Count Nouns
Noncount Nouns
Research in the English Language
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When should you do research in English language? If any English-language questions have not be written, researched, or answered, English language research must go ahead. If you researched on the Internet up to February 14, 2015, the following questions were not available: Count Nouns and Noncount Nouns What are examples of count nouns and noncount nouns? Why does knowing the difference between count and noncount nouns necessary? How do you use count and noncount nouns with adjectives? A singular count noun must have a determiner. What are examples of determiners? What class of word or part of speech do determiners belong to? What are examples of sentences using determiners? What are the categories of noncount nouns? What is a count noun and what is a noncount noun? What are examples of quantifiers before noncount nouns? What are examples of sentences using count nouns and noncount nouns? Do you think any other questions need to be added? |
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Count Nouns and Noncount Nouns
What are examples of count nouns and noncount nouns? Count Nouns assignment award bagel book bottle candidate chair finger hurricane remark smile table word Countable nouns Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an". If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun. Singular Plural one dog two dogs one horse two horses one man two men one idea two ideas one shop two shops Examples She has three dogs. I own a house. I would like two books please. How many friends do you have? Noncount Nouns air anger beauty courage education evidence fear flour furniture happiness homework information knowledge leisure love money progress research rice safety sugar tea warmth water weather Why does knowing the difference between count and noncount nouns necessary? Knowing the difference between count and noncount nouns will help you do the following: Use the noun plural ending -s correctly Use the appropriate type of article: definite (the) or indefinite (a or an) Use words that express quantities, such as little, much, . . . A singular count noun must have a determiner. What are examples of determiners? Types of Determiners Definite article: the Indefinite articles: a, an Demonstratives: this, that, these, those Pronouns and possessive determiners: my, your, his, her, its, our, their Quantifiers: a few, a little, much, many, a lot of, most, some, any, enough Numbers: one, ten, thirty Distributives: all, both, half, either, neither, each, every Difference words: other, another Pre-determiners: such, what, rather, quite Interrogatives: what, which, whose (possessive interrogative determiner) What class of word or part of speech do determiners belong to? Most determiners have been traditionally classed with adjectives, and this still occurs. For example, demonstrative and possessive determiners are sometimes described as demonstrative adjectives and possessive adjectives, respectively. Some classify determiners as a separate entity within adjectives. What is a count noun and what is a noncount noun? Countable nouns Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an". If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun.
Examples
Uncountable nounsUncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers. They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.). Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form. Examples
We cannot use a/an with these nouns. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day of. If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?" Examples
Tricky spotsSome nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are: Examples
Be careful with the noun hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural. It can be countable only when referring to individual hairs. Examples
How do you use count and noncount nouns with adjectives? Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable NounsThe Basic Rules: Count and Noncount NounsA count noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s." For example, "cat—cats," "season—seasons," "student—students." A noncount noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food." Usually, you can't say, "He had many moneys." Count and Noncount Nouns with AdjectivesMost of the time, this doesn't matter with adjectives. For example, you can say, "The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives, such as "some/any," "much/many," and "little/few." Some/Any: Some and any countable and uncountable nouns. Much/Many: Much modifies only uncountable nouns. Many modifies only countable nouns. Little/Few: Little modifies only uncountable nouns. Few modifies only countable nouns. Other basic rulesA lot of/lots of: A lot of/lots of are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean much and with countable nouns when they mean many. A little bit of:A little bit of is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun. Enough: Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. Plenty of: Plenty of modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. No: No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. What are the categories of noncount nouns? The chart below illustrates the different types of noncount nouns. Remember that these categories include other nouns that are count. For example, lightning, a natural event [one of the categories], is noncount, but hurricane, a different natural event, is a count noun. When you don't know what type of noun you have, consult a dictionary that provides such information.
