Re: Question on abstract nouns...

billj — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:23:58 GMT

Hi I checked my Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries, as well as Merriam-Webster, but found no reference to 'idea' in their definitions of a noun, so I don't know where you got your definition from. You might find it better to think of a noun as being a word that refers to a person, thing, event, substance or quality. It's not helpful to think of every word in the language as being an idea, but many words do represent ideas (mental impressions) which can be represented by abstract nouns such as sincerity, hatred, loyalty etc. Remember, there is no absolutely perfect definition of an abstract noun, though a useful working one might be: 'a noun which refers to unobservable notions (difficulty, music,...

Re: 'the', 'a' or zero article with certain nouns?

ivanhr — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:33:21 GMT

Hi, I'll give you my opinion. 1. a (0), b(0) 2. a (0), b(the) 3. a(0) 4. a(0) 1. Communication, learning and teaching can all be seen as abstract nouns which take no article if used in a general sense. Sometimes when you're referring to a particular instance of an abstract noun phrase you can use 'a'. (Simplex communication is a one way communication ...). 2. Modifying phrases don't often influence the choice of articles. In your examples the words being modified are 'teaching and learning' so no article is needed. 3. The structure (the + noun phrase + of + (a, 0) noun phrase) is often used in this way The English language teaching divis ions of 0 large...

Re: Some words

gleb_chebrikoff — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:05:02 GMT

Dear friend, 1. Badly meaning very much (usually used in relation to needing or wanting sth) is not considered informal, but it certainly adds some emotional emphasis to the neutral very much , so it should be used where appropriate; 2. Get is doubtlessly used in the meaning of obtain, receive, be given sth, including abstract nouns, but its use is restricted to informal language. Some examples of this are We got permission from the council to start meeting and Young players will get the chance to meet one of their heroes. 3. Both variants are acceptable, but the second, though standard, seems less formal because suborinating conjunction that (simply called subordinator) is omitted. Please note that the first alternative can sound...

Please hepl me about abstract

anonymous — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:01:32 GMT

A. Change adjectives to abstract Strong Wide Broad High Young True Wise Free Humble Short Good Proud Just Decent Vacant Brave - Bravery Vain Cruel Dark - Darkness Sweet Bitter Quick Ignorant Deep Novel Sane - Sanity Human Humble Long - longevity B. Change verbs to abstract Laugh Please Persevere Obey Act Defend Live Starve Think Expect Occupy

Re: To write abstract nouns of verb

mister micawber — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:30:12 GMT

Your question is unclear. Please supply more explanation of what you wish to do.

To write abstract nouns of verb

anonymous — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:56:34 GMT

how i can write abstract nouns of verbs

Re: Abstract nouns

alpheccastars — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:12:57 GMT

How about "consumption"?

Re: Abstract nouns

philip — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:07:10 GMT

eat is a verb. I'm not sure what you want here: nourishment?

Re: Help with concrete & abstract nouns

clive — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:27:23 GMT

Hi, I answered this in your other thread. Clive

Help with concrete & abstract nouns

anonymous — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:42:22 GMT

Concrete and Abstract nouns are about your 5 senses Concrete nouns you can See, Hear, Smell, Taste and Touch Abstract nouns your 5 senses can not detect Lionel is this Concrete or Abstract as a person I can see, hear and touch but as just a name I can not see hear touch please help I do not understand

Re: Abstract nouns

mister micawber — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:58:08 GMT

Even without all the graphics you put in there, I don't understand what you are looking for. 'Slogan'?

Re: Pluarality of developmentalism?

mr wordy — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:44:58 GMT

I learned when abstract nouns are combined to a subject, they take a plural verb. e.g.: Logical thinking and imagining are activities. Correct. Not just abstract nouns, any nouns. "There is old developmentalism and new developmentalism" is a special case. It means " There is old developmentalism and there is new developmentalism". You can say this in full, but the second "there is" can also be omitted.

