Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns name things that cannot be experienced through the five senses -- they represent feelings, ideas, qualities, and states that exist in the mind rather than in the physical world.

What You'll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn:

A wider range of abstract nouns beyond common feelings and qualities
How to form abstract nouns using advanced suffixes (-tion, -sion, -ment, -ance, -ence)
How gerunds (verb + -ing) can function as nouns in a sentence
How to distinguish between a gerund used as a noun and a present participle used as a verb

When to Use

Complex feelings and emotions: "The team felt a deep sense of disappointment after losing the final match."
Concepts in academic contexts: "The significance of recycling was discussed during the science lesson."
Abstract qualities in formal writing: "Her perseverance throughout the competition earned everyone's admiration."
Gerunds as subjects: "Swimming is an excellent form of exercise."
Gerunds as objects: "My grandmother enjoys gardening in the early morning."

How to Form

Advanced Suffixes for Abstract Nouns

You already know basic suffixes like -ness, -dom, and -ship. At this level, you will work with more advanced suffixes that are common in formal and academic English.

Suffix	Base Word (Type)	Abstract Noun	Meaning
-tion	educate (verb)	education	the process of teaching and learning
-tion	celebrate (verb)	celebration	the act of celebrating
-sion	decide (verb)	decision	a choice that is made
-sion	permit (verb)	permission	the act of allowing something
-ment	achieve (verb)	achievement	something accomplished
-ment	disappoint (verb)	disappointment	a feeling of sadness from unmet expectations
-ance	perform (verb)	performance	the act of performing
-ance	important (adjective)	importance	the quality of being significant
-ence	depend (verb)	dependence	the state of relying on something
-ence	patient (adjective)	patience	the ability to wait calmly

Gerunds as Nouns

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. It names an activity or action.

Gerund	Used as	Example Sentence
Reading	Subject	Reading broadens your understanding of the world.
Cooking	Subject	Cooking requires patience and creativity.
Swimming	Object	She enjoys swimming at the community pool.
Running	Object of preposition	He is good at running long distances.
Volunteering	Subject	Volunteering at the old folks' home gave him a sense of satisfaction.

Gerund vs Present Participle

The same -ing word can serve different roles. The key is to check what job it does in the sentence.

Role	Example	Explanation
Gerund (noun)	Swimming is fun.	"Swimming" is the subject -- it acts as a noun
Present participle (verb)	She is swimming in the pool.	"Swimming" is part of the verb "is swimming"
Gerund (noun)	I enjoy painting.	"Painting" is the object of "enjoy" -- it acts as a noun
Present participle (adjective)	The painting class starts at ten.	"Painting" describes the noun "class"

Key Rules

Gerunds are verb forms that work as nouns: When a verb ends in -ing and functions as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence, it is a gerund. "Hiking through MacRitchie Reservoir is a popular weekend activity."
Gerunds can follow certain verbs: Some verbs are commonly followed by a gerund, including enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, consider, practise, and suggest. "She enjoys reading historical novels."
Gerunds can follow prepositions: When a verb comes after a preposition, it must be in the gerund form. "He is interested in learning about marine biology." (not "interested in learn")
Abstract nouns formed with -tion/-sion often come from verbs: Drop or change the ending of the verb before adding the suffix. "Communicate" becomes communication; "discuss" becomes discussion.
Some abstract nouns have irregular formations: Not all abstract nouns follow predictable suffix patterns. "Think" becomes thought; "choose" becomes choice; "succeed" becomes success. These must be memorised.
Abstract nouns can be modified just like other nouns: You can place adjectives before them or use them with articles. "The quiet determination of the young athlete impressed the judges."

Common Mistakes

Wrong	Right	Why
Swim is good exercise.	Swimming is good exercise.	When a verb acts as the subject, use the gerund (-ing) form
She enjoys to read books.	She enjoys reading books.	"Enjoy" must be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive
He is good at cook.	He is good at cooking.	After a preposition, the verb must be in gerund form
The educate of children is important.	The education of children is important.	Use the noun form "education," not the verb "educate"
She showed great determine.	She showed great determination.	"Determine" is a verb; the abstract noun is "determination"
They discussed about the importancy of honesty.	They discussed the importance of honesty.	The correct abstract noun is "importance," not "importancy"

Clue Words

Verbs commonly followed by gerunds

enjoy, avoid, finish, keep, consider, practise, suggest, mind, deny, risk

Prepositions that signal a gerund will follow

at, in, on, by, about, of, for, without, before, after

Advanced suffixes that signal abstract nouns

-tion, -sion, -ment, -ance, -ence, -ity, -ism, -ure

Abstract nouns for complex feelings and states

disappointment, frustration, determination, admiration, gratitude, anxiety, compassion, curiosity

Tip: If you can replace the -ing word with "it" or "the thing" and the sentence still makes sense, then the -ing word is a gerund (a noun). "Swimming is fun" becomes "It is fun" -- so "swimming" is a gerund.

Practice Tips

The replacement test for gerunds: Replace the -ing word with a regular noun. If the sentence still works, it is a gerund. "Reading is important" becomes "Education is important" -- both work, so "reading" is a gerund.
Verb-to-noun conversion drills: Pick five verbs each day and practise converting them into abstract nouns. "Celebrate" becomes celebration, "encourage" becomes encouragement, "depend" becomes dependence.
Spot the gerund in the news: Read a paragraph from a newspaper or magazine. Underline every -ing word and decide whether it is a gerund (noun) or a present participle (verb/adjective). This builds your ability to tell them apart quickly.
Build a suffix chart: Create a personal reference chart grouping abstract nouns by their suffix (-tion, -sion, -ment, -ance, -ence). Add new words as you encounter them in your reading.

Quick Reference

Common Gerunds Used as Nouns

Gerund	Example as Subject	Example as Object
Reading	Reading improves vocabulary.	She loves reading.
Swimming	Swimming builds stamina.	He practises swimming daily.
Cooking	Cooking can be relaxing.	They enjoy cooking together.
Running	Running keeps you fit.	I started running last year.
Volunteering	Volunteering helps the community.	She considered volunteering.

Abstract Noun Formation -- Advanced Suffixes

Suffix	Examples
-tion	education, celebration, communication, organisation, determination
-sion	decision, permission, discussion, expression, admission
-ment	achievement, disappointment, encouragement, development, amazement
-ance	performance, importance, appearance, acceptance, guidance
-ence	dependence, patience, confidence, independence, existence
-ity	curiosity, generosity, responsibility, creativity, sincerity

Abstract Nouns (P5) (Primary 5)