Concrete and abstract nouns and their differentiation

Abstract nouns are words that name things that are not concrete. Your five physical senses cannot detect an abstract noun – you can’t see it, smell it, taste it, hear it, or touch it.

Concrete nouns are the easiest to understand, as they are words for things that physically exist: things we are able to experience through the senses of touch, sight, smell, taste, and or hearing.

Shoes, hats, doors, plates and vegetables

Abstract nouns are a bit different,as they refer to things that do not have a physical existence. These are often things that we can imagine,such as thoughts or concepts, but can also refer to feelings, qualities or events.

Examples include justice, ideas, music, sadness, education and joy.