Search results for 'tag:Idioms tag:Abstract nouns' matching tags 'Idioms' and 'Abstract nouns'

Re: Is "truth" abstract noun or not? why?

Cool Breeze — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:09:49 GMT

Welcome to EF, mariappan

Truth is always an abstrcat noun because you can't put it on the scales and weigh it. It may occasionally be countable, which has nothing to do with being abstract. I may be wrong but I think it's the article (the) that you are concerned with? The article is used in the phrase to tell/speak the truth because normally there is only one truth. It's an idiom, one could say.

Re: having something uncountable

CalifJim — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:09:45 GMT

Should I just accept the fact some uncountable nouns, especially those that have abstract meanings, do not go well or don't ~~not~~ fit with a verb showing possession such as 'have'?

Yes, you probably should accept that. It's probably a lot easier to memorize idioms with have plus a noun than to establish some sort of rule about which types of uncountable nouns go with have and which don't.

have pity on someone
have mercy on someone
have trouble doing something
have difficulty doing something
have heartburn
have indigestion
have patience
have confidence in someone
have influence over/with someone
have power over someone

It seems one can't 'have' most of the emotions. These you mostly 'experience' or 'feel', not 'have'.

*have anger
*have fear
*have happiness
*have sadness
*have joy
*have grief

Nor many other abstract nouns. Often the correct expression involves 'be' rather than 'have'.

*have coldness (be cold)
*have willingness (be willing)
*have fame (be famous)
*have virtue (be virtuous)
*have caution (be cautious)
*have pride (be proud)
*have greed (be greedy)

CJ

Re: About "the"

CalifJim — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:10:34 GMT

to have control over is the idiom.

I have control over; you have control over; he, she, it has control over; ...

control is an abstract noun, so it works the same as faith, trust, influence, and other abstract nouns.

I have influence over; you have influence over; he, she, it has influence over; ...
I have faith in; you have faith in; he, she, it has faith in; ...

Note that these are wrong:

The faith is a virtue.
Many people seek the wealth and the fame.
After having no water for several days, the explorer began to feel the great thirst.

But these are correct:

Faith is a virtue.
Many people seek wealth and fame.
After having no water for several days, the explorer began to feel great thirst.

CJ