Imagine you can touch a cat, smell a rose, or hear a bird sing. These are things we experience with our five senses. But what about things like happiness, bravery, or time? We can’t see, touch, smell, taste, or hear them, yet we know they exist. These are called abstract nouns.
What are Abstract Nouns?
Abstract nouns are words that name ideas, feelings, qualities, or concepts. They are things we can’t perceive with our five senses. Think of them as the “invisible” things in our world.
Examples of Abstract Nouns:
- Feelings: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, love, joy, excitement
- Ideas/Concepts: time, knowledge, friendship, freedom, peace, justice
- Qualities: kindness, honesty, bravery, intelligence, beauty, strength
- States of Being: childhood, adulthood, poverty, wealth, illness
Let’s explore a little more:
- Happiness: You can’t hold happiness in your hand, but you know what it feels like.
- Friendship: You can’t see friendship, but you know it’s a special bond between people.
- Courage: You can’t touch courage, but you can see it in someone’s actions.
How to Spot Abstract Nouns:
Often, abstract nouns don’t have a plural form (you wouldn’t say “happynesses”). They often describe something intangible. Think: Can I touch it? If the answer is no, it might be an abstract noun!
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