Nouns. Tip #2:Types of Common Nouns
Common or generic nouns can be broken down into three subtypes: concrete nouns, abstract nouns, and collective nouns. A concrete noun is something that is perceived by the senses; something that is physical or real.
Example: I heard the doorbell.- Я услышал звонок в дверь.
Example: My keyboard is sticky.- Моя клавиатура липкая.
Doorbell and keyboard are real things that can be sensed.
Conversely, an abstract noun is something that cannot be perceived by the senses.
Example: We can’t imagine the courage it took to do that.- Мы не можем представить, какое мужество потребовалось, чтобы сделать это.
Courage is an abstract noun. Courage can’t be seen, heard, or sensed in any other way, but we know it exists.
A collective noun denotes a group or collection of people or things.
Example: That pack of lies is disgraceful.- Эта куча вранья возмутительна.
Pack of lies as used here is a collective noun. Collective nouns take a singular verb as if they are one entity – in this case, the singular verb is.
Example: A pride of lions roamed the savanna.- Прайд львов бродил по саванне.
Pride of lions is also a collective noun.
