INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 02,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 344
ABSTRACT NOUNS, THEIR TYPES AND USAGE CHARACTERISTICS (ON THE
EXAMPLE OF ENGLISH)
Abdurakhmanov Khudoynazar Abdiraimovich
Karshi Engineering and Economics Institute, Associate Professor
Email:
suhratabdurahmonov120@gmail.com
Annotation:
Abstract nouns are important in English as words denoting concepts related to
national culture and spirituality. In textbooks and manuals on English grammar in the Uzbek
language, abstract nouns are partially divided into special groups, but not systematized. The
results of practical work in this regard allow us to get to know the culture and nationality of the
English-speaking peoples better. The translation of abstract nouns used in literary texts serves to
solve the problem of perfection.
Key words:
abstract nouns, material nouns, grammar, types of nouns, typology, stylistic function,
material possession.
Annotatsiya:
Mavhum otlar ingliz tilida milliy madaniyat, ma’naviyatga bog‘liq bo‘lgan
tushunchalarni nomlab keluvchi so‘zlar sifatida muhim ahamiyatga ega. O‘zbek tilidagi ingliz
tili grammatikasiga oid darslik va qo‘llanmalarda mavhum otlar maxsus guruhlarga qisman
ajratilgan, lekin tizimlashtirilmagan. Bu boradagi amaliy ishlarning natijalari ingliz tilida
so‘zlashuvchi xalqlar madaniyati, milliyligi bilan yaqindan tanishish imkonini beradi.
Badiiy matnlarda qo‘llangan mavhum otlarning tarjimasi mukammalligi masalasining
yechimi bo‘lib xizmat qiladi.
Kalit so‘zlar:
mavhum otlar, moddiy otlar, grammatika, otlarning turlari, tipologiya, uslubiy
vazifa, moddiylikka egalik.
Аннотация:
Абстрактные существительные важны в английском языке как слова,
обозначающие понятия, связанные с национальной культурой и духовностью. В
учебниках и пособиях по английской грамматике в узбекском языке абстрактные
существительные частично разделены на специальные группы, но не систематизированы.
Результаты практической работы в этом плане позволяют ближе познакомиться с
культурой и национальностью англоязычных народов. Перевод абстрактных
существительных, используемых в художественных текстах, служит решению проблемы
совершенства.
Ключевые слова:
абстрактные существительные, вещественные существительные,
грамматика, типы существительных, типология, стилистическая функция, вещественное
владение.
Abstract nouns are important in English, as in other languages, as words that name
concepts related to national culture and spirituality. Words belonging to the noun class are
studied in manuals and textbooks as means of expressing actions expressed by verbs, place
names, etc., which are found in almost all sentences constructed in English speech. For
example, in the book “English Grammar” (M.Gapporov, R.Qosimova, 2019), one of the
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 02,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 345
many English grammar manuals created in the Uzbek language, 35 pages are allocated for
the noun class (pp. 107-142). Although considerable pages are allocated for studying the
noun class, this manual does not specifically plan to study abstract nouns, which make up
the bulk of nouns. Abstract nouns are only partially discussed in the comments on some
grammatical categories of the noun class. However, they are not divided into special types
and their grammatical possibilities are not explained. For example, the theoretical
information that abstract nouns can also be used as uncountable nouns is proven using a
speech fragment in which an abstract noun is used: “Concrete and abstract nouns are
uncountable nouns. They are used only in the singular:
Knowledge is power (Bilim - kuchdir)” [1:107-108].
In the given example, the nouns knowledge (bilim) and power (kuch) are presented
as abstract nouns that are not countable. Also, it is not possible to agree with the idea that
abstract nouns can sometimes become countable nouns in speech, in which case they
become specific: “Some abstract nouns become specific and become countable nouns:
He made a speech yesterday. His speeches are always interesting. (Kecha u nutq
so‘zladi. Uning nutqlari doim qiziq)” [1:108].