Re: Pluarality of developmentalism?

zazzex — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:16:52 GMT

Your first sentence should be: "There is old developmentalism and new developmentalism." Thanks for your reply I learned when abstract nouns are combined to a subject, they take a plural verb. e.g.: Logical thinking and imagining are activities. From your example, may I say as follows? Logical thinking and imagining is useful. Thanks again

How to determine whether a noun is uncountable?

zazzex — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:22:48 GMT

system, income, increase, profit, business, use, sense, etc. So many nouns are hard for me to determine whether they are countable, uncountable, or both in some cases. I have to look up each new word in the dictionary every time, which consumes most of my writing time. Q1. Whenever Americans learn a new word, do they try to look it up in a dictionary to find whether it is countable or not? If they don't, do they just depend on common sense for such determination, which is likely to cause frequent errorneous uses and spread-out of errors, which Americans are willing to tolerate? If they do tolerate it, I feel I don't have to look it up in a dictionary. ;-) Q2. Or are there better...

Re: Can you give me a sentence using abstract nouns peace,poverty,cooperation,love,success

anonymous — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:01:26 GMT

I want to improve my knowlege in english

Re: Can you give me a sentence using abstract nouns peace,poverty,cooperation,love,success

mister micawber — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:07:46 GMT

Please at least make an effort to compose your own sentences. Post them here, and we will check them for you.

Can you give me a sentence using abstract nouns peace,poverty,cooperation,love,success

anonymous — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:44:46 GMT

please provide me sentences of eachabstract nouns ..peace,poverty,cooperation,love and success

Re: TEFL

anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:44:09 GMT

'While' is not an abstract noun when the sentence is about somebody doing something, before they do something else. It is more like a connective word (because, and, or). For example: 'While she waited for the train, she drank a cup of coffee.' instead of: 'She waited for the train and before it arrived, she drank a cup of coffee.' BUT 'while' can also mean a length of time, but less precise than 'hour' or 'day'. For example: 'I haven't seen her for a while.' If 'while' comes after the word 'a', then I reckon that 'while' is an abstract noun, because it is talking about a length of time. ('Hour' 'day' etc are abstract...

Re: Singular or Plural

avangi — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:32:48 GMT

This is exactly the problem. You can't use a formula approach. In most of the cases where you would say " different types of X ," you CANNOT say " different X's ." You need to gradually acquire a knowledge of how each noun is used. Read good stuff, so you can trust that the nouns are used correctly. Perhaps you could try keeping a notebook of nouns which you know may be used both as a countable and as an uncountable. Please tell me if there is any simple rules to differentiate them . In my opinion, the answer is "No." Generally speaking, my approach is to ask myself, "Are these things , or is this stuff ??" I agree that abstract nouns will be on...

Re: Question about articles

califjim — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:39:37 GMT

In passing, I read in a book this sentence "he took a strange joy in ..." Do you think "strange" collocates nicely with "joy" ? Also, would you concur with the author as to the use of the indefinite article in that sample? Yes, and yes. Abstract nouns usually take no article when they stand alone, but often take an article when modified by an adjective. CJ

Re: Post

repharim — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:12:37 GMT

Hey, ok I was the person who made this post. I decided to sign up :) I was thinking today to help myself better understand the whole abstract noun thing and here's what came into my head...let me know if it makes sense. Since an abstract noun is something we cannot detect without 5 senses, it is something that we can 'act out'. So even though the word "in" for example(He went in the room), is a concept, an idea of a sort...we cannot 'act out' the word "in". So I think that solves the philisophical issue I've been having...What do you think does that makes sense? Are there any abstract nouns I'm not thinking of that we cannot 'act out'

Post

clive — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:06:47 GMT

Hi, Possibly it might help if you could look up the definition of the word 'thing' in your dictionary. What about your native language? Does it have the concept of abstract nouns, like happiness, justice ? Do you have the same problem? I don't really think I can say much more about this topic. I think your problem will resolve itself, in time. I hope. Clive

Re: Post

anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:00:21 GMT

gah i replied but my post didnt make it through for some reason...sigh well in short here's the sentence to make you happy.. "The man carried out justice." So justice being the abstract noun. Now...my question is, why isn't 'out' an abstract noun. It implies a concept of something being done...and idea... I just think that the word 'idea' is a bad word to use to explain abstract nouns, but sadly i dont know any better way to explain it to myself to make it more clear. Its been confusing me for a loong time sadly.

