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USE OF ARTICLES WITH ABSTRACT NOUNS



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USE OF ARTICLES WITH ABSTRACT NOUNS

There are two groups of abstract nouns: countable (an idea, a fact, a word, etc.) and uncountable (love, fun, honesty, criticism, etc.)


Articles with countable abstract nouns are used in the same way as with countable concrete nouns (See Page 4).
A number of nouns may function both as countable and uncountable depending on the meaning. In the former case they follow the general rules for the use of articles with countable nouns. For example:





UNCOUNTABLE

COUNTABLE

nature

everything that exists in the world independent of people:

We took a walk through the wood to observe nature.

a quality that makes someone or something different from others; character:

I have a kindly nature.

decision

quality of being able to make choices and act on them firmly:

He is a man of decision who rarely changes his mind.

a choice or judgement:

The committee expects to come to a decision.

experience

knowledge or skill which comes from practice:

Don’t correct him all the time – he’ll learn by experience.

something that happens to one and has an effect on the mind and feelings:

Our journey by camel was a fascinating experience.

thought

  1. the action of thinking:

He sat there, deep in thought

2) serious consideration:



Give her offer plenty of thought.

something that is thought:

I’ve just had a bad thought.

joy

great happiness:

I was filled with joy at the thought of seeing you again.

a person or thing that causes joy:

She remained a staunch friend throughout all the joys and sorrows of life.

likeness

sameness, resemblance:

I cannot see much likeness between them.

1) a photograph or painting of a person esp. a good one that is really like the person:

The portrait is a good likeness

2) an instance of being alike:



There is a family likeness to be seen in all of them.

talk

1) empty or meaningless speech:

He’s all talk.

2) a subject of rumour or gossip:



There is talk of a new invention.

an informal speech or lecture:

They had a long talk.

gossip

idle talk about other people or events:

She is too fond of gossip.

1) chat:

They had a good gossip with the neighbours.

2) a person who is fond of chatting:



Our neighbours are such gossips!

pleasure

1) the state of feeling of happiness:

Small gifts give me much pleasure.

2) doing things for fun:



Are you here on business or for pleasure?

a cause of happiness:

It’s been a great pleasure to talk to you.

People who don’t go to football matches have few pleasures in life.

improvement

the act of improving or the state of being improved:

Your English is getting better, but there is still room for improvement.

something which is better:

This composition is an improvement on your last one.

success

succeeding:

Nothing succeeds like success.

1) a person or thing that succeeds:

The plan was a success.

2) triumph:



The army had numerous successes in this war.

knowledge

the state of being informed about something; awareness:

The matter was never brought to the knowledge of the minister.

the facts, skills and understanding that one has gained (also uncountable):

She has a detailed knowledge of this period

But: It’s common knowledge.

fantasy

imagination:

Stylistic analysis requires much fantasy.

a product of imagination:

He wrote a fantasy about life on Mars.

silence

stillness, absence of speech:

I listened in silence.

a period of time characterized by absence of sound:

There were long unexplained silences.

horror

great fear mixed with disgust:

The news filled us with horror.

1) a thing or person that causes great fear:

The little horrors never stopped playing tricks on their parents.

2) in the set expression to have a horror of…



A good housewife has a horror of dirt.

sense

good understanding and judgement:

You should have had enough sense to turn off the electricity supply.

1) any of the five feelings that humans have:

I’m afraid I don’t have a very good sense of smell.

2) a feeling, esp. one that is hard to describe exactly:



The incident left me with a sense of helplessness.

duty

the force that compels one to act:

It’s a call of duty.

a thing that one ought to do:

My duties include taking letters to the post and making coffee.

inspiration

the act of inspiring or state of being inspired:

Poets often draw inspiration from nature.

1) something or someone which gives a person the urge to do something:

His wife is a constant inspiration to him.

2) a sudden good idea:



I had an inspiration.

aid

support or help:

Foreign aid has been reduced again.

something that provides help:

A dictionary is an invaluable aid in learning a new language.

authority

the ability, power, or right to control and command:

They don’t have much authority.

a person or thing with the power or right:

I quoted two authorities in support.

cover

shelter or protection:

The tree provided useful cover.

something that protects:

Both covers were torn.

detail

facts about something considered together:

They didn’t go into much detail.

a single point or fact about something:

There are three details I would add.

hate

hatred; extreme dislike:

She looked at me with hate in her eyes.

something that causes hatred:

That’s one of my pet hates.

necessity

the condition of being necessary:

I see little necessity for change.

something that is necessary:

Food and clothing are the bare necessities of life.

truth

that which is true; sincerity; honesty:

There’s some truth in what you say.

a fact or principle accepted as true:

Bear these truths constantly in mind.

worry

an uncomfortable feeling of fear and uncertainty:

It’s a source of great worry to me.

a person or thing that causes this feeling:

It’s a worry to me having to leave the parrot alone in the house.

