Abstract nouns and use of ‘there’ with ‘be’ verbs

Abstract nouns refer to a feeling, an idea, or a quality. It is often something we cannot see or touch. We use singular verbs with abstract nouns.

Stress leads to other illnesses.
The Buddha was known for His great compassion.
Patience is a great virtue.
Shehan’s great self-confidence has helped him to advance in his career.
Honesty is the best policy. (Proverb)

Abstract nouns can come after words such as “a lot of, a great deal of, plenty of, much” or “little.”

A lot of excitement is in the air as the election results are about to be announced.
Much progress has been made in the Mahaweli scheme.
Little attention has been paid to begging in trains.

A lot of research has been done on aliens.
A great deal of patience is necessary when you have to face family problems.

There + “be” verbs

We use “there + be verbs” when we want to state that something exists or when we mention something for the first time. We use a singular verb if the subject is singular or uncountable.

There is a new computer operator in his office.
There is a snake under the bed.
There is a new bank around the corner.
There is peace in the country after 30 years of terrorist activities.
There is a lot of sugar in my cup of tea.
We use a plural verb if the subject is plural.
There are many people waiting in the queue to buy bread.
There are a lot of books in his private library.
There were many beggars on the street.
There are some mangoes for sale.
There were many tourists at the airport.

Activity

Read the following sentences carefully and state whether they are right or wrong. Correct and rewrite the wrong sentences. Check your answers with the key.

1. Patience are a great virtue.
..........................................

2. Sam’s self-confidence has won him a quick promotion in his career.
..........................................

3. Anil’s knowledge of Information Technology surprise everybody.
..........................................

4. The brightness of the sun are not surprising.
..........................................

5. A lot of improvement has been made in the tertiary education.
..........................................

6. Honesty are very important in all our relationships.
..........................................

7. Fear of failure prevent many people from competing with others.
..........................................

8. Little attention are paid to those who cut down trees illegally.
..........................................

9. My commitment to the job were appreciated by the management.
..........................................

10. There are a lot of snow on the mountain.
..........................................

Key:

1. Wrong. Patience is a great virtue.
2. Right.
3. Wrong. Anil’s knowledge of Information Technology surprises everybody.
4. Wrong. The brightness of the sun is not surprising.
5. Right.
6. Wrong. Honesty is very important in all our relationships.
7. Wrong. Fear of failure prevents many people from competing with others.
8. Wrong. Little attention is paid to those who cut down trees illegally.
9. Wrong. My commitment to the job was appreciated by the management.
10. Wrong. There is a lot of snow on the mountain.

Fun with proverbs

A proverb is a popular short saying with words of advice or warning. Here are some interesting proverbs for your knowledge bank.

1. A growing youth has a wolf in his belly
A growing youth is always hungry.

2. Half a loaf is better than no bread
We should be satisfied with what we get even though it is not what we hoped for.

3. Half the world knows not how the other half lives
Most of us do not understand the problems of others.

4. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Mothers are responsible for bringing up a new generation of men who will rule the world.

5. Handsome is as handsome does
“Handsome” here means “good looking, of fine appearance” or “generous.” Good living is more important than good looks.

6. Happy is the country that has no history
Here “history” means a record of crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind. If a country has no such history, the people will be happy.

7. Harp not for ever on the same string
Avoid talking about the same subject all the time.

8. Haste makes waste
If you do something in a hurry, you will not do it properly. You are also likely to make blunders or cause damage.

9. He cannot speak well that cannot hold his tongue
The proverb emphasises the value of silence at times when to speak would do more harm than good.

10. He gives twice who gives quickly
One who gives immediately is more helpful than the one who gives too late.

11. He is rich that has few wants
If you have few wants, you can satisfy them easily. However, rich people have many wants they they cannot satisfy.

12. He should have a long spoon that sups with the devil
When we associate with evil people, we should have our wits about us.

Starters:

Two sentence structures

When we make sentences with the verbs “give, lend, pass, send” and “show”, there are two possible structures.

We give something to somebody.
We give alms to beggars on Poya day.
I gave Rs 100 to my sister.
The company gives free milk to poor children.

Linda gives English tuition to a group of students.
The cow gives milk to its calf.
We give somebody something.

Father gave me Rs 5,000.
We gave them food.
You gave me a shirt on my birthday.

She gives her students all her books.
I gave her my address.
We lend something to somebody.
Banks lend money to house builders.

Public libraries lend books to their members.
Some people lend their vehicles to companies.
I never lend my books to anyone.
She lent Rs 10,000 to her neighbour.
We lend somebody something.

I lent him my car.
The bank lent me Rs 10,000.
The library lent her three books.
Father lent his camera to one of his friends.
The company has lent me two vehicles.
We pass something to somebody.

She passed the file to me.
Can I pass the salt to you?
He passed the baby to its mother.
The secretary passed the letter to the director.
Sanka passed a Rs 1,000 note to me.

We pass somebody something.
She passed me the file.
I passed him the salt.
The secretary passed him the letter.
Sanka passed me the book.
Nayana passed him the baby.

We send something to somebody.
We send New Year greeting cards to our friends.
I sent a book to him.
She sent a letter to me.
Don’t forget to send a birthday card to Eva.

The manager sent a warning letter to the staff.
We send somebody something.
I sent him a book.
She sent me a letter.

Don’t forget to send Eva a birthday card.
The management sent them a warning letter.
We send our friends New Year greeting cards.
We show something to somebody.

He showed the pictures to the editor.
I showed my certificates to the interviewer.
She showed her paintings to the visitors.
The police officer showed the way to the tourist.
The patient showed his swollen leg to the doctor.
We show somebody something.

We showed them the pictures.
I showed the interviewer my certificates.
She showed the visitor her paintings.
The police officer showed the tourist the way to the embassy.
The chairman showed him the door!

Forming verbs from nouns

A good knowledge of word families would help us to enrich our vocabulary. Today we give a list of nouns from which you have to make verbs. Check your answers with the key.

Nouns Verbs

1. Creation .................
2. Crime .................
3. Criticism .................
4. Custom .................
5. Danger .................
6. Dark .................
7. Death .................
8. Deceit .................
9. Decision .................
10. Decoration .................
11. Depth .................
12. Defence .................
13. Definition .................
14. Demonstration .................
15. Denial .................
16. Dependence .................
17. Description .................
18. Destruction .................
19. Determination .................
20. Development .................
21. Difference .................
22. Direction .................
23. Disagreement .................
24. Disappointment .................
25. Discovery .................
26. Disturbance .................
27. Division .................
28. Earth .................
29. Education .................
30. Election .................
31. Electricity .................
32. Embarrassment .................
33. Emphasis .................
34. Employment .................
35. Encouragement .................
36. Energy .................
37. Enjoyment .................
38. Entrance .................
39. Entertainment .................
40. Equality ................

Key:

1. create
2. incriminate
3. criticize
4. accustom
5. endanger
6. darken
7. deaden
8. deceive
9. decide
10. decorate
11. deepen
12. defend
13. define
14. demonstrate
15. deny
16. depend
17. describe
18. destroy
19. determine
20. develop
21. differ
22. direct
23. disagree
24. disappoint
25. discover
26. disturb
27. divide
28. unearth
29. educate
30. elect
31. electrify
32. embarrass
33. emphasize
34. employ
35. encourage
36. energize
37. enjoy
38. enter
39. entertain
40. equalize