What Is a Concrete Noun? | Examples, Definition & Quiz
Concrete nouns name people, places, and things that we can perceive with our five senses.
Not limited to solid or tangible objects that you could theoretically touch, concrete nouns can also name anything that can be heard (e.g., “symphony”), seen (e.g., “sunlight”), tasted (e.g., “sourness”), or felt without being touched (e.g., “heat”). Words such as “spaceship,” “Mariana Trench,” “amoeba,” and “Jeffrey” are all concrete nouns.
In contrast, abstract nouns describe mental constructs. These include feelings, frameworks, and concepts that cannot be directly perceived, such as “fascination,” “sleepiness,” “Pareto principle,” and “motif.”
My cat thinks my keyboard is a bed.
Pietr enjoyed the sun but also loved the rain.
Concrete nouns vs abstract nouns
Concrete and abstract nouns share the same grammatical functions, but they differ in terms of what they name.
- Concrete nouns name people, places, or things but cannot refer to abstract ideas in a literal sense.
- Abstract nouns name concepts, feelings, and qualities but don’t refer to people, places, or things.
Exposure to sunlight can improve mood.
Some words can function as abstract nouns or as concrete nouns depending on the context and whether they are being used in a literal or figurative sense.
Anxiety about Monday’s test cast a shadow over his weekend.
Concrete noun examples
Examples of concrete nouns can fall into several groups, including those in the table that follows. As the examples demonstrate, nouns are still typically considered concrete if they cannot be perceived by our senses directly (e.g., “molecule”) but have an aspect of physicality, even if only in the distant past (e.g., “Aristotle”) or in theory (e.g., “Shangri-la”).
| Objects and substances | swimming pool, cough syrup, Lamborghini, persimmon, raindrop, proton |
| Types of people | principal, podcaster, infant, mechanic, grandmother, pope, composer |
| Other life forms | orangutan, moss, coral, maple, hawk, iguana, hammerhead shark, H. pylori |
| Historical, fictional, or mythical figures | Admiral James T. Kirk, King George III, Eric Cartman, Zeus, Scout Finch, Ada Lovelace, Loki |
| Types of places | ocean, coffee shop, cliff, avenue, desert, rainforest, planet, post office |
| Specific places | Heathrow Airport, the Bronx, Brown University, Old Montreal, Angkor Wat, the Madrid Metro, the Great Barrier Reef, Ohio, the Library of Alexandria |
Concrete nouns quiz
Concrete nouns quiz
Test your knowledge of concrete nouns using the quiz below. Select the correct answer for each question.
Frequently asked questions about concrete nouns
- How is a concrete noun different from an abstract noun?
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Concrete nouns refer to people, places, or things that are physically observable to the senses. Examples include “Mrs. Robins,” “snowstorm,” “San Juan,” “moonlight,” and “book.”
Abstract nouns, in contrast, name constructs that can’t be observed with the senses, such as ideas, moods, and values. Examples include “nostalgia,” “weekday,” “peace,” “era,” and “academia.”
- Is freedom an abstract or concrete noun?
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“Freedom” is an abstract noun. It denotes a conceptual state beyond the reach of the five senses. Although we can observe tangible expressions of freedom, such as unrestricted movement, the concept exists in the mind and not in the physical realm.
- Is talent an abstract or concrete noun?
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“Talent” is an abstract noun, signifying a conceptual quality, not a physical object. It encompasses innate abilities or skills individuals possess, making it impossible to touch or perceive directly.
- What are the different types of nouns?
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Nouns can be categorized in a wide variety of ways, including the following:
- Concrete nouns and abstract nouns
- Common nouns and proper nouns
- Countable nouns and uncountable nouns
- Plural nouns and singular nouns
- Gerunds
- Appositive nouns
- Generic nouns
- Collective nouns
- Attributive nouns
- Possessive nouns
