Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Abstract-versus-concrete-nouns"
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Concrete nouns refer to entities with physical attributes which can be seen, heard, touched, etc. Abstract nouns refer to entities without such physical attributes: | Concrete nouns refer to entities with physical attributes which can be seen, heard, touched, etc. Abstract nouns refer to entities without such physical attributes: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! colspan="2" |Typical concrete nouns | ! colspan="2" |Typical concrete nouns | ||
! colspan="2" |Typical abstract nouns | ! colspan="2" |Typical abstract nouns | ||
|- | |||
|French | |||
|Translation | |||
|French | |||
|Translation | |||
|- | |- | ||
|bière (f) | |bière (f) | ||
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|thirst | |thirst | ||
|} | |} | ||
Abstract nouns in French are usually accompanied by a definite article whereas English has no article: | Abstract nouns in French are usually accompanied by a definite article whereas English has no article: | ||
Revision as of 20:11, 12 November 2021
Abstract versus concrete nouns
Concrete nouns refer to entities with physical attributes which can be seen, heard, touched, etc. Abstract nouns refer to entities without such physical attributes:
| Typical concrete nouns | Typical abstract nouns | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| French | Translation | French | Translation |
| bière (f) | beer | beauté (f) | beauty |
| bonbon (m) | sweet | bonheur(m) | happiness |
| cadeau (m) | present | bonté (f) | goodness |
| carte (f) | card | patience (f) | patience |
| disque (m) | record | moeurs (f pi) | customs, morals |
| église (f) | church | savoir (m) | knowledge |
| livre (m) | book | silence (m) | silence |
| mannequin (m) | (fashion) model | soif (f) | thirst |
Abstract nouns in French are usually accompanied by a definite article whereas English has no article:
- La patience est une qualité qui se fait rare
Patience is a quality which is becoming rare
- Je cherche le bonheur
I'm looking for happiness
But when abstract nouns refer to a particular example of 'patience', 'happiness', 'knowledge', and so on (for instance, when they are modified by an adjective), they occur with an indefinite article:
- Il a fait preuve cette fois d'une patience appréciable
The patience he showed on this occasion was appreciated
- Il s'est alors produit un silence absolu
Absolute silence ensued
- Un bonheur en vaut un autre
One kind of happiness is the same as any other