Abstract Nouns for Kids: Things You Cannot Touch (Grade 3 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. You know a noun is a person, place or thing. But some nouns name things you cannot see, hear, touch, taste or smell. These are called abstract nouns.

First, concrete nouns. You can sense them with your five senses. A dog, a pizza and a drum are concrete. You can see the dog, taste the pizza and hear the drum.

Abstract nouns name feelings, ideas and qualities. Joy, courage, friendship and freedom are abstract nouns. You cannot hold courage in your hand, but it is still a real thing.

Here is a test. Ask, can I put it in a box? You can put a ball in a box, so ball is concrete. You cannot put kindness in a box, so kindness is abstract.

Many abstract nouns are built from other words. Add ness to kind and you get kindness. Add ship to friend and you get friendship. Brave becomes bravery, and honest becomes honesty.

Abstract nouns work just like other nouns in a sentence. Her kindness made me smile. The team showed great courage. Each abstract noun names an idea we can talk about.

Now it's your turn. Find the abstract noun in this sentence. The puppy filled our house with happiness. Pause and try. Happiness is the abstract noun. Puppy and house are concrete.

Great job! Remember, concrete nouns can be sensed. Abstract nouns name feelings, ideas and qualities, like joy and courage. Practice abstract nouns in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!