Abstract nouns without articles

Many nouns refer to abstract, uncountable ideas. These nouns don't usually have an article (a, an or the) before them. However, there are always exceptions (see Exceptions below).

Here are some sentences with abstract nouns. The abstract nouns are in bold type.

• It takes courage to climb the tallest mountain on the continent.
• The editor we hire needs to have enthusiasm, dedication and knowledge.
• Is love the most important emotion?
• As a child she lived in poverty, but now she has great wealth.
• Many people feel that happiness is the most important thing in life.

Exceptions

Sometimes there is a particular type of an abstract noun. When we refer to a type, amount, or specific instance of the noun and not the noun in general, we use the.

• Don't become a lion tamer if you don't have the courage.
• Our team has the enthusiasm and dedication to get the job done.
• They escaped the poverty of their homeland.

Nouns which are sometimes abstract and sometimes concrete

Some nouns are used as both abstract and concrete nouns. That is, they need no article in some situations but need an article in others. (Hint: the more you read and pay attention, the more of these nouns you will notice.) Here are just a few examples.

• Life (or death): We can ask what the most important thing in life is, and we can worry about death. However, we can also talk about a life or a death, the life or death of one person.
• Discipline: To succeed in life, you need discipline. When we talk about a discipline, we are referring to a career or field of study such as architecture or biology.
• Time: Time seems to move faster as we get older. Think of a time when you were young and a day seemed to last forever.

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