English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 73: Abstract nouns
Write your own quotations to describe the following abstract nouns. Perhaps you know a saying in your own language that you could translate into English?
An abstract noun represents an idea, experience or quality rather than an object that you can touch. For example, advice, happiness, intention and (in)justice are abstract nouns but pen, bed and trousers are not.
Certain suffixes (see Unit 70) are used frequently in abstract nouns. The most common are -ment, -ion, -ness and -ity. The suffix -ion sometimes becomes -tion, -sion, -ation or -ition. The suffixes -ment, and -ion are usually used to make verbs into abstract nouns. The suffixes -ness and -ity are added to adjectives.
Here are some examples of abstract nouns using those suffixes.
-ship, -dom, -th and -hood
The suffixes -ship and -hood are usually added to other nouns to form abstract nouns.
The suffix -th is added to an adjective to form an abstract noun and -dom can combine with either a noun or an adjective.
Here are some examples of abstract nouns using those suffixes.
When he left school, Rolf trained as an electrician with a large company. There were two other boys in a similar position and he enjoyed their companionship. They developed such a good relationship that, once they’d completed their apprenticeship, they decided to go into partnership together. Now they have set up a business under joint ownership. They have taken out membership of the Association of Electricians and are beginning to attract a great deal of work.The definite article is not normally used before an abstract noun, e.g.
Love is blind. (NOT the love is blind.)
I can resist everything except temptation. (NOT I can resist everything except the temptation.)
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