Abstract Nouns

In general, an abstract noun is usually a word given to something intangible as apart from the physical thing in form of non-physical existence. Therefore, an abstract thing cannot be seen, heard, tasted, smelled or touched. Abstract things can be a quality, action, state, concept, etc. Although the description of an abstract noun is similar for every one, the actual definition of an abstract noun may be varied due to the way of interpretation. Therefore, an action, an event, an state, a condition, an idea, or a concept in a general sense is sometimes considered as an abstract noun also. Since the attributes or qualities of a physical thing can be sensed by the five senses, descriptive words related to these five senses are usually abstract nouns. Besides the descriptive words related to an action, an event, an state, a condition, an idea, or a concept of an intangible thing in a general sense are usually abstract nouns also.

Abstract nouns can therefore be divided into two main types, things of intangible attributes and verbal intangible things.

Types of Abstract Nouns

1. Things of intangible attributes. For examples:

   1. the qualities of things
      1. animals
         1. The word whiteness is used to describe the quality of being white e.g. the whiteness of a swan.
         2. The word fierceness is used to describe the quality of being fierce e.g. the fierceness of a lion.
      2. things
         1. The word brightness is used to describe the quality of being bright e.g. the brightness of a star.
         2. The word rigidity is used to describe the quality of being rigid e.g. the rigidity of a structure.
      3. people
         1. The word bravery is used to describe the quality of being brave e.g. the bravery of a man.
         2. The word goodness is used to describe the quality of being good e.g. the goodness of a person.
         3. The word prudence is used to describe the quality of being prudent e.g. the prudence of a person.
   2. the states of things
      1. people
         1. The word childhood is used to name the period of time when a person is a child e.g. the childhood of a man.
   3. the conditions of things
      1. people
         1. The word sickness is used to name the condition of being sick e.g. the sickness of a person.
   4. the actions of things
      1. people
         1. The word judgment is used to name the act of judging e.g. the judgment of a person.
   5. the events of things
      1. thingg
         1. The word kingship is used to name the event of being a king e.g. the kingship of Egypt.

2. Verbal intangible things. For examples:

   1. the actions of things
      1. people
         1. The word walking is used to name the action of one that walks e.g. walking on a path.
         2. The word acting is used to name the action of performing in films or plays e.g. acting in a film.
   2. the events of things
      1. people
         1. The word walk is used to name the act of walking e.g. taking a walk on a path.
         2. The word action is used to name the process of doing something e.g. taking an action on something.
         3. The word service is used to name the act of serving e.g. did a person a service.
         4. The word movement is used to name the process of moviing something e.g. making a movement to somewhere.
   3. the feeling of things
      1. people
         1. The word hope is used to describe the feeling of wanting something to happen e.g. a hope to human.
         2. The word beauty is used to describe the quality of being pleasing e.g. life is a beauty.
   4. the ideas of things
      1. thing
         1. The word hope is used to describe the feeling of wanting something to happen e.g. a hope to human.
         2. The word beauty is used to describe the quality of being pleasing e.g. life is a beauty.
   5. the concept of things
      1. thing
         1. The word sound is used to describe something that can be heard e.g. making a sound.
         2. The word lightning is used to describe a flash or bright light in the sky e.g. a lightning strikes the dome

   Examples of Abstract Nouns

   Examples of Abstract Nouns

   Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.

   In general, mathematics is science.

   In general, music is art.