Can you see the distinction between 'abstract' nouns and 'mass' nouns? I mean, in those examples? Except for 'dust,' which seems to me would fit well enough under common nouns, unless you're conceiving it microscopically or some such thing, the other two, peace and tranquility, are awfully close to hope, love and sadness, aren't they? I see that they're more large-scale, sort of macro, or grander, and less intimate, than sadness.
Maybe a 'mass' noun is a fancy subcategory of 'abstract' noun? 'Hope' and 'tranquility' do seem to belong on the same list in some way. Either can be conceived as a personal state of mind or a broader, social one. America was hopeful. Judy was hopeful. America was tranquil. Judy was tranquil.
I may be missing something obvious. I do that sometimes. |
