Definition: What is an abstract noun?
First, concepts and abstract nouns are the most basic knowledge that you need to know.
Concept: Abstract nouns or Abstract Nouns are nouns that refer to things and phenomena that can be identified by feeling, feeling, but not through the senses such as seeing, touching, hearing, tasting. OK, I can smell it.
For example: glory, honor, courage, love, truth, honesty, symbolism,…
Types of abstract nouns
There are 6 common ways of classifying abstract nouns:
1. Nouns for feelings: anxiety, pain, pleasure, stress, sympathy,…
2. Nouns for emotions: anger, happiness, hate, sorrow (sadness),…
3. Nouns for states: chaos (mess), freedom, luxury, peace, sadness (mystery), …
4. Nouns for quality: brilliance (intelligence), determination (resolute), trust, …
5. Conceptual nouns: charity, culture, energy,…
6. Event nouns: birthday, holiday, marriage (wedding),…
How to use abstract nouns in sentences
So how to use abstract nouns in sentences? The following abstract noun functions will help you answer this question:
Abstract noun as subject in a sentence
Eg:
Love makes people stupid. (Love makes people foolish.)
Courage leads to glory, cowardice leads to death. (Courage leads to glory, cowardice leads to death.)
Abstract noun as object in a sentence
Eg:
Henry’s childhood memory has always been his fear. (Henry’s childhood memory has always been his fear.)
Being a mother for the first time made her extremely happy. (Being a mother for the first time made her extremely happy.)
For abstract nouns, there are cases where we should and should not use it to avoid confusing the listener. First, abstract nouns are perfectly appropriate in conversations involving philosophical, existential, and ideological issues. Or in discussions of feelings and sensations, abstract nouns are often used.
Example: It’s hard to discuss these matters without them. (It would be difficult to discuss these issues without them.)
However, these nouns are not suitable for practical discussions because of their generality and ambiguity.
Example: If you were writing an essay about the importance of choosing a career. (If you are writing an essay about the importance of choosing a career.)
In this example, you should clearly talk about a specific problem of a certain profession such as: doctor, mechanic, teacher, …
How to recognize abstract nouns
Here are the 3 easiest signs to help you recognize abstract nouns:
3 Signs to recognize abstract nouns
Abstract nouns are often accompanied by common suffixes such as -ment, -ion, -ness, -ity.
The endings -ment and -ion often turn a verb into an abstract noun.
Eg:
James had an achievement when participating in the school’s swimming tournament. (James had a record of participating in the school’s swimming tournament.)
My grandmother used to have illusions when she wasn’t feeling well. (My grandmother used to have delusions when she was unwell.)
And -ness and -ity are added to adjectives.
Eg:
The attractiveness of money makes people blind. (The allure of money makes people blind.)
Children’s curiosity often stems from adults’ lives. (Children’s curiosity is often rooted in adult life.)
Abstract nouns also go with other suffixes such as -ship, -dom, -th, -hood. While the suffix -ship and -hood are often combined with other nouns, -th only combines with adjectives to form abstract nouns. The suffix -dom can be combined with both nouns and adjectives.
Eg:
She has been working hard to get a scholarship to study in France next semester. (She has been working hard to get a scholarship to study in France next semester.)
Freedom is what every teenager aspiring to have. (Freedom is what every teenager aspires to have.)
A warm hug can make you feel better. (A warm hug can make you feel better.)
Motherhood is the most sacred emotion for human beings. (Motherhood is the most sacred emotion for humans.)