We have no money worries.

education

the teaching and training of the young:

No country can afford to neglect education.

the knowledge and abilities developed through teaching and training:

He received a good education.

trade

the process of buying and selling:

The fall in the value of the pound may help to stimulate international trade.

1) a job, esp. one that needs special skills with the hands:

Being a printer is a trade, being a lawyer is a profession.

2) the stated level of business activity:



Outside the castle he was doing a roaring trade in souvenirs.

control

the power to direct or restrain something:

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

a method or system used for controlling (also uncountable in this meaning):

The government has imposed strict controls on the import of luxury goods.

difficulty

the fact of being difficult:

She had great difficulty in understanding me.

something difficult:

He’s having financial difficulties.

NOTE: Many of these words are concrete nouns when countable.


Some abstract nouns may be used both as countable and uncountable in the same lexical meaning: chance (possibility), change (the act or result of changing), effect (a result or condition produced by a cause), effort (something that needs the use of strength), talent (a special natural ability), reason (the cause of an event), etc. For example:





UNCOUNTABLE

COUNTABLE

chance

You’d have more chance of catching the train if you got a bus to the station.

You don’t stand a chance of winning the case.

change

Many people find it difficult to cope with change.

We need a change of tactics.

effect

The advertising campaign didn’t have much effect on sales.

Mr Barrymore was suffering from the effects of too much alcohol.

effort

It took a lot of effort to lift the piano.

It’s quite an effort to lift the piano.

talent

She has great musical talent.

He has a talent for drawing.

reason

She just suddenly left without giving reason.

He didn’t tell us his reasons.

discussion

The question of textbooks will come up for discussion.

They held a discussion about their future plans.

discrepancy

There is much discrepancy between these two descriptions.

How do you explain the discrepancies in the accounts.

conversation

In today’s programme, three well-known artists are in conversation with the President of the Academy.

It’s impossible to carry on a conversation with all this noise in the background.

hope

The situation looks bad, but don’t give up hope.

Hopes of reaching a peace settlement are now fading.

USE OF ARTICLES WITH UNCOUNTABLE ABSTRACT NOUNS



1. There is a group of nouns which are never used with the indefinite article: advice, assistance, bliss, cunning, control (the power to direct or restrain something), evidence, guidance, health, fun, information, luck, nature (everything that exists in the world independent of people), news, nonsense, permission, progress, weather:

Farming on such bad land is a struggle against nature.

Acting on information received, the police have arrested two suspects.

I ask you for advice and perhaps for assistance.

I’ve had bad luck all week!

What nasty weather we are having today!

No news is bad news.

Swimming in the sea is great fun.

Jane is still in hospital, but she’s making good progress.

Did he give you permission to take that?
2. Other uncountable abstract nouns can be used with the indefinite article:

a) The words pity, disgrace, pleasure, relief, comfort, disappointment, etc. in the sentences with formal it as subject when they are used as predicatives of the main clause:

It’s a pity you didn’t think of that before.

It’s a shame to waste such talent.

NOTE: But It’s luck I met you. (See above)



b) The words pity, disgrace, pleasure, relief, comfort, disappointment, etc. in exclamatory sentences after what:

What a disgrace!

NOTE: But What luck! (See above)



c) When uncountable abstract nouns express a certain kind of quality, emotion, state, etc. This meaning of the indefinite article is called aspective:

He was filled with a loathing he had never known.

I was aware now of a sickness. (=a kind of sickness)

She knew now why a softness had crept into the air; the sea was near. (=a kind of softness)

d) If an uncountable abstract noun is modified by the adjectives certain and peculiar the indefinite article is obligatory:

There is a peculiar tension about her.

Of course, you had to admit that he had a certain shrewdness.

e) The indefinite article may be used if an uncountable abstract noun is modified by some descriptive attributes (except for the descriptive attributes below)

Looking back upon that luncheon now it is invested for me with a curious glamour.

