抽象名词

抽象名词主要指一些抽象概念的名称，它们一般是不可数的，没有复数形式，前面也不能加冠词a，an。下面是一些常见的抽象名词：

absence access age agriculture anger

beauty behavior cancer capacity childhood

comfort concern confidence courage death

democracy depression design duty economy

education energy environment evil existence

experience failure faith fashion fear

finance freedom fun growth happiness

health help history independence industry

insurance intelligence joy justice labour

loneliness love luck magic marriage

mercy music nature patience peace

philosophy pleasure policy poverty power

pride protection purity reality relief

religion respect safety security silence

sleep strength status technology time

trade training transport travel trust

truth violence vocabulary waste wealth weather

welfare work worth youth

在多数情况下，这种名词都用于单数形式，并不加任何冠词：

Knowledge is power.知识就是力量。(谚语)

Failure is the mother of success.失败是成功之母。

…

但有时也可加定冠词the(a)或不定冠词a或an(b)：

a.I did not have the courage to tell you.我没有勇气告诉你。

…

b.We have a great respect for the professor.我们很尊重教授。

…

此外有些抽象名词也可用作个体名词，代表具体的东西，这时它可以加不定冠词，也可用于复数形式：

用作抽象名词 用作个体名词

What are the principles of democracy? A true democracy allows free speech.

什么是民主的原则? 真正的民主国家允许言论自由。

It’s beyond my power to help you. The great powers held an international conference.

我没有能力帮助你。 这些大国开了一次国际会议。

Religion meant more and more to her. There are many religions in the world.

宗教对她变得越来越重要。 世界上有许多种宗教信仰。

be of+抽象名词= be+ 同根形容词

be of +普通名词 (该n.一般没有相对应的adj.)

1. The book is of great importance.

2. Coins may be of different sizes, weights, shapes and of different metals.