Question

Identify the concrete and abstract nouns in the following sentence:
The boys threw pebbles at the cattle.
a) Boys, pebbles, cattle – Concrete noun
b) Boys, pebbles– Concrete noun; cattle – Abstract noun
c) Boys, pebbles- Abstract nouns; cattle – Concrete noun
d) Boys, pebbles, cattle – Abstract noun

Answer 1

Hint: Nouns can be differentiated based on the method we perceive, whether we can sense them or not. Concrete nouns are those which are tangible and are susceptible to our five senses, that is, they are those nouns, which can be touched or observed. Eg: people, animals, things. On the other hand, abstract nouns refer to quality, a state of a substance or someone, feelings or ideas. Eg: happy, sad, love.

Complete solution:
 Now, from the options given above,
>Boys, pebbles, cattle – Concrete nouns: the option is correct since all of them are concrete nouns.
>Boys, pebbles– Concrete noun; cattle – Abstract noun: this option is not valid, since, cattle is a concrete noun and not an abstract noun.
>Boys, pebbles- Abstract nouns; cattle – Concrete noun: All of them are concrete nouns.
>Boys, pebbles, cattle – Abstract noun: All of them are concrete nouns, not abstract nouns.

Hence, Option a, is the correct answer for the above question.

Note: Here, there isn’t any chance for confusion, because logically, the three things, people or animals in the sentence can be perceived through our eyes, nose and touch. “Threw” is neither an abstract or concrete noun. It is a verb depicting the relation between the three concrete nouns present in the sentence.