Question on abstract nouns...

anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:27:03 GMT

Ok im a bit confused about abstract nouns. So the pure definition of a noun is The part of speech that names a person, place, thing, or idea. The idea is the part that totally confuses me. Idea means: any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity so...technically that means every single word in the language is a noun, because they're all ideas. The word 'since' a preposition is a concept in our minds related to time, so how is it not a noun...or every word out there for that matter...its super confusing the heck out of me.. Thanks in advance :p

Re: Adjectives or nouns? Thanks

mr wordy — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:57:12 GMT

Does "Carpeting" in the title derive from a verb "carpet" and not from "carpeting" which happens to be a noun itself? One would need to study the history of early uses of these words to be absolutely sure, but as far as I know, the use of "carpeting" as a noun derives from the verb "to carpet" (meaning to cover with carpet). This is the usual pattern for such "-ing" words. Adding "-ing" to a verb stem creates the present participle, which can be used in a purely verbal sense, as in "He's carpeting the floor". The "-ing" form can also be used in the manner of a noun, to mean "the act of doing that thing", as in...

Nouns

cheeke — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:07:32 GMT

Hello, Can someone tell me if "waiting", "while", "smell" and "air" are abstract nouns or concrete nouns? Cheers Cheeke

Re: TEFL

clive — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:45:57 GMT

Hi, Can somebody tell me if "waiting", "while" and "smell" are abstract nouns? My dictionary defines 'concrete', when used to describe a noun, as denoting a material object , as opposed to an abstract quality, state or action. 'Waiting' is a gerund. A gerund would not normally be considered concrete, since it refers to an action.. 'While', eg 'I waited a while' , is a noun. It's not concrete, just as a minute or an hour is not a concrete thing but an arbitrary division of time. 'Smell' seems to refer to a material thing, something that exists in a material form, something that tavels through the air. Getting myself confused. How about "air" - you...

TEFL

cheeke — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:22:11 GMT

Hello, Can somebody tell me if "waiting", "while" and "smell" are abstract nouns? Getting myself confused. How about "air" - you can't touch it right? So not a concrete noun? MANY THANKS Charlotte

Re: Nouns

clive — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:26:42 GMT

Hi, Welcome to the Forum. Are Grass and Road proper nouns or concrete nouns? Nouns can be classified in various ways. eg concrete versus abstract 'Grass' is a concrete noun, something I can touch. 'Truth' is an abstract noun, I can't touch it. eg p roper versus common . In the sentence 'Tom is a man', 'Tom' is a proper noun. It starts with a capital, and names something/somebody specific. On the other hand, 'man' is a common noun which need not start with a capital and which names a class of things. 'Grass ' and 'road' are concrete, common nouns. Here is a simple discussion. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/propernoun.htm Here is a lengthier discussion....

Re: Why need a definite article in one and not in the other?

cool breeze — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:33:51 GMT

Avangi has given you a good answer. I'll try to give another one and then you can choose whichever you like best! Memorization of facts , even though it is made up of three words, is thought of as just one concept without the article. Grammatically it is similar to abstract nouns, which take no article. In the participation of all people the emphasis is on "participation" as an activity and of all people is in the back of the speaker's mind. On second thought, I think Avangia and I are really talking about the same thing. CB

Usage of "The"

henryxiong — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:46:41 GMT

According to Collins Cobuild English Grammar, an uncount or abstract noun modified by an "of" phrase should generally be preceded by a "the". For example, "I am interested in education of young children." is wrong. The correct sentence should be "I am interested in the education of young children". However, there are numerous examples that seem to disobey this rule. Please note the underlined nouns in the following sentences gleaned from mainstream English publications. They come with no article at all. Why? 1. In Europe, too, thousands of people whose lives could be extended or transformed through transplants forfeit the opportunity for want of available organs. 2. The incident is evidence of...

