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Countable nouns and uncountable nouns
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In this lesson, you will learn how to use countable and uncountable nouns. By the end of this chapter, you will know how to use singular and plural countable as well as uncountable nouns, using the correct structures in the appropriate context.
Lesson Introduction
章节 1
Students find
Countable nouns straightforward
Countable nouns
|
Key Points |
|
Countable nouns refer to people, places, objects, or ideas
that can be counted. They have singular and plural
forms.
Uncountable nouns refer to substances, abstract ideas,
activities, or collections that are not normally counted
individually. They do not usually have a plural form,
cannot follow “a” or “an,” and take