Know how to indicate number with noncount nouns. Thunder, a noncount noun, cannot have an s added at the end. You can, however, lie awake in bed counting the number of times you hear thunder boom during a storm. When you want to indicate number with a noncount word, you have two options. First, you can put of in front of the noncount word—for example, of thunder—and then attach the resulting prepositional phrase to an appropriate count word. Kristina heard seven claps of thunder. A second option is to make the noncount noun an adjective that you place before a count noun. Then you could write a sentence like this: Thunderheads filled the sky. Here are some more examples:
Understand that some nouns are both noncount and count. Sometimes a word that means one thing as a noncount noun has a slightly different meaning if it also has a countable version. Remember, then, that the classifications count and noncount are not absolute. Time is a good example. When you use this word to mean the unceasing flow of experience that includes past, present, and future, with no distinct beginning or end, then time is a noncount noun. Read this example: Time dragged as Simon sat through yet another boring chick flick with his girlfriend Roseanne. Time = noncount because it has no specific beginning and, for poor Simon, no foreseeable end. When time refers to a specific experience which starts at a certain moment and ends after a number of countable units [minutes, hours, days, etc.], then the noun is count. Here is an example: On his last to Disney World, Joe rode Space Mountain twenty-seven times. Times = count because a ride on Space Mountain is a measurable unit of experience, one that you can clock with a stopwatch. What are examples of sentences using determiners? Definite article : the Indefinite articles : a, an Demonstratives: this, that, these, those Pronouns and possessive determiners : my, your, his, her, its, our, their Quantifiers : a few, a little, much, many, a lot of, most, some, any, enough Numbers : one, ten, thirty Distributives : all, both, half, either, neither, each, every Difference words : other, another Pre-determiners : such, what, rather, quite Here are further guidelines. Here are further guidelines. What are examples of quantifiers before noncount nouns? COUNT AND NON-COUNT NOUNS
A count noun is something we can count. It has a singular form and a plural form. ex: one book, three books; a leg, two legs; an apple, six apples; N.B. A singular count noun must have a Determiner .
A non-count noun is something we don’t count. It has no plural form. We use quantifiers before non-count nouns: ex: fruit, some fruit; bread, a slice of bread; homework; a lot of homework; information, a little information
The following are non-count nouns:
Abstract nouns:
Groups with individual parts
Things with no definite form:
Things that have tiny parts too small to count
Natural phenomena
Ailments
Academic subjects
Languages
________, Spanish, _______, etc.
Words that can be count and non-count
Count Nouns vs. Non-Count Nouns Count nouns Can be counted as one or more. pen, computer, bottle, spoon, desk, cup, television, chair, shoe, finger, flower, camera, stick, balloon, book, table, comb, etc. Take an s to form the plural. pens, computers, bottles, spoons, desks, cups, televisions, chairs, shoes, fingers, flowers, cameras, sticks, balloons, books, tables, combs, etc. Work with expressions such as (a few, few, many, some, every, each, these, and the number of). a few pens, a few computers, many bottles, some spoons, every desk, each cup, these televisions, the number of chairs, a few shoes, a few fingers, many flowers, some cameras, every stick, each balloon, these books, the number of tables, many combs, etc. Work with appropriate articles (a, an, or the). a pen, the computer, a bottle, the spoon, a desk, the cup, a television, the chair, a shoe, the finger, a flower, the camera, a stick, the balloon, a book, the table, a comb, etc. Do NOT work with much (for example, you would never say much pens or much computers). Non-count nouns Cannot be counted. They usually express a group or a type. water, wood, ice, air, oxygen, English, Spanish, traffic, furniture, milk, wine, sugar, rice, meat, flour, soccer, sunshine, etc. Generally cannot be pluralized. Work both with and without an article (a, an, or the), depending on the context of the sentence. Sugar is sweet. The sunshine is beautiful. I drink milk. He eats rice. We watch soccer together. The wood is burning. Work with expressions such as (some, any, enough, this, that, and much). We ate some rice and milk. I hope to see some sunshine today. This meat is good. She does not speak much Spanish. Do you see any traffic on the road? That wine is very old. Do NOT work with expressions such as (these, those, every, each, either, or neither). [Quiz] Choose all of the non-count nouns in the following list: pen, water, wind, milk, computer, furniture, cup, rice, box, watch, potato, wood, wine, student View Answers wind, milk, furniture, rice, wood, wine, water Count nouns can be pluralized; noncount nouns cannot. Count and Noncount Nouns: Basic RulesAdjectives with Countable and Uncountable NounsThe Basic Rules: Count and Noncount NounsA count noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s." For example, "cat—cats," "season—seasons," "student—students." A noncount noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food." Usually, you can't say, "He had many moneys." Count and Noncount Nouns with AdjectivesMost of the time, this doesn't matter with adjectives. For example, you can say, "The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives, such as "some/any," "much/many," and "little/few." Some/Any: Some and any countable and uncountable nouns.