Re: Grammar

califjim — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:16:59 GMT

Concrete nouns are nouns that refer to people, animals, or things. Concrete nouns can be "re-identified" with the idea of "the very same one". That is the same that I saw yesterday. morning does not fit the profile for such a noun. It's not a person, animal, or thing. You can't say that the morning of December 25, for example, is the same morning you are experiencing again today. So morning is an abstract noun. CJ

Re: I'm concentrating/ concentrated

alpheccastars — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:31:56 GMT

Grammatically, it is correct (past participle as an adjective), but this is not usually used to describe a person. It is used for liquids and abstract nouns (concentrated effort, concentrated milk) The sentence should be the present progressive - I am concentrating on the maturity exam.

Re: Two infinitives

califjim — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:56:17 GMT

I'm freaking out about articles. It's not just you! A lot of learners have trouble with this aspect of English! Here are a few principles you might keep in mind. (It is not a comprehensive list!) As a first approximation or default strategy, use the with every concrete noun, because most of the time you know which person(s), which substance(s), which thing(s), or which place(s) you're referring to. Knowing which is what triggers the . The sugar is on the table. The phone rang. The men poured the cement into the molds. The bus went from the post office to the bank. The boys walked on the sand. The children played on the lawn. The president signed the documents. ______ Don't use any article with unmodified abstract...

Re: article

anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:50:55 GMT

Here is a question on which I have been wracking my brain for some time now and finally decided to write in. If we do not use an article before 'uncountable nouns and abstract nouns' why do we say ' Can you give me a lift to the nearest tube station' 'When can we go for a drive?' Hope to get a prompt reply. Thanks Dhanya

Re: How much abstract an abstract noun is?

cool breeze — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:38:47 GMT

hi,what is use an abstract noun in a sentence Please tell me an abstract noun. Then I can help you to use it in a sentence. Hi Clive I haven't read all the posts in this thread and thus I don't really know what this is all about. "Abstract noun" is a term commonly used in grammar books on this side of the Atlantic. It is used to refer to uncountable nouns that have no physical dimensions and cannot be weighed: courage, happiness, absent-mindedness. CB

Re: Use of a plural

califjim — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:27:08 GMT

a plural version of a noun that could be either countable or uncountable. There's no such thing as an uncountable noun in the plural. Plurality is one of the marks of countability. Once the noun is in the plural you know you are dealing with a countable noun. that a person desires to use it is a good enough reason to use it or them? Not just desire. Very accomplished writers with a fine ear for the language are able to gauge when it is useful to present an apparent uncountable in the plural -- especially when it's a matter of abstract nouns. The majority of us merely competent writers don't typically invent such novel turns of phrase. CJ

Re: creams and detergents

goodman — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:19:09 GMT

Mr. Miclawer, I wasn’t going to expand this pluralization discussion on “ creams” and “wines”. But it really bothered the heck out of me for two reasons. 1) I really wanted to find out if I was really blowing hot air on this subject because of my misunderstanding of this topic, and 2) if there is another side of the usage I am not aware of. This is perhaps not relevant to the discussion but to establish my point, I think it needs to be said. Mrs. Milton whom I learned English from was an excellent English teacher who also had taught for 5 years at the Beijing University , which is a top University in China , by invitation of the Government. Many of her students had landed positions working for the Chinese Government and the...

Re: marriage or marriages

new2grammar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:12:08 GMT

Generic? That's an interesting choice of word for a word. I've always used it for drugs. In the field of grammar, abstract nouns (such as beauty, democracy, love -some of these are countable as well) are categorized under 'uncountable' or 'mass noun'. Maybe I've forgotten what I've learned. I'll look for the thread. Thanks Avangi for clarifying this.

Re: possessive

mr wordy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:16:49 GMT

Are you asking about forming a possessive by the addition of apostrope-s? If so, then here are some thoughts. I just wrote this stuff off the top of my head, so it's not meant to be any sort of definitive analysis. There is no problem with making possessives from inanimate nouns. For example: the Earth's atmosphere ; the computer's memory . However, as a very rough rule of thumb, it seems that nouns that refer to concrete objects are more likely to be made into possessives in this way, and nouns that refer to abstract concepts are less likely. For example, fright's , completeness's , congratulation's and disappearance's , while all theoretically possible I suppose, are unlikely. There is no hard-and-fast...

