COMMON NOUNS. Work again Exercises 3, 4, 5, and 6. 87. A word which is the name of each thing belonging to a class of things of the same kind is called a Common1 Noun. Exercise 69. Pick out the Common Nouns. Once, when Rubens the famous artist was travelling in Spain, he visited a convent. The monks took him all over the buildings. Above the altar in the chapel he saw a beautiful picture. 'Who painted that masterpiece?' he asked. A lay brother,' answered the abbot. Then he is a great painter,' said Rubens; 'let me see him that I may tell him so.' Such words from such a judge were too much for the poor man: he took a few steps forward and fell dead at Rubens' feet. ABSTRACT NOUNS. Work again Exercises 7 and 8. 88. This paper is smooth and white; in other words it has the qualities of smoothness and whiteness. The smoothness and whiteness cannot be separated from the paper, but in our own minds we can think of them as something apart. Again, running is an action, but the running cannot be separated from the runner. It is only in our own minds that we can think of it as something apart. So slavery is a state or condition that cannot be separated from the slave, but that can be thought of as something apart. This drawing away with our minds the quality from the thing which has it, the action from the thing which does it, or the condition from the thing which is in it, is called abstracting.2 89. The name of a quality, action or state is called an Abstract Noun. 1 Common (from the Latin commun-is, shared by several, common) means belonging to more than one; a common is land belonging to many or all. Latin ats, away from, and tract-us, drawn (p.p. of trah-ere, to draw). 90. Thinking about the way in which Abstract Nouns are formed greatly helps us to know them. (1) An Adjective is the Part of Speech which shows quality; therefore many Abstract Nouns are formed from Adjectives ; as :— (2) A Verb is the Part of Speech which tells of action; therefore many Abstract Nouns are formed from Verbs; as : (3) Abstract Nouns are also formed from Common Nouns ; as :— Exercise 70. Form Abstract Nouns from (a) The following Adjectives :· Long. Round. Regular. Black. Bright. Righteous. Foolish. Bold. True. Wide. Strong. Dear. Curious. Rapid. Stupid. Prudent. Just Simple. Pure. Good. (b) The following Verbs: Occupy. Relieve. Believe. Deceive. Elect. Prove. Revise. Please. Invert. Conceal. Sing. Erase. (c) The following Nouns : Knave. Rogue. Rascal. Boy. Man. Friend. Child. Agent. Regent. Duke. Master. Infant. Primate. Exercise 71. Pick out the Abstract Nouns. The room is twenty feet in length. The baby is in a sweet sleep. Mary attends school with great regularity. Mr. Brown holds an agency for an iron manufacturer. Lazy people take most trouble. The prisoner was accused of a serious crime, but as there was no proof of his guilt he was set at liberty. The driver behaved with cruelty. The beauty of the scene gave us much pleasure. A little learning is a dangerous thing. A little weeping would ease my heart. The quality of mercy is not strained. There was darkness over all. Honesty is the best policy. The sun gives warmth. Virtue is its own reward. Charity covers a multitude of sins. Wisdom is better than strength. A thing of beauty is a joy for ever; Its loveliness increases; it will never Exercise 72. Pick out the Nouns and say of each whether it is Proper, Common, or Abstract. Upon Saint Crispin's day To England to carry. O when shall Englishmen Or England breed again Yes, honour calls. With strength like steel, Let dusky Indians whine and kneel; An English lad must die. And the widows of Asshur are loud in their wail, And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal; Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er, And the rebel rides on his raid no more. Over Barbara Frietchie's grave Flag of freedom and union wave. Additional sentences :-Exercise 9. NUMBER. 91. Notice the difference in form between each Noun in the first column and the corresponding Noun in the second It will be seen that the forms of these Nouns change with the number of things spoken of. of one thing-a single thing-is The form used when speaking called the Singular 1 Number; Singular from the Latin singular-is, single, from singuli, one by one, the form used when speaking of more than one is called the Plural Number. 1 92. The Plural number is now most commonly formed by adding s to the Singular; as: Pen. Cat. Pencil. Desk. Bottle. Picture. Board. Fire. Rug. Poker. Wall. House. Garden. Tree. Horse. Colt. Gate. Door. Window. Flower. Rose. Stone. Grocer. Letter. Basket. Sob. Rock. Bud. Eye. Egg. Rook. Crow. Bird. Beast. Fig. Marble. Hoop. Friend. Servant. Frame. Vase. Metal. Hand. Leg. Ring. b. Give fifty Nouns which form their Plural numbers by the addition of s to the Singular. 93. The Plural number was once most commonly formed by adding es to the Singular. Es is still added to Nouns ending in s, soft ch (that is ch sounded as in church), sh, x, and z; as:— Moss. Mass. Pass. Guess. Mess. Miss. Glass. Class. Omnibus. Patch. Peach. Batch. Latch. Leech. Breach. Witch. Hitch. Watch. Hutch. Brooch. Coach. Bench. Wrench. Bush. Wish. Hash. Dish. Mesh. Blush. Brush. Tax. 1 Plural from the Latin plural-is, more than one, from plus (genitive plur-is), more. |