Besides bringing out a certain aspect of the notion denoted by the noun the indefinite article also has a stylistic effect making a description more vivid. Therefore, the use of the indefinite article with uncountable abstract nouns is characteristic of the belles lettres style.

NOTE: The indefinite article is often omitted if an uncountable abstract noun modified by a descriptive attribute is used in the following functions:

a) a predicative: It was gallant courage, and it had stood her in such stead during her mother’s long illness.

b) an attribute expressed by a prepositional phrase (mostly an of-phrase): She was a woman of wonderful generosity and would give away everything she possessed.

c) an adverbial modifier of manner expressed by a prepositional group (mostly with the prepositions with or in): She sang with such tragic beautiful anguish that my heart melted within me. He shouted at them in helpless rage.


3) The indefinite article is not used with uncountable abstract nouns:

a) in general sense:

It was obvious that Mr Low found marriage a very satisfactory state.

The dog huddled close to Tamar’s feet for protection.

b) if they are modified by certain semantic groups of descriptive attributes. These groups of attributes are as follows1:

1) adjectives denoting nationality: Russian, French, Pakistani, Icelandic, etc.:



French literature, Saudi architecture, Russian circus, Peruvian music, Zimbabwean art, Panamanian poetry

2) adjectives denoting social characteristics: feudal, capitalist, proletarian, racial, religious, bourgeois, etc:



bourgeois prejudice, racial segregation, feudal law

3) adjectives denoting periods of time, often historical periods: contemporary, modern, ancient, Victorian, mediaeval, daily, further, etc.:



modern art, ancient history, further discussion

4) adjectives denoting authenticity or reliability: (true, authentic, solid, false, dubious, reliable, real, genuine, etc.:



real freedom, genuine happiness, true friendship, solid harmony

5) adjectives denoting degree or extent: perfect, great, sufficient, immense, sheer, utter, huge, tremendous, complete, absolute, infinite, considerable, etc.:



immense joy, sheer foolishness, infinite power

6) adjectives denoting various genres or trends in art: dramatic, theatrical, classical, romantic, detective, etc.:



dramatic criticism, romantic prose, detective literature

7) adjectives referring to man’s social and spiritual life: social, public, political, intellectual, spiritual, moral, immoral, mental, humane, personal, reasonable, etc.:



humane philosophy, mental arithmetic, public recognition

8) adjectives characterizing man’s manner and behaviour: polite, impolite, brusque, formal, informal, nervous, serious, etc,:



nervous attitude, formal behaviour, brusque gesticulation

9) adjectives denoting position or locality: outside, inside, inner, outer, local, internal, external, etc.:



local distribution, inner vision, inside information

10) adjectives characterizing phenomena as recurrent or going on without stopping: continual (i.e. occurring again and again with short breaks), continuous (i.e. going on without stopping), constant, incessant, etc.:



constant displeasure, continuous showing of moving pictures

11) miscellaneous adjectives: good, bad, free, critical, ordinary, plain, physical, human, consistent and some other:



ordinary honesty, huge physical strength, human psychology

12) nouns in the common case used attributively:



family affection, science fiction, Greenwich time


The definite article is used with:

a) abstract nouns modified by a limiting attribute or if the idea denoted by the noun is applied to a definite situation or object:

The unexpectedness of our arrival left everybody speechless.

In the darkness we could not see her face.

b) partially substantivized adjectives denoting abstract notions are always used with the definite article:

How womanly it is to ask the unanswerable at the moment impossible.

“I am not Uncle Wilmer,” Ian stated the obvious as he dashed to the front door.

“I don’t believe in the supernatural,” Sir Henry said.

Muttering under his breath he surrendered to the inevitable and took the dogs with him.

c) abstract nouns the present, the past, the future, the singular, the plural:

I am certain nothing will happen in the near future.

NOTE: Mark the difference between the expressions in future (впредь), i.e. from this time on, and in the future (в будущем), i.e. after a certain period of time passes:



I hope in future you’ll be more careful.

Everybody knew an enviable position awaited him in the future.

The noun future may be used with the indefinite article when it is the focus of communication (the rheme of the sentence):



It was an uncertain future.

The presence or absence of the indefinite article with abstract nouns can be illustrated by this table:


ABSTRACT NOUNS






ABSTRACT NOUNS





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