抽象名詞主要指一些抽象概念的名稱,它們一般是不可數(shù)的,沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式,前面也不能加冠詞a,an.下面是一些常見的抽象名詞：
absence access age agriculture anger
beauty behaviour 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 waste wealth weather
welfare work worth youth
在多數(shù)情況下,這種名詞都用于單數(shù)形式,并不加任何冠詞：
Knowledge is power.知識(shí)就是力量.(諺)…但有時(shí)也可加定冠詞the(a)或不定冠詞a或an(b)：
a.I did not have the courage to tell you.我沒有勇氣告訴你.…
b.We have a great respect for the professor.我們很尊重教授.…此外有些抽象名詞也可用作個(gè)體名詞,代表具體的東西,這時(shí)它可以加不定冠詞,也可用于復(fù)數(shù)形式：
用作抽象名詞匯 用作個(gè)體名詞
What are the principles of democracy?A true democracy allows free speech.
It’s beyond my power to help you.The great powers held an international conference.
我沒有能力幫助你.這些大國開了一次國際會(huì)議.
宗教對(duì)她變得越來越重要.世界上有許多種宗教信仰.