Much/Many: Much modifies only uncountable nouns. Many modifies only countable nouns.
Little/Few: Little modifies only uncountable nouns.
Few modifies only countable nouns.
Other basic rulesA lot of/lots of: A lot of/lots of are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean much and with countable nouns when they mean many.
A little bit of:A little bit of is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.
Enough: Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.
Plenty of: Plenty of modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.
No: No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.
Count and Noncount Nouns (with Plurals, Articles, and Quantity Words)Section 1: Definition of Count and Noncount nounsCount or Noncount?The main difference between count and noncount nouns is whether you can count the things they refer to or not. Count nouns refer to things that exist as separate and distinct individual units. They usually refer to what can be perceived by the senses. Examples:
Example sentences:I stepped in a puddle. (How many puddles did you step in? Just one.) I drank a glass of milk. (Glasses of milk can be counted) I saw an apple tree. (Apple trees can be counted) Noncount nouns refer to things that can't be counted because they are thought of as wholes that can't be cut into parts. They often refer to abstractions and occasionally have a collective meaning (for example, furniture). Examples:
Example sentences:I dove into the water. (How many waters did you dive into? The question doesn't make any sense; therefore water is noncountable.) I saw the milk spill. (How many milks? Milk cannot be counted.) I admired the foliage. (How many foliages? Foliage cannot be counted.) Think of the batter from which a cake is made. Before you put the batter into the oven, it can't be divided into parts because it's a thick liquid. Once it has been baked, it becomes solid enough to be cut into pieces. Noncount nouns are like cake batter; count nouns are like pieces of cake Note: Since the issue is complicated and almost no rule is absolute, there will be exceptions to the above definitions; however, we can show some general patterns. Bear in mind that what is countable in another language may not be countable in English, and vice versa. Section 2: Uses of Count and Noncount NounsPluralizingThe Rule From the definitions of mass and count given above you may have already guessed the rule for pluralizing them:
This rule works for all of the nouns in the lists of examples in the first section. Check this rule for yourself before reading further. An Exception to the Rule For a number of nouns, the rule needs slight revision. Certain nouns in English belong to both classes: they have both a noncount and a count meaning. Normally the noncount meaning is abstract and general and the count meaning concrete and specific. Compare: Count
Noncount
Note: A special case of the use of noncount nouns in a count sense has to do with classification. Sometimes a usually noncount noun can be understood as one item separate and distinct from other items of the same category. The nouns that function in this way often denote foods and beverages: food(s), drink(s), wine(s), bread(s), coffee(s), fruit(s), and so on. Examples:
A recent entry into this class is homework, which at least among some students has the count plural homeworks in addition to its noncount use. (For example, "You're missing three of the homeworks from the first part of the course.") Because this usage is not firmly established and is likely to be considered nonstandard, you should check with your instructor before using it in writing. A Revision of the Rule These exceptions require that the rule for pluralizing be revised: count nouns and nouns used in a count sense pluralize; noncount nouns and nouns used in a noncount sense do not. The two possibilities in each half of the rule require different choices. If you know that a particular noun must be either count or noncount and cannot be both, you need to decide only if it is possible to pluralize the noun. On the other hand, if you know that a particular noun may be used in either a count or noncount sense, then you need to decide whether it is appropriate to pluralize. To summarize, we may put the rule in a chart, like this:
ArticlesNouns and Articles Choosing which article to use (if any) with a noun is a complex matter because the range of choices depends on whether the noun in question is 1) count or noncount and 2) singular or plural. Both count nouns (whether singular or plural) and noncount nouns take articles. Combinations of Nouns and Articles The following chart shows which articles go with which kinds of nouns. Notice that this, that, these, and those have been included because, like the, they mark the noun that they modify as definite, which means that the noun refers 1) to a unique individual or 2) to some person, event, or object known to both the writer and reader from their general knowledge or from what has been previously mentioned in a piece of writing.
