Abstract Nouns ESL Games, Worksheets and Activities

In this fun abstract nouns game, students listen to sentences and race to choose the best abstract noun that completes each sentence. In groups, students take it in turns to pick up a card and read the sentence along with three abstract nouns to the other group members, e.g. 'BLANK is very important for your health'. 'a. sleep, b. idea, c. lie'. The group members then race to say which abstract noun best completes the sentence. The first student to guess the correct abstract noun wins and keeps the card, i.e. sleep. Each student is allowed one guess per card. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

In this useful abstract nouns worksheet, students learn and practice identifying abstract nouns. Students begin by identifying abstract nouns in sentences. Next, students unscramble letters to create abstract nouns and complete sentences with them. After that, students complete each sentence with an abstract noun by choosing from multiple-choice answers. Students then underline two words in each word set that are not abstract nouns. Lastly, in pairs, students think of and write down two abstract nouns for each prompt.

In this free abstract nouns activity, students identify abstract nouns in sentences and place bets depending on how confident they are about their answers. Working alone, students read sentences on the worksheet and decide which of the words in the sentences are abstract nouns. When a student identifies an abstract noun in a sentence, they underline it. Sentences may contain no abstract nouns or up to four. Afterwards, students bet on their answers depending on how confident they feel about their decisions. Students bet between 10 and 100 points on each sentence and write their bet in the 'bet' column. Next, elicit the correct answers from the students. Students must identify all the abstract nouns in the sentence to win the bet. If a student guessed correctly, they transfer the amount written in the 'bet' column to the 'win' column. If they guessed incorrectly, they transfer the amount to the 'lose' column. The student with the most points is the winner.

In this engaging abstract nouns board game, students practice making sentences with uncountable abstract nouns. Players take it in turns to roll the dice and move their counter along the board. When a player lands on an abstract noun square, they try to make a meaningful sentence with the noun. For example, if a player lands on the word 'health', the player might say 'I want to improve my health by cycling to school every day'. If the other group members agree the sentence is grammatically correct and appropriate, the player stays on the square. If the player makes a grammar mistake or the sentence doesn't demonstrate the abstract idea, they go back two squares. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.

Here is a comprehensive abstract nouns worksheet for upper-intermediate students. Students start by underlining things that are classified as abstract nouns. Next, students cross out words in a box that are not abstract nouns and complete sentences with the abstract nouns that remain. Students then move on to unscramble letters to create abstract nouns and then match each noun with its opposite from the sentences in Exercise B. After that, students complete sentences using the abstract nouns from Exercise C and underline the additional abstract noun in each sentence. Lastly, students complete sentences with abstract nouns from word pairs.