Which one?

Pre-intermediate (A2) 20 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Game preview, Pre-intermediate A2, matching, gap-fill, group work

ESL Abstract Nouns Game - Vocabulary: Matching, Gap-fill - Group Work

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...

ESL Abstract Nouns Game - Vocabulary: Matching, Gap-fill - Group Work 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.

Abstract Analysis

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Worksheet preview, Intermediate B1, identifying, unscrambling, gap-fill, multiple choice, vocabulary

ESL Abstract Nouns Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Identifying, Unscrambling, Gap-fill, Multiple Choice, Providing Vocabulary

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...

ESL Abstract Nouns Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Identifying, Unscrambling, Gap-fill, Multiple Choice, Providing Vocabulary 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.

Abstract Bets

Intermediate (B1-B2) 25 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Activity preview, Intermediate B1-B2, identifying, betting

ESL Abstract Nouns Activity - Vocabulary: Identifying, Betting

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...

ESL Abstract Nouns Activity - Vocabulary: Identifying, Betting 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.

Abstract Noun Adventures

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Activity preview, Intermediate B1, completing, asking and answering questions from prompts, group and pair work

ESL Abstract Nouns Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions - Group and Pair Work

This interesting abstract nouns speaking activity helps students practice completing, asking and answering conversation questions that contain abstract nouns. First, in two groups, students complete...

ESL Abstract Nouns Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work This interesting abstract nouns speaking activity helps students practice completing, asking and answering conversation questions that contain abstract nouns. First, in two groups, students complete each conversation question with a suitable abstract noun from a box. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking the conversation questions and follow-up questions to their partner who responds accordingly. For the first question in each set, students include the corresponding abstract noun in their response. Afterwards, students share what they learned about their partner with the class.

Abstract Nouns Board Game

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Board Game preview, Upper-intermediate B2, forming sentences from prompts, group work

ESL Abstract Nouns Board Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Forming Sentences - Freer Practice - Group Work

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...

ESL Abstract Nouns Board Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Freer Practice - Group Work 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.

Abstract Nouns Practice

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Worksheet preview, Upper-intermediate B2, identifying, gap-fill, unscrambling, matching, binary choice

ESL Abstract Nouns Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Identifying, Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Matching, Binary Choice

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...

ESL Abstract Nouns Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Identifying, Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Matching, Binary Choice 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.

Exploring Abstract Nouns

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Abstract Nouns Activity preview, Upper-intermediate B2, completing, asking and answering questions, group and pair work

ESL Abstract Nouns Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work

This rewarding abstract noun conversation questions activity helps students practice completing, asking and answering conversation questions that...

ESL Abstract Nouns Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work This rewarding abstract noun conversation questions activity helps students practice completing, asking and answering conversation questions that contain abstract nouns. First, in two groups, students complete conversation questions with abstract nouns. Students then pair up with someone from the other group. Next, students take turns asking the conversation questions to their partner, noting down their answers and asking follow-up questions to gain more information when possible. Finally, students report back to the class on the things they found out about their partner.