[Vocabulary] How could I grasp it, the abstract word

Status
Not open for further replies.

waterborne

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Hi, Dear teachers, it is me again.
This time I take you a question about abstract words, you know I am a Chinese student, so for me, English is definitely a foreign language, sometimes the abstract words in this language always make me headache, even with a English-English dictionary's help I still cannot understand its meaning, sometimes a word possesses several meanings, Oh, it is really hard for me a foreign student, HELP~~, Please. What and how should I do in order to maser the abstract words? Thank you very much!:-(
 

cereal_chick

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Abstract words as in words that indentify ideas and concepts etc.?

Or are you having trouble with multiple meanings of words?

[Not a teacher]
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi, Dear teachers, it is me again.
This time I [STRIKE]take you a question [/STRIKE] ask about abstract words, you know I am a Chinese student, so for me, English is definitely a foreign language, and sometimes the abstract words in this language always [STRIKE]make[/STRIKE] give me a headache, even with an English-English dictionary's help I still cannot understand its meaning, sometimes a word possesses several meanings, Oh, it is really hard for me as a foreign student, HELP~~, Please. What and how should I do in order to master[STRIKE] the [/STRIKE]abstract words? Thank you very much!:-(

Please list a few of what you call "abstract words".
 

waterborne

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Thank you very much billmcd and your amendments, For abstract words, I mean the words that name intangible things of condition, quality, or idea—such as ... beauty . . . culture . . . efficiency . . . feasibility . . . loyalty .. . effectiveness . . . wealth . . . etc.
By the way I know "give a headache" is a natural and native expression but I want to know if my former expression is right in grammar or not?
Thank you again!
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Thank you very much billmcd and your amendments, For abstract words, I mean the words that name intangible things of condition, quality, or idea—such as ... beauty . . . culture . . . efficiency . . . feasibility . . . loyalty .. . effectiveness . . . wealth . . . etc.
By the way I know "give a headache" is a natural and native expression but I want to know if my former expression is right in grammar or not?
Thank you again!

Thanks for your examples of abstract nouns, but as for your "problem", I'm not sure I understand. Although I'm not at all familiar with your native language, I'm sure the examples you listed exist in Chinese (for example, beauty, intelligence =
美麗,智慧 ). So, if it's a problem of memorization, that is an issue that all learners of other languages must face.
With regard to your "headache", the expression you posted would not be natural. You could say, "makes my head ache".
 

waterborne

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Thanks a lot billmcd, I know you are a English teacher in US, it is really good, so I want to ask you question on synonyms and antonyms, you know there are a lot of words in English have similar meanings. It really confuses me, I just want to make it clear that how should I choose the right word for the right case, how could I know which word is a formal word which more fitting for a formal occasion, and which word is a conversation word that is better for informal case? I know maybe it is a too big question involving too lots of knowledges, but please give me some advice from a native language teacher's perspective.

Thanks a lot!!
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
A good learner's dictionary will label some words as 'formal' or 'informal'.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top