Monday, 23 September 2013

Abstract Nouns



Topic 7                                   

Nouns:        Abstract Nouns

I.  General features of Nouns
Nouns are names of people, animals, things, places / events.

A noun / noun phrase is used as either as a subject / subject complement / an object / object complement.

[John] threw (a ball) to (Peter).

In the sentence, [John] is the subject; (a ball) and (Peter) are the objects. 

A noun after a Verb / a Preposition functions as an Object.

1.  Types of Nouns

A.  Abstract Nouns
B.  Collective Nouns    (Topic 8)
C.  S/P Countable Nouns   (Common Nouns)
D.  Material Nouns
E.  Proper Nouns

2.  Other features of Nouns

     Countable / Uncountable
     Singular / Plural         

Common Nouns

A common noun is the general name of people, animals, things, places/ events.

A.  Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun refers to an intangible thing that we can’t see / touch.  It shows a/an action / concept/ condition/ idea / quality and the like.
         
        ----->  Without the indefinite article ‘a / an’.
         -----> Singular in form
          -----> Uncountable

1. Forms

    Types of Abstract Nouns
     a)  To show quality  --  words are formed from adjectives                            
                   Adjectives                      Abstract Nouns
                   angry                              anger
                   adventurous                     adventure
                   affectionate                      affection
                   anxious                            anxiety                                               17
                   beautiful                          beauty
                   cautious                           caution
                   careful                             care
                   charitable                         charity
                   courageous                       courage
                   mischievous                      mischief

     b)  To show action --  from verbs
                   Verbs                            
                   agree                               agreement
                   commit                            commitment
                   attract                              attraction
                   astonish                           astonishment
                   advertise                          advertisement
                   choose                             choice
                   do                                   deed
                   compete                          competition
                   succeed                            success

     c)  To show condition / status --  from common nouns
                    S/P Countable Nouns
                   boy                                 boyhood
                   child                                childhood
                   friend                              friendship
                   neighbour                        neighbourhood
                   slave                               slavery

     d)  To show the name of the subject
          arithmetic     algebra         Chinese        chemistry      civics    
          education      English         geography    history           mathematics
          music           physics         science        

     e)  To show the name of the disease
          appendicitis  anaemia        cancer          cholera         influenza
          malaria         measles

f)     Others
Colour          memory        time             will

2.  Functions
     a)  In a general way  à  without ‘a / an/ the’ / P2 before a noun 
          [Ali] speaks (Chinese) well.                                                                  
          [Music] is /the food of the soul/.
          [Patience] is required to look after (children).

      ----->  To show the amount / quantity à  much / little / a little / some / any
         
        ----->  uncountable / singular


             [Much effort] is needed to complete (the project).
          There is [some misunderstanding] between (the two neighbours).

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