什么叫“抽象名词”?

抽象名词主要指一些抽象概念的名称,它们一般是不可数的,没有复数形式,前面也不能加冠词a,an.下面是一些常见的抽象名词：
absence access age agriculture anger
beauty behaviour cancer capacity childhood
comfort concern confidence courage death
democracy depression design duty economy
education energy environment evil existence
experience failure faith fashion fear
finance freedom fun growth happiness
health help history independence industry
insurance intelligence joy justice labour
loneliness love luck magic marriage
mercy music nature patience peace
philosophy pleasure policy poverty power
pride protection purity reality relief
religion respect safety security silence
sleep strength status technology time
trade training transport travel trust
truth violence waste wealth weather
welfare work worth youth
在多数情况下,这种名词都用于单数形式,并不加任何冠词：
Knowledge is power.知识就是力量.(谚)…但有时也可加定冠词the(a)或不定冠词a或an(b)：
a.I did not have the courage to tell you.我没有勇气告诉你.…
b.We have a great respect for the professor.我们很尊重教授.…此外有些抽象名词也可用作个体名词,代表具体的东西,这时它可以加不定冠词,也可用于复数形式：
用作抽象名词汇 用作个体名词
What are the principles of democracy?A true democracy allows free speech.
It’s beyond my power to help you.The great powers held an international conference.
我没有能力帮助你.这些大国开了一次国际会议.
宗教对她变得越来越重要.世界上有许多种宗教信仰.