookingforalove.(incorrect)
Shesgainedagreatdealofknowledgeduringcollege.(correct)
Shesgainedagreatdealofknowledgesduringcollege.(incorrect)
Aswithcountablenouns,though,wecansometimesusethedefinitearticlethe:
Icantstandwatchingthenews.
Canyoubelievethearroganceheexhibits?

Quiz

1.Whichofthefollowingisadistinguishingfeatureofabstractnouns?

a)Theycanbeseenortouched
b)Theycannotbeseenortouched
c)Theycanbecounted
d)Theycannotbecounted

2.Propernounsaregenerally_________.

a)concrete
b)abstract

3.Isthefollowingwordconcreteorabstract?
amazement

a)concrete
b)abstract

4.Isthefollowingwordconcreteorabstract?
sugar

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Concrete-and-Abstract-Nouns.htm 3/5
8/17/2016 Concrete and Abstract Nouns

a)concrete
b)abstract

5.Isthefollowingwordconcreteorabstract?
Australia

a)concrete
b)abstract

6.TrueorFalse:Allconcretenounsarecountable.

a)True
b)False

Submit

TheFarlexGrammarBook2016FarlexInternational.Allrightsreserved.

Share Tweet Share

PREV:NounsofAddress

NEXT:CountableNouns

Conversations

1Comment Sortby Oldest

Addacomment...

BrahZarkDj/Presenter.atMetro90.5fmSunyani
wooowamreallyenjoyingyourlessonsespeciallythequestions
LikeReply 1Jun28,201612:00pm

FacebookCommentsPlugin

Recommendedforyou Readnext

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Concrete-and-Abstract-Nouns.htm 4/5
8/17/2016 Concrete and Abstract Nouns

The7MajorDifferencesbetween
BritishandAmericanSpelling

59timesyouquotedShakespeare
withoutknowingit

Copyright20032016Farlex,Inc

Disclaimer
Allcontentonthiswebsite,includingdictionary,thesaurus,literature,geography,andotherreference
dataisforinformationalpurposesonly.Thisinformationshouldnotbeconsideredcomplete,upto
date,andisnotintendedtobeusedinplaceofavisit,consultation,oradviceofalegal,medical,or
anyotherprofessional.
AModeTendParentingPartnership

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Concrete-and-Abstract-Nouns.htm 5/5