Re: the Lohan

tom — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:48:41 GMT

What was referred to in an earlier reply is an American style of speech, which, to be honest, seems to have been started by the t,v show friends, and has spread widely. e.g 'The Hoff' to describe the guy from Bay Watch, or 'How's the Ross today?' - using a person's name as though it were an abstract noun therefore denoting a universal concept believed to be assigned to or exemplified by a particular person - (it's actually a very clever use of speech as it disobeys the rule of not using the definite article with abstract nouns and therefore jars - causing attention, but it also serves to highlight the concepts personified... very clever) In standard English (pre the afforementioned use) 'Lohan' in this...

Re: about the "gerund"

grammar geek — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:40:51 GMT

Well, here's one approach. Think of the roles that nouns play in a sentence. As a subject: Chocolate is great. Dogs are great. As an object: I like dogs. I like chocolate. Sometimes what you like, or what you want to say is great isn't a normal noun, one that you can touch, like chocolate or dogs. It's not even an abstract noun like "happiness." It's a verb-thing. It relates to the activity of doing what verb. That's when you need a gerund. A geurnd is a "verb-thing" that can serve in a sentence where you need a noun. Swimming is fun. Having you over for dinner would be our pleasure. I don't like riding the bus .

Re: Heart and Hearts

avangi — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:38:49 GMT

To the extent that you can hold a heart in your hand, it differs from the mind and the soul (assuming that mind does not equal brain). So you wish to talk about "heart" in the abstract. The soul seems to be an intangible concept by definition. The mind means different things to philosophers, psychologists, and biologists. If it's not too sensitive an issue, think about the "strategy" of "winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqui people." These are definitely abstract nouns. We're speaking of the heart and the mind of an individual person - one heart and one mind. I think that's a countable noun. If you "win over" three people, that's three hearts and three minds. It's still...

Re: Heart and Hearts

darcy — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:43:36 GMT

Thanks for your reply I think both heart and mind are abstract nouns. I wonder why they can be plural nouns and countable ones. It is said that if asbtract nouns are added -s ending; changed into countable nouns, abstract nouns changes to a common noun and their meaning is changed.. I wonder if this applies to the example sentence I posted at first cf> <abstract noun>: a noun that denotes an idea, emotion, feeling, quality or other abstract or intangible concept <common noun>: a noun that refers to any of a class of people or things, e.g. "singer" and "place," as distinct from a proper noun, e.g. "Lennon" or "Washington." Common nouns can be preceded by words that modify...

NOUNS - names of things

anil17 — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:25:37 GMT

Hi there Can someone please approve my answers, below? They are in bold. From the following sentences write the names of eight things: "Nature loves colour. She made nothing without it. Her skies are blue, her fields green; her waters vary with teh skies; her animals, minerals, plants, all are coloured." My answers: The questions in this book are not written prescriptively. I assumed we are vbeing asked to look at common and proper nouns. If so, I can name seven. I believe "colour" and "nothing" could be abstract nouns: Nature skies fields waters animals minerals plants "nothing" or "colour"

Search results for 'tag:Abstract nouns' matching tag 'Abstract nouns'

Re: Question on abstract nouns...

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Please hepl me about abstract

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To write abstract nouns of verb

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Help with concrete & abstract nouns

Re: Abstract nouns

Re: Pluarality of developmentalism?

Re: Pluarality of developmentalism?

How to determine whether a noun is uncountable?

Re: Can you give me a sentence using abstract nouns peace,poverty,cooperation,love,success

Re: Can you give me a sentence using abstract nouns peace,poverty,cooperation,love,success

Can you give me a sentence using abstract nouns peace,poverty,cooperation,love,success

Re: TEFL

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Question on abstract nouns...

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Nouns

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TEFL

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NOUNS - names of things