Abstract Nouns

If you have taken up one of your first course of English grammar, one of the important concepts that you will come across is an 'Abstract Noun'. Through your study of vocabulary, grammar and composition, you will discover that a language is made up of many words and the nature of the words differ in terms of their meaning and their functionality. One such class of words are classified as abstract nouns. Let us see what is exactly meant by an abstract noun and how they make up one of the most important class of words in the English language.

What is a Noun?
Before we see what are abstract nouns, let us understand what is meant by a 'noun'. A noun is one of the eight main parts of speech in the English language. A noun is any word that occurs as the main part of the subject of a verb or clause, object of a verb in a sentence or the object of a preposition. Nouns are generally names of things, ideas and concepts. There are many types of nouns. Proper nouns are names of places, people and specific things while common nouns are names given to general class of things. Nouns can be classified as countable and uncountable, depending on whether they can be quantified.

What are Abstract Nouns?
After that brief overview of definition of nouns, let us see what are abstract nouns. Abstract nouns are words that signify 'abstract' ideas, which cannot be experienced directly through the five senses. They are words for feelings, qualities and all other kinds of abstract concepts. They are names given to intangible ideas which form a part of our life.

There is often a confusion between concrete and abstract nouns. As opposed to abstract nouns, there are concrete nouns which are material things that can actually be seen, felt, touched and heard. So, if the name signifies something that cannot be experienced through direct sensory experience, then you have an abstract noun in front of you and if you can, it's a concrete noun. Happiness is classified as an abstract noun but some people will argue that happiness can be visible enough on people's faces to be seen as a concrete noun. However, a counter argument could be made that many people who look happy, may not be happy from inside as what we are talking about is a state of mind here. There are no hard and fast rules about this anyway. When you are talking about a state of mind, an idea, an emotion and a feeling, you are dealing with an abstract noun.

One of the greatest inventions ever made by man is language. Languages developed as the cerebrum of the human brain developed over the course of human evolution. It made thinking on an abstract level possible for humans. The range of words in our languages is testimony to the depth and reach of human thought. The intangible ideas, emotions and concepts that evolve out of higher thought are abstract nouns. In the next section, you will find a list of abstract nouns that will make it amply clear, as to what kind of nouns I am talking about.

Abstract Nouns List
More than explanations, examples of proper abstract nouns will make it simpler for you to understand. Here are some of the most used abstract nouns in the English language, which extend over the full range of human emotions.

• Inspiration
• Depression
• Love
• Hate
• Courage
• Curiosity
• Excitement
• Adventure
• Amazement
• Faith
• Ego
• Failure
• Awe
• Freedom
• Evil
• Justice
• Forgiveness
• Loyalty
• Romance
• Infatuation
• Elegance
• Imagination
• Honesty
• Determination
• Humor
• Humility
• Hope
• Despair
• Honor
• Pride
• Redemption
• Hurt
• Peace
• Trust
• Patience
• Pain
• Helplessness
• Pleasure
• Perseverance
• Graciousness
• Gratefulness
• Grace
• Grief
• Maturity
• Fascination
• Friendship
• Brutality
• Self-Control
• Jealousy
• Love
• Confusion
• Vulnerability
• Ability
• Self-Esteem
• Mastery
• Perfection
• Excellence

Hope this article has left you in no doubt as to what are abstract nouns. They are names of all those things that make us human. Without these nouns, expression of our feelings and ideas would be impossible!