Concrete nouns: bit and large
Big and large are used mostly with concrete nouns(the names of things you can see, touch etc.). Big is most common in an informal style.
- Get your big feet off my flowers.
- It was a large house, situated near the river.
Abstract nouns: great
Great is used mostly with abstract nouns(things you can’t see, touch etc.).
- You’ve made a great mistake.
- I have great respect for her ideas.
Big with countable abstract nouns:
Big can be used with countable abstract nouns in an informal style. Large is not normally used with abstract nouns.
- You’ve made a big mistake. (NOT a large mistake…)
Big is not used with uncountable abstract nouns (except in a few fixed expressions like big business, big trouble).
- His work shows great intelligence. (NOT … big intelligence)
Uncountable concrete nouns
With uncountable concrete nouns, none of these three words is usual.
- You have got a lot of luggage! (NOT … big/large/great luggage.)
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