Some abstract nouns do not have suffixes, such as:
anger (anger)
faith (faith)
luck (lucky)
sense (sense)
belief (belief)
fear (fear)
principle (principle)
sight (vision)
calm (calm)
humour (funny)
rage (rage)
speed (speed)
chance (chance)
idea (idea)
reason (reason)
thought (thought)
Synthesize abstract nouns according to the suffixes
|
Suffix name |
How to use |
Abstract nouns |
|
|
-ion |
The suffix ion often has a verb stem that turns an action into a thing so that it can be used as a noun in a sentence. |
attention attraction prediction concentration communication recognition invention possession appreciation collection confusion decision evasion instruction expression |
|
|
-ness |
Abstract nouns with the stem “ness” often have an adjective stem that turns a state or characteristic into a concept that can be used as a noun in a sentence. |
sadness loneliness happiness joyfulness greatness shyness smoothness dryness kindness laziness ugliness |
|
|
-ment |
Nouns with the suffix “ment” usually have a verb stem that turns an action into a concept that can be used as a noun in a sentence. |
judgment development enhancement improvement punishment disappointment achievement |
|
|
-gy |
Abstract nouns ending in -gy are often used to refer to a certain discipline or field of study. |
biology apology metallurgy archeology technology terminology anthropology psychology analogy psychology pathology strategy |
|
|
-phy |
Nouns ending in -phy are often used to refer to the arts or some social sciences. |
geography photography choreography cinematography ethnography autobiography calligraphy philosophy |
|
|
-ism |
Nouns ending in -ism are often used to refer to political ideas, philosophies, or religious beliefs. |
Communism Socialism Capitalism Fascism Catholicism Protestantism Buddhism Paganism Confucianism |
|
|
-ity |
Nouns with the suffix -ity usually have an adjective stem, while abstract nouns with a suffix usually mean ability, ability, or quality. |
quality ability agility capability probability intensity mentality punctuality |
|
|
-ship |
Nouns with the suffix -ship often describe relationships or some kind of skill. |
friendship relationship viewership scholarship apprenticeship swordsmanship horsemanship penmanship |
|
|
-hood |
Nouns with the suffix -hood are also used to describe certain relationships, abilities, and positions. |
brotherhood sisterhood neighborhood childhood likelihood motherhood fatherhood knighthood priesthood |
|
How to convert adjectives to abstract nouns
As noted above, a verb or an adjective can be converted into an abstract noun by adding a suffix and vice versa.
Transition words to abstract nouns
Eg:
Move → movement
Reflect → reflection
Perceive → perception
Conscious → Consciousness (consciousness)
Appear → Appearance (appearance)
Resist → Resistance
Appoint → appointment (appointment)
Enjoy → enjoyment (enjoy)
Assign → assignment (assign)
Inform → information (information)
Decide → decision
Describe → description (description)
Determine → determination
Block → blockade (blockade)
Convert adjectives to abstract nouns
Eg:
Brave → bravery
Truth → truth
Honest → honest
Weakness → weakness
Happy → happiness
Sad → sadness
Madness → madness
Responsible → responsibility
Possible → possibility
Probable → probability
Able → ability
Independent → independence
Free → freedom
Silent → silence
See also: [PDF + Images] Self-study 600 TOEIC vocabulary with 50 topics to help you score 550+
Distinguish between concrete nouns and abstract nouns
The opposite of abstract nouns is concrete nouns. So how do we distinguish these two types of nouns?
|
Criteria |
Specific nouns |
Abstract nouns |
|
About the meaning |
Specific nouns are words that refer to people, places, or things. |
Abstract nouns would be words that refer to ideas and concepts. |
|
About the shape |
Concrete nouns are tangible, perceptible through human senses. |
Abstract nouns are invisible, we cannot hold, touch or hear or see it. |
|
About the senses |
Concrete nouns can be perceived through the five senses: hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, and smelling. |
Abstract nouns cannot be perceived through these five senses. |
|
About compatibility with other types of nouns |
Specific nouns can also be proper nouns, common nouns, collective nouns, countable or uncountable nouns. |
Abstract nouns can only be common nouns and uncountable nouns. |
Exercises on abstract nouns in English
Finally, to strengthen your knowledge of the above abstract nouns, try your hand at the following exercises with Monkey!
Exercise 1: Identify and underline abstract nouns in the following sentences.
1. Honesty is the best policy.
2. There is no possibility for you to reach home by six in the evening.
3. This place has a really pleasant ambiance.
4. Pride goes before a fall.
5. Brevity is the soul of wit.
6. That man is testing my patience.
7. Have you read about the theory of evolution?
8. Truthfulness is always appreciated.
9. Gluttony is a sin.
10. What do you think about his idea?
Exercise 2: Use the suggested words in brackets to fill in the blanks with suitable abstract nouns.
1. He is a man of __________ (strong).
2. The people in this part of the country live in __________ (poor).
3. __________ to animals is a punishable offense (cruel)
4. He is on a __________ to Mecca (pilgrim).
5. I have great __________ to welcome you (please).
6. __________ is the best period of one’s life (child)
7. __________ should always be (waste).
