Beginner 📐 Grammar · #209 of 305

Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns name ideas or feelings you cannot touch.

Examples

  • Honesty is important.
  • She felt great joy.

Key rules

  • Abstract nouns name ideas, feelings and qualities (love, freedom, honesty, time)
  • They are usually uncountable, so no plural and no a/an
  • Many come from adjectives or verbs (kind → kindness, decide → decision)
  • Common endings are -ness, -ion, -ity, -ship, -ment

Common mistakes

  • She has a great happiness → She has great happiness
  • Informations → information
💡 Tip: Ask yourself: can I touch it? If not, it is probably abstract.
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← Plural-Only NounsCompound Nouns →

Related Beginner topics

See all Beginner grammar lessons →

Nouns: Naming Words

A noun names a person, place, thing or idea.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Add -s to most nouns; add -es after s, x, ch, sh.

Irregular Plurals

Some nouns change form instead of adding -s.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted; uncountable ones cannot take a/an or plural.

Proper and Common Nouns

Proper nouns name specific things and start with a capital letter.

Subject Pronouns

I, you, he, she, it, we, they replace the subject.