In the given example, the word speech (nutq) used in the first sentence is presented
as an uncountable noun, while the noun speeches (nutqlar) used in the second sentence is
claimed to have become countable nouns. However, the fact that abstract nouns take the
plural form does not make them specific nouns. After all, in the Uzbek language there are
also cases where abstract nouns are used in the plural form. But such nouns remain abstract
nouns and are considered to perform some stylistic functions in speech. The fact that the
noun in the second example, which is claimed to be becoming definite, also does not meet
the initial requirement of a definite noun - material possession, also proves our point. On the
contrary, cases of a definite noun becoming abstract by adopting some grammatical forms
occur in our language: “Abstract nouns are formed from adjectives and verbs, as well as
from the nouns themselves. They are almost never used in the plural. For example, suffixes
such as -lik, -gi (-g‘i, -ki, -qi), -g‘in (-kin, -qin), -ch, -lashtirish, -(i)sh form abstract nouns”
[2:253]. Abstract nouns such as childhood, friendship, and automation in the examples
given are formed from definite nouns.
In the section on “Nouns and Common Nouns” of “English Grammar”, it is stated
that “abstract nouns can express a sign, action, state, feeling, appearance, science, art, etc.”
[1:108] It is emphasized that such nouns can include words such as honesty, bravery, sleep,
darkness, love, work, winter, history, music, mathematics, etc., and are given as examples.
In our opinion, it would be appropriate to provide information about the exact group of
abstract nouns to which each of the listed abstract nouns belongs. It should be noted that the
above-mentioned abstract nouns are listed in the manual as a type of common nouns. The
list of “non-countable nouns” cited includes the following abstract nouns along with specific
nouns: advice, luck, information, chaos, damage, work, economics, news, permission,
progress, scenery, air, physics, politics[1:108-109]. Of course, the nouns listed are not
considered from the perspective of “possession/non-possession of materiality” but from the
perspective of “possession/non-possession of materiality.”
The main part of nouns used only in the singular is also made up of abstract nouns.
After all, an abstract noun, due to its lexical-semantic properties, is more suitable for use in
the singular. For example, love, friendship, etc. are presented as nouns used only in the
singular. The lexical-semantic properties of abstract nouns are so complex that they can be
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 02,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 346
found not only among nouns used only in the singular, but also among nouns used only in
the plural. For example, the noun proceeds is used only in the plural.
Abstract nouns are also referred to in the article topic given in English grammar
manuals and textbooks: “The indefinite article can also be used before abstract nouns. In
this case, some kind of quality or feeling is understood, and the indefinite article gives the
meaning of a kind of, such” [1:123]. The following sentence corresponds to this rule:
He showed a patience (a kind of patience, such patience) that I had never expected
of him. (U men kutmagan (bir) bardoshni namoyish qildi).
The word patience (bardosh, toqat) used in this sentence is an abstract noun and is
presented alongside the indefinite article.
Similarly, in English speech, abstract nouns can also be used with the definite
article. In this case, it should not be forgotten that the word “exact” is used in relation to the
article. After all, the word “exact” contradicts abstract nouns in some sources on Uzbek
grammar in terms of “possession of materiality”. Therefore, it is inappropriate to understand
this word as a determiner of the word “noun” in the above sentence. Below we can see a
sentence with an abstract noun used with a definite article:
The honour of our country is very dear to us (The honour of our country is very
dear to us).
The abstract noun of the word honour (obro‘) in this sentence did not prevent its use
with the definite article (the).
The “English Language Textbook” by N.A. Bonk, N.A. Lukyanova, L.G.
Pamukhina also includes information from the sources cited above. For example, in the
section “Nouns used only in the singular”, abstract nouns are presented as nouns used only
in the singular: “advice (maslahat), information (maʼlumot), knowledge (bilim), progress
(rivojlanish, muvaffaqiyat).
Abstract nouns ending in -ics (mathematics, physics) are also given as examples”
[3:471].
In general, in textbooks and manuals on English grammar in Uzbek, abstract nouns
are partially separated into special groups, but not systematized. The results of practical
work in this area allow us to get acquainted with the culture and nationality of English-
speaking peoples. The solution to the problem of the perfection of the translation of abstract
nouns used in literary texts.
References:
1. Gapporov M., Kasimova R., English grammar, - Tashkent: Turon-Iqbal. 2019. - 336 p.
2. Tursunov U., Mukhtorov A., Rahmatullayev Sh., Modern Uzbek literary language, -
Tashkent: Uzbekistan. 1992. - 399 p.
3. Bonk N.A., Lukyanova N.A., Pamukhina L.G., Uchebnik angliyskogo yazyka, chast 2, -
Bishkek: Turkestan. 1997. - S.471. (- 511 p.)