Examples: Count Singular: Count Plural: Noncount: Quantity TermsThe following chart shows which quantity words go with which kinds of nouns. Note that quantity words can be used in combinations such as many more, many fewer, much more, and much less, any of which can be preceded by how to form questions or relative clauses. Negatives like not and no can also be applied to many of these terms.
Examples: Count Singular: Count Plural: Noncount: Count and Noncount Nouns (with Articles and Adjectives)Countable NounsCountable nouns refer to things that we can count. Such nouns can take either singular or plural form. Concrete nouns may be countable. There are a dozen flowers in the vase. Collective nouns are countable. She attended three classes today. Some proper nouns are countable. There are many Greeks living in New York. Uncountable NounsUncountable nouns refer to things that we cannot count. Such nouns take only singular form. Abstract nouns are uncountable. The price of freedom is constant vigilance. Some concrete nouns are uncountable (when understood in their undivided sense). The price of oil has stabilized recently. While uncountable nouns do not generally take a plural form, sometimes they may be pluralized when used in a countable sense. The difference between the uncountable and countable meanings of nouns that are used in either sense can be seen in the following chart:
Using Articles with Countable and Uncountable NounsA countable noun always takes either the indefinite (a, an) or definite (the) article when it is singular. When plural, it takes the definite article if it refers to a definite, specific group and no article if it is used in a general sense. The guest of honor arrived late. Uncountable nouns never take the indefinite article (a or an), but they do take singular verbs. The is sometimes used with uncountable nouns in the same way it is used with plural countable nouns, that is, to refer to a specific object, group, or idea. Information is a precious commodity in our computerized world. Categories of Uncountable Nouns
Quantity Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable NounsSome, Any Both words modify either countable or uncountable nouns. There are some cookies in the jar. (countable) Much, Many Much modifies only uncountable nouns. How much money will we need? Many modifies only countable nouns. How many children do you have? A lot of, Lots of These words are informal substitutes for much and many. Lots of effort will be required to solve this problem. (uncountable) Little, Quite a little, Few, Quite a few Little and quite a littlemodify only uncountable nouns. We had a little ice cream after dinner. Few and quite a few modify only countable nouns. A few doctors from the hospital play on the softball team. A little bit of, Quite a bit of These informal phrases usually precede uncountable nouns. Quite a bit of has the same meaning as quite a little and is used more commonly. There's a little bit of pepper in the soup. (meaning "a small amount") Enough This word modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. I don't have enough potatoes to make the soup. Plenty of This term modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. There are plenty of mountains in Switzerland. No This word modifies both countable and uncountable nouns. There were no squirrels in the park today. COUNT AND NON-COUNT NOUNS
A count noun is something we can count. It has a singular form and a plural form. ex: one book, three books; a leg, two legs; an apple, six apples; N.B. A singular count noun must have a Determiner .
A non-count noun is something we don’t count. It has no plural form. We use quantifiers before non-count nouns: ex: fruit, some fruit; bread, a slice of bread; homework; a lot of homework; information, a little information
The following are non-count nouns:
Abstract nouns:
Groups with individual parts
Things with no definite form:
Things that have tiny parts too small to count
Natural phenomena
Ailments
Academic subjects
Languages
______, Spanish, _______, etc.
Words that can be count and non-count
What are examples of sentences using count nouns and noncount nouns? Count/Noncount Nouns Test Evaluation 1.__________ students are in the class? How many of How many Correct: How many 2. You don't have __________ about the Internet. much knowledge many knowledge Correct: much knowledge 3. Can you give me __________ information? a little a few Correct: a little 4. Wow, what a large __________ of money! number amount Correct: amount 5. __________ time do you have? How many How much Correct: How much 6. I need _______ things for my new house. a few a little Correct: a few 7. I like to take __________ photos. much many Correct: many 8. Asif Qureshi wants to have __________ children. much many Correct: many Do you think any other questions need to be added? |
