Vocabulary Focus: Abstract Topics (Concepts, Ideas) - B2 Level

At the B2 level, your vocabulary needs to expand significantly beyond concrete objects and everyday actions to include words and phrases related to abstract concepts, ideas, feelings, and opinions. This is crucial for participating in more complex discussions, understanding news and articles, and expressing nuanced thoughts.

Key Areas of Abstract Vocabulary for B2:

1. Concepts and Ideas:

• Words related to thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge: concept (concept), idee (idea), principe (principle), theorie (theory), mening (opinion), standpunt (point of view), overtuiging (conviction), kennis (knowledge), inzicht (insight), bewustzijn (awareness), veronderstelling (assumption).
• Words describing qualities and characteristics: vrijheid (freedom), gelijkheid (equality), rechtvaardigheid (justice), verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility), solidariteit (solidarity), creativiteit (creativity), complexiteit (complexity), kwaliteit (quality), effectiviteit (effectiveness).

1. Feelings and Emotions:

• Expressing a wider range of emotions beyond basic happy/sad: tevredenheid (satisfaction), teleurstelling (disappointment), frustratie (frustration), angst (fear/anxiety), vertrouwen (trust/confidence), hoop (hope), twijfel (doubt), enthousiasme (enthusiasm), bezorgdheid (concern/worry), waardering (appreciation).

1. Opinions and Arguments:

• Words for agreeing/disagreeing: eens zijn met (to agree with), oneens zijn met (to disagree with), bezwaar hebben tegen (to object to), ondersteunen (to support), bekritiseren (to criticize).
• Structuring arguments: ten eerste (firstly), ten tweede (secondly), bovendien (moreover), echter (however), daarentegen (on the other hand), concluderend (in conclusion), samenvattend (summarizing).
• Expressing certainty/uncertainty: zeker weten (to know for sure), vermoeden (to suspect/presume), betwijfelen (to doubt), onwaarschijnlijk (unlikely), mogelijk (possibly).

1. Social and Political Concepts:

• Basic terms related to society, politics, and the economy: maatschappij (society), overheid (government), democratie (democracy), verkiezingen (elections), economie (economy), werkloosheid (unemployment), milieu (environment), duurzaamheid (sustainability), cultuur (culture), integratie (integration).

1. Nominalized Forms:

• Recognizing and using nouns formed from verbs and adjectives (nominalization) is key to discussing abstract topics (e.g., ontwikkeling from ontwikkelen, belang from belangrijk, oplossing from oplossen).

Importance for B2:

• Enables participation in discussions beyond personal experiences.
• Necessary for understanding news, opinion pieces, and reports.
• Allows for expressing opinions, arguments, and feelings with more precision.
• Forms the basis for understanding more complex academic or professional topics (at C1/C2).

Learning Strategy:

• Read widely (news, magazines, simpler non-fiction).
• Listen to discussions and debates (podcasts, talk shows).
• Actively note down new abstract vocabulary encountered.
• Practice using these words in discussions and writing.
• Use a good dictionary that provides context and example sentences.