Concrete Noun - Definition, Types and Examples


Concrete nouns are a type of noun in English and are most frequently encountered. Learning noun and all its types is essential for both spoken and written English. In this article, we've covered:

  • What is a Concrete Noun? 
  • Concrete Noun Examples 
  • Concrete Noun Sentences
  • How to Identify a Concrete Noun?
  • Types of Concrete Noun
  • Concrete Noun Vs Abstract Noun
  • Concrete Noun List
  • Concrete Noun Exercises

What is a Concrete Noun?

Collins Dictionary defines concrete noun as "A noun that refers to a material object, as for example horse.".

Cambridge Dictionary defines concrete noun as "A noun that refers to a real physical object.". 

From the definitions, it's clear that:

  • A concrete noun is a type of noun.
  • A concrete noun denotes a physical object.
  • The object denoted by a concrete noun can be perceived with any one of your five senses.
  • A concrete noun (physical) is the opposite of an abstract noun (nonphysical). 

Features of Concrete Nouns 

  • Concrete nouns are viewable: Such as words or nouns of colors and representing objects can be seen with eyes.
  • Concrete nouns are audible: The words or nouns that represent sounds come under the category of concrete nouns because they're hearable with ears.
  • Concrete nouns are smellable: The words or nouns that represent scents or fragrances can be smelled, so they come under the category of concrete nouns.
  • Concrete nouns are tastable: The nouns representing foods and beverages are concrete nouns because they can be tasted.
  • Concrete nouns are touchable: The nouns that represent real physical objects can be sensed with the sense of touch. They're also categorized as concrete nouns.
  • Some concrete nouns are countable: The nouns such as dog, tree, book and so on are countable.
  • Some concrete nouns are uncountable: Some of concrete nouns such as water, tea, sand and so on are uncountable concrete nouns.

Concrete Noun Examples 

  • book
  • table 
  • apple 
  • tree
  • plate 
  • dog
  • building 
  • bottle 
  • mobile 
  • rice

Concrete Noun Sentences

a. He visited Lake Zurich last year.

b. He brought me a laptop.

c. She is fond of ice cream.

d. I usually have tea in the morning.

e. There's no water in the bottle.

f. I can still hear the buzzing of bees.

g. My laptop is not working properly.

h. The dog is barking.

i. Your child is fond of chocolates.

j. Our department is the biggest of all.


How to Identify a Concrete Noun?

To identify a concrete noun is easy when you examine a noun keeping in mind the following points that a concrete can be:

  • Seen: such as physical objects (like building)
  • Heard: such as sounds (like buzzing of bees)
  • Tasted: such as foods (like chocolate)
  • Smelled: such as scents (like Citrus or Jasmine, scents)
  • Touched: such as physical objects (like wood)
If any noun has any one of the above-mentioned features, that is, it can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled or touched, then it's a concrete noun. 

Types of Concrete Noun

Based on what they refer to, concrete nouns have the below-given types. Remember that all the types of concrete nouns have any one of the above-mentioned features.

  • Concrete nouns referring to people: nouns such as teacher, student, doctor, lawyer, judge, politician, citizen, and all other nouns representing a person.
  • Concrete nouns referring to animals: nouns such as dog, cat, puppy, cow, crow, ox. fox, buffalo and all other nouns representing animals.
  • Concrete nouns referring to places: nouns such as house, school, hospital, park, restaurant and all other nouns representing places.
  • Concrete nouns referring to physical objects: nouns such as car, bike, phone, laptop, building, bottle, door and all other nouns representing physical objects.
  • Concrete nouns referring to plants: nouns such as grass, flower, tree and all other nouns representing plants.
  • Concrete nouns referring to foods: nouns such as pizza, burger, rice, wheat, sugar, salt and all other nouns representing foods.

Concrete Noun VS Abstract Noun

Concrete noun and abstract noun are the opposites of each other. You can distinguish a concrete noun from an abstract noun looking at the similarities and differences between the two. They are given below. 

Similarities

1. Both concrete and abstract nouns are the types of noun.

2. Both concrete and abstract nouns are names. 

Differences 

1. Concrete nouns refer to real physical things, while abstract nouns denote nonphysical things.

2. Concrete nouns can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled or touched, whereas abstract nouns cannot be.

Concrete Noun List

  • book
  • notebook
  • car
  • ice cream
  • pizza
  • burger
  • rose 
  • tree
  • grass
  • house 
  • school
  • restaurant
  • park
  • table 
  • apple 
  • tree
  • plate 
  • dog
  • puppy
  • horse
  • buffalo
  • cow
  • ox
  • fox
  • lawyer 
  • politician
  • teacher
  • student 
  • building 
  • bottle 
  • mobile 
  • rice

Concrete Noun Exercises

Q1: Identify the concrete nouns in the following sentences.

a. My father will buy me a laptop today.
b. My mother is highly educated.
c. Put the book on the table.
d. I love pizza very much.
e. My uncle is lawyer.

Answer keys: 
a. father and laptop 
b. mother 
c. book and table 
d. pizza 
e. uncle and lawyer 

Q2: Distinguish the concrete nouns from the abstract nouns in the below-given sentences.

a. My happiness is that I'll get a phone today.
b. Everything is fair in love and war.
c. His anger is because of getting fired.
d. War is not a solution. 
e. Beauty is temporary.

Answer keys:

a. happiness = abstract noun and phone = concrete noun
b. love and war = abstract nouns
c. anger = abstract noun
d. war and solution = abstract nouns
e. beauty = abstract noun 

FAQs - Concrete Noun

What is a concrete noun?

A concrete noun is a type of noun that refers to a real physical thing. Concrete nouns can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled or touched. For example, dog, buzzing, pizza, perfume and body.

What is the difference between concrete and abstract nouns?

A concrete noun can be felt with any one of your five senses, while an abstract noun cannot be. Concrete nouns refer to real physical things, whereas abstract nouns refer to nonphysical things.