Some nouns refer to things you can touch, see, hear, smell, or taste. These are called concrete nouns because they name things that exist physically and can be experienced through the five senses. Words like apple, dog, music, and perfume are all concrete nouns.
What Is a Concrete Noun?
A concrete noun is a noun that refers to something you can experience with one or more of your five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. These nouns name people, places, objects, or substances that physically exist.
If you can see it, hold it, hear it, taste it, or smell it, it’s likely a concrete noun.
Examples:
- apple (can be tasted and seen)
- cat (can be seen and touched)
- music (can be heard)
- perfume (can be smelled)
- table (can be touched and seen)
In a sentence:
- The child hugged her favorite teddy bear.
- He drank a cup of hot coffee in the morning.
Characteristics of Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns are easy to identify once you understand how they behave. Here are the key features to look for:
They name things you can sense
If you can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell it, it’s concrete.
Examples:
- rain (can be seen and felt)
- music (can be heard)
- soap (can be smelled and touched)
They can be singular or plural
Like most nouns, concrete nouns change form depending on number.
Examples:
- car / cars
- child / children
- cookie / cookies
They may be common or proper nouns
Concrete nouns can refer to general things or specific names.
Examples:
- Common: teacher, desk, mountain
- Proper: Mr. Lee, Mount Everest, Eiffel Tower
They can be countable or uncountable
Some concrete nouns can be counted (like pen, apple), while others are seen as a whole (like milk, rice).
Types of Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns can be sorted into smaller groups based on how they’re used or identified.
1. Common Concrete Nouns
These refer to general things, not specific names.
Examples: book, phone, mountain, teacher
2. Proper Concrete Nouns
These are specific names of people, places, or things. They are always capitalized.
Examples: Emma, Amazon River, Taj Mahal, Google
3. Countable Concrete Nouns
You can count these items as individual units.
Examples: chair, cat, egg, coin
4. Uncountable Concrete Nouns
These refer to physical things that can’t be easily counted.
Examples: water, sand, air, flour
Concrete Noun Examples in Sentences
- She placed the book on the table.
- We visited Mount Everest last year.
- Sophie is painting the fence.
- I bought three apples from the market.
- There are two chairs in the room.
- We walked on the sand by the beach.
Concrete Noun vs. Abstract Noun
Concrete and abstract nouns are often taught together because they contrast in a clear way: one is physical, the other is not.
Concrete nouns refer to things that can be seen, touched, heard, smelled, or tasted. Abstract nouns, on the other hand, refer to ideas, emotions, or concepts that cannot be sensed physically.
Examples:
- He gave me a red apple. (Concrete – something you can hold)
- He showed great patience during the wait. (Abstract – something you can feel, not see)
How to Identify Concrete Nouns
To recognize a concrete noun in a sentence, focus on whether the noun refers to something you can physically sense or interact with.
Test with your five senses
Can you see it, hear it, touch it, taste it, or smell it?
If yes, it’s likely a concrete noun.
Examples:
- bread (can be tasted)
- rain (can be seen and felt)
- bell (can be heard)
Ask if it names a physical object or substance
If the noun refers to something that takes up space or has a physical form, it’s concrete.
Examples:
- bottle, soil, laptop
Check if it contrasts with an idea or feeling
If the noun is something you can directly experience, it’s concrete, not an abstract concept like truth or anger.
FAQs About Concrete Nouns
Can a noun be both concrete and abstract?
Not usually in the same sentence. However, some nouns can be abstract in one context and concrete in another.
Example:
“Love is important.” → Abstract
“She wrote ‘Love’ on the wall.” → Concrete (as a written word)
Are emotions concrete nouns?
No. Emotions like anger, joy, and fear are abstract nouns because they cannot be physically sensed or measured.
Is “music” a concrete noun?
Yes. Although it’s not a physical object, music is a concrete noun because it can be heard.
How do concrete nouns function in grammar?
Concrete nouns can function just like any other noun—as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence.
Examples:
Subject: The wind was strong.
Object: She opened the window.
Complement: That smell is coffee.