Letts English - abstract noun?

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mm23292
Posts: 446
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:57 am

Letts English - abstract noun?

Post by mm23292 »

Running the gauntlet of DIY, variety of Bond & Letts material. Quite often coming across some dubious answers, some which are obvious mistakes, but some where the answers are ambiguous.
Can someone please give thoughts on this one;

What types of word are these?
Programme, Problem, administration & people.

Options for answer include Common Nouns and Abstract nouns.

Answer in booklet is Common Nouns, but daughter has rightfully questioned why problem is not an abstract noun?
Would appreciate your thoughts!
yoyo123
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Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:32 pm
Location: East Kent

Re: Letts English - abstract noun?

Post by yoyo123 »

I would say it wasn’t abstract, although it’s difficult to put into words.

A problem is usually a specific, concrete thing.

Abstract nouns are more..well, abstract! e.g happiness, well being, beauty, peace, etc.

Does that make sense?
mm23292
Posts: 446
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:57 am

Re: Letts English - abstract noun?

Post by mm23292 »

Thank you Yo-yo. We did deliberate something like that. But my daughter’s argument was that ‘problems’ were not necessarily more concrete or specific than ‘happiness’ :? Which brought us on to discussing state of mind etc..
It does seem quite a high level of ambiguity for a 10yr old to deliberate an answer in 15 seconds! Thank you :D
yoyo123
Posts: 8099
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:32 pm
Location: East Kent

Re: Letts English - abstract noun?

Post by yoyo123 »

I agree!
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