If your specific abstract noun refers to more than one occurrence, you make it plural by following the regular rules for nouns. If, however, an abstract noun refers to a specific incident or occurrence, then it follows the rules of a countable noun, using articles ( a, an, the ) and quantifiers like few and many. “ Success is not final failure is not fatal. One of the hardest parts about abstract nouns is determining whether they are countable or uncountable -often they can be both, but only one is correct depending on the usage.īasically, if an abstract noun has a general or broad meaning, representing all occurrences, it is uncountable. They can also be singular or plural however, you first must identify whether they’re countable or uncountable (also known as mass nouns ). They work perfectly well as subjects and objects, follow capitalization rules as usual, and can take a possessive form (e.g., freedom’s price ). Using abstract nouns in a sentenceĪbstract nouns follow all the same rules as other nouns. The abstract noun of weak is weakness, but the abstract noun of strong is strength. Be careful: Some words change completely when they become abstract nouns. Consult a dictionary if you’re not sure on the correct suffix. Specific words use specific suffixes, so you can’t just mix and match them at will. The concrete noun friend needs -ship to make the abstract noun friendship. The adjective good takes the suffix -ness to become the abstract noun goodness. To describe the general state of relaxing, add the suffix -ation to make the abstract noun relaxation. This is a great way to discuss the general concept behind something besides specific examples.
Often you can create abstract nouns from verbs, adjectives, and even concrete nouns by taking the root word and adding a suffix. Of course, there are thousands of other abstract nouns, but these are just some common ones to help you understand. (Some of these can also double as verbs, especially the emotions, so pay attention to how they’re used in the sentence.) Ideas Sometimes it’s better to see examples to understand. Examples of abstract nounsĪs we’ve said, abstract nouns can be hard to describe because they elude the senses. For example, Karl Marx is a proper noun, but Marxism is an abstract noun, even though it’s still capitalized. However, this can get confusing if a philosophical idea is derived from a proper noun. Proper nouns like the Empire State Building, Kathmandu, or Mister Rogers represent things that are specific and tangible.
(Even though you can use your five senses to perceive the signs of anger, such as seeing a red face or hearing a gruff tone.)īy default, proper nouns are never abstract nouns. You can touch a chair and see a chair, but you can’t touch or see anger itself. If you can’t, then it’s an abstract noun.Ĭonsider the difference between anger, an abstract noun, and chair, a concrete noun. If you can see, hear, taste, smell, or touch it, then it’s a concrete noun. concrete nouns here, but there’s a quick and easy way to tell them apart. But some things aren’t actually things ! Ideas, emotions, personality traits, and philosophical concepts don’t exist in the physical world-you can’t sense them or interact with them-so we call them abstract nouns to differentiate them from concrete nouns.
Nouns in general represent things (including people, places, objects, and ideas). Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What are abstract nouns?
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