Practical tools for learning and teaching grammar

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7. Students should now fill in the third leg of their flowchart in their 
grammar exercise books.
Abstract nouns
Definition: 
Abstract nouns form what can be the most difficult 
group to understand, as they represent ideas, and have no physical 
substance that you can see or touch.
The idea may be of quality, 
for example:
beauty, greed, intelligence
or the idea may be a state that is felt or suffered, 
for example:
joy, misery, neglect. 
It may be the act of something, 
for example:
duty, aggression.
It may even be an event or happening,
for example:
conversation, pause.
1.4 Activities: abstract nouns
Scenarios explain these most clearly to children and they also enjoy 
acting them. They provide excellent opportunities for group discussion 
and the extension of vocabulary.
NOUNS
common
proper
collective
choir
library
abstract
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nouns

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1. What feeling would you have if …? (Students suggest suitable 
abstract nouns.)
a. your internet connection kept bombing out
b. you won an art competition
c. you visited your friend in hospital and found her covered in 
bandages
d. your favourite show was cancelled
e. you were running late for your appointment
f. the principal called you to the office
g. your dog died
h. you were invited to a wedding
i. you found a cockroach in your dinner
j. you saw Halley’s Comet
2. Students describe an example of various acts. For example: an act of 
rudeness, willpower.
3. Students write an abstract noun for each of the following:
The feeling you have when you are: 
a. afraid
b. pleased
c. grieving
d. feeling sick
e. sorry
f. enjoying something
g. tired
h. worried
i. angry
j. hostile
There may be more than one good answer in which case the choice 
can be discussed.
4. Students could write short skits and act them out to illustrate ab-
stract nouns such as those in 2 and 3 above.
5. Now students should fill in the fourth and last leg of the flowchart 
in their grammar exercise books.
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GrAMMAr for eVerYone

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