English Learning: What is Abstract Noun?

Abstract nouns are a type of noun that express intangible concepts such as liberty, anger, freedom, love, generosity, charity, and democracy. These nouns refer to ideas, concepts, or qualities that cannot be seen, heard, touched, tasted, or smelled.

Abstract nouns can be used in sentences as both the subject and object.

Example Usage

For example, “Anger is not good for health” with “anger” as the subject and “Malaysia got freedom in 1957” with “freedom” as the object.

Capitalization

When used within sentences, abstract nouns are not capitalized. For example, “I want to see justice served” and “Don’t underestimate your strength.”

Form

Abstract nouns can be countable or uncountable, singular or possessive, and follow the same grammar rules as other nouns.

Examples of abstract nouns include emotions/feelings like love, hate, anger, and peace; states/attributes like bravery, honesty, and compassion; and ideas/concepts/ideals like belief, justice, and liberty.

Forming abstract nouns

Abstract nouns can be formed by adding suffixes such as -tion, -ism, -ity, -ment, -ness, -age, -ance, -ence, -ship, -ability, and -acy to root words.

For example, “child” is a concrete noun, but “childhood” is an abstract noun formed by adding the suffix “-hood.”

Similarly, “honest” is an adjective, but “honesty” is an abstract noun formed by adding the suffix “-ness.”

Abstract Noun vs Concrete Noun

Abstract Noun

Abstract nouns refer to concepts or ideas that cannot be physically touched or perceived by the five senses.

These concepts can be things like emotions, beliefs, ideas, and qualities.

They are often formed from adjectives or verbs and describe an abstract idea rather than a physical object.

For example: love, happiness, bravery, courage, wisdom, anger, and sadness.

Concrete Noun

Concrete nouns, on the other hand, refer to objects or things that can be perceived by the five senses. They are physical entities that can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or heard.

These nouns describe objects that have a physical presence and can be observed and experienced directly.

Examples of concrete nouns include tree, book, car, dog, house, and table.

In summary, the difference between abstract and concrete nouns lies in their ability to be experienced through the five senses.

Abstract nouns are intangible and cannot be experienced directly, while concrete nouns are tangible and can be experienced directly.

  • Concrete noun: Tree, book, car
  • Abstract noun: Love, happiness, bravery

Example of Abstract Noun

Feelings

Some examples of abstract nouns related to feelings are:

  • Emotion: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, excitement
  • Mental state: contentment, depression, anxiety, enthusiasm
  • Sensation: pleasure, pain, comfort, discomfort
  • Attitude: love, hatred, compassion, envy
  • Sentiment: optimism, pessimism, joy, sorrow

Beliefs

Some examples of abstract nouns related to beliefs are:

  • Ideology: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism
  • Creed: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism
  • Principle: justice, equality, freedom, honesty
  • Concept: democracy, capitalism, morality, spirituality
  • Perception: perception, perspective, viewpoint, attitude

Ideas

Some examples of abstract nouns related to ideas are:

  • Notion: concept, theory, hypothesis, idea
  • Understanding: knowledge, comprehension, insight, awareness
  • Imagination: creativity, vision, fantasy, idea
  • Philosophy: realism, idealism, pragmatism, existentialism
  • Intention: purpose, goal, ambition, motivation

Qualities

Some examples of abstract nouns related to qualities are:

  • Characteristic: trait, attribute, feature, property
  • Virtue: honesty, courage, kindness, generosity
  • Vice: greed, cruelty, dishonesty, jealousy
  • Excellence: greatness, superiority, brilliance, mastery
  • Deficiency: weakness, inadequacy, inferiority, failure

Experiences

Some examples of abstract nouns related to experiences are:

  • Event: occurrence, happening, incident, episode
  • Journey: voyage, trip, adventure, exploration
  • Process: procedure, method, operation, activity
  • Memory: recollection, recall, remembrance, recollection
  • Learning: education, instruction, training, tutelage

Example Sentences

  1. The love between the couple was palpable.
  2. He showed great courage in the face of danger.
  3. She always made decisions based on her wisdom.
  4. His anger towards the situation was unjustified.
  5. The happiness of the children was contagious.
  6. The news of her death brought immense sadness to everyone.
  7. The country fought for their freedom for many years.
  8. The wisdom of the elders was respected and valued.
  9. The anger in his voice was unmistakable.
  10. Her smile radiated happiness.
  11. His heart was filled with sadness at the thought of leaving.
  12. They cherished their freedom and worked hard to maintain it.
  13. Her words were filled with wisdom beyond her years.
  14. The injustice of the situation elicited anger from many.
  15. The joy of winning brought happiness to the team.
  16. The loss was a source of great sadness for the family.
  17. The fight for freedom was a long and arduous journey.
  18. The advice was rooted in the speaker’s deep wisdom.
  19. The criticism ignited his anger.
  20. The reunion brought happiness to the separated friends.
  21. The departure caused sadness in the hearts of many.
  22. The right to freedom is enshrined in many constitutions.
  23. The experience taught her valuable lessons and added to her wisdom.
  24. The mistreatment led to anger and protests.
  25. The good news brought happiness to everyone.
  26. The tragedy left a deep sadness in the hearts of those affected.
  27. The pursuit of freedom has inspired many throughout history.
  28. The knowledge and understanding gained from the book added to her wisdom.
  29. The betrayal caused intense anger in the victim.
  30. The accomplishment brought immense happiness to the team.
  31. The loss of a loved one brings immense sadness.
  32. The defense of freedom is a noble cause.
  33. The advice of the expert was based on years of experience and wisdom.
  34. The discrimination caused anger among the marginalized group.
  35. The success was a source of happiness for the hardworking team.
  36. The goodbye brought sadness to the close friends.
  37. The right to freedom of speech is a fundamental principle.
  38. The teacher imparted wisdom to the students through her lessons.
  39. The injustice sparked anger and a call for change.
  40. The reunion with family brought happiness to the soldier.
  41. The loss of the game was a source of sadness for the team.
  42. The quest for freedom has inspired many movements.
  43. The wisdom of the ancients continues to influence modern thinking.
  44. The criticism resulted in anger and a desire for retaliation.
  45. The good weather brought happiness to the outdoor enthusiasts.
  46. The breakup was a source of sadness for the couple.
  47. The defense of freedom requires bravery and determination.
  48. The education and training gained from the program added to her wisdom.
  49. The mistreatment of animals elicits anger and calls for change.
  50. The good news spread happiness throughout the community.
  51. The tragedy elicited sadness and condolences from many.
  52. The pursuit of freedom is a constant struggle.
  53. The wisdom of the ages is evident in the works of great thinkers.
  54. The injustice meted out by the system elicited anger from the victim.
  55. The success of the project brought happiness to the team.
  56. The goodbye to a loved one brings sadness and heartbreak.
  57. The right to freedom of religion is a fundamental