4 · 40 words
Abstract nouns for talking about things
Conditions, aspects, purposes, effects and standards: the nouns of explaining and comparing.
These nouns turn up whenever something is explained, compared or judged. Several of them sit in fixed frames worth learning whole: 在 … 方面, “as far as … is concerned”; 起作用, to have an effect; 有前途, to have a future. English often uses one word where Chinese distinguishes two: “situation” is 情况 or 状况, “effect” is 作用 or 效果.
The words
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This list belongs to Thinking and arguing — eight lists and 320 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.