Time: We think differently about events that are far in the future, compared to activities in the near future. For events in the distant future, we use abstract terms that lack concrete action.
Space: We use abstract terms to describe events within a physically-near space than events that happen in a space further away.
Social distance: When we describe someone that is different to us, we use abstract qualities (them and us).
Hypothetically: We use abstract words and terms to describe events that may not happen compared to events that are more likely to happen.