Page 13 - English Grammar - 5

Abstract nouns can be formed by adding -hood to some common nouns.

Common Noun Abstract Noun Common Noun Abstract Noun

child childhood mother motherhood

boy boyhood neighbour neighbourhood

father fatherhood brother brotherhood

Abstract nouns can be formed by changing the spelling a little and by adding -ion to

some verbs.

Verbs Abstract Noun Verbs Abstract Noun

subtract subtraction decide decision

educate education divide division

add addition imitate imitation

Some other examples of abstract nouns are pain, anger, love, hate, loyalty, success,

fear, justice, growth, wisdom, cleanliness, darkness, theft, kinship, peace, honesty,

friendship, hope and joy.

Open Sesame

Some Unique Noun Rules

(A) Nouns always in singular form:

Abstract Nouns: advice, beauty, hope, death, music, etc.
O
Material Nouns: bread, gold, copper, water, jam, sugar, etc.
O
Common Nouns: luggage, homework, furniture, traffic, stationery, weather,
O
poetry, clothing, police, etc.

(B) Nouns always used in plural form:

O
pants, jeans, shorts, braces, tights, glasses, etc.

Tools/instruments (consisting of two joint parts): scissors, scales, tongs,
O
tweezers, pincers, fetters, binoculars, etc.

Garments and accessories (consisting of two joint parts): trousers, pyjamas, Nouns
Some other common words (nouns): congratulations, annals, archives, wages,
O
funds, drugs, arrears, clothes, contents, earnings, regards, riches, premises,
outskirts, guts, oats, looks, shavings, savings, means, brains, pains, heads or tails.
11