Abstract nouns refer to ideas and concepts. Examples would be intelligence, bravery, loyalty, eloquence, and heroism. In other words, abstract nouns provoke opinions rather than facts.

There are a number of old abstract nouns in the Oxford English Dictionary that, for whatever reason, and tragically, became obsolete. Here are 14 of them we need to bring back.

But to-infinitive clauses do not always follow abstract nouns. If we think of synonyms of ability, such as skill or aptitude, then the structures which these nouns elicit are: aptitude for + noun ...

OF ALL the novelties of France under President Nicolas Sarkozy, one of the more arresting is the decline of the abstract noun. In the past, no French leader would make a speech without liberal ...