8. As a parent my children’s __________ is of utmost importance to me (safe).
9. As the sun went below the horizon __________ enveloped the planet (dark).
10. There is no end to his __________ (wicked).
11. Slavery does not taste __________ (free).
12. __________ never goes with reward (honest).
13. Who does not love __________ (honest) ?
14. My friend did not accept my __________ (invite).
15. Nowadays, the internet is a storehouse of __________ (know).
16. __________ is said to be godliness (clean).
17. His employees were awarded for their __________ (brave).
Exercise 3: Choose suitable abstract nouns from the table below to complete the sentences.
|
beauty, goodness, happiness, kindness, strength, success, truth, wisdom |
1. __________ , not evil
2. __________ , not falsehood
3. __________ , not ugliness
4. __________ , not cruelty
5. __________ , not the failure
6. __________ , not foolishness
7. __________ , not sorrow
8. __________ , not weakness
Exercise 4: Create abstract nouns from the following words accordingly.
|
-ment, -ance, -ity, -dom, -tion, -th, -ness, -hood, -ence, -acy |
1. Real →
2. Hard →
3. Vacant →
4. Add →
5. Obedient →
6. High →
7. Real →
8. Move →
9. Stable →
10. Pay →
Exercise 5: Fill in the following sentences with suitable abstract nouns.
|
childhood, improvements, conditions, policies, deforestation, opportunities, benefits, lessons. |
1. I don’t like working in a factory because it has terrible working __________.
2. I love my job since it has many __________ such as vacation and insurance.
3. There are many ____________ to find work for people living in big cities.
4. Many students have trouble understanding __________ in class.
5. ________________ has led to the extinction of many species.
6. She has played many outdoor games since her _______________.
7. There have been many changes in foreign _______________ made by the government.
8. We have seen a lot of ______________ in the local infrastructure.
Exercise 6: Read the following passage and determine whether the underlined words are concrete nouns or abstract nouns.
In a village, are two boys named Zack and Cody. They live with their mother in a small house on a hill. They have a really good relationship with her. Zack has many talents while Cody is gifted with intelligence. They often help their neighbors with many tasks, so their neighbors often give them many gifts. However, sometimes Zack plays many naughty pranks on other kids, which causes a lot of trouble for his mother.
Answer
Exercise 1:
1. Honesty is the best policy.
2. There is no possibility for you to reach home by six in the evening.
3. This place has a really pleasant ambiance.
4. Pride goes before a fall.
5. Brevity is the soul of wit.
6. That man is testing my patience.
7. Have you read about the theory of evolution?
8. Truthfulness is always appreciated.
9. Gluttony is a sin.
10. What do you think about his idea?
Exercise 2:
1. He is a man of strength.
2. The people in this part of the country live in poverty.
3. Cruelty to animals is a punishable offense.
4. He is on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
5. I have great pleasure to welcome you.
6. Childhood is the best period of your life.
7. Wastage should always be avoided.
8. As a parent my children’s safety is of utmost importance to me.
9. As the sun went below the horizon darkness enveloped the planet.
10. There is no end to his wickedness.
11. Slavery does not taste freedom.
12. Honesty never goes with reward.
13. Who does not love honesty?
14. My friend did not accept my invitation.
15. Nowadays, the internet is a storehouse of knowledge.
16. Cleanliness is said to be godliness.
17. His employees were awarded for their bravery.
Exercise 3:
1. Goodness, not evil
2. Truth, not falsehood
3. Beauty, not ugliness
4. Kindness, not cruelty
5. Success, not the failure
6. Wisdom, not foolishness
7. Happiness, not sorrow
8. Strength, not weakness
Exercise 4:
1. Real → Reality
2. Hard → Hardness
3. Vacant → Vacancy
4. Add → Addition
5. Obedient → Obedience
6. High → Height
7. Real → Reality
8. Move → Movement
9. Stable → Stability
10. Pay → Payment
Exercise 5:
1. conditions
2. benefits
3. opportunities
4. lessons
5. deforestation
6. childhood
7. policies
8. improvements
Exercise 6:
|
Abstract nouns |
Specific nouns |
|
relationship, talent, intelligence, task, trouble, prank |
village, boys, mother, house, hill, neighbor, gifts |
The above article has helped you understand what abstract nouns are in English? Monkey hopes that with the knowledge that we have just shared, you will take the time to review through different types of lessons to achieve high results in learning.
Wish you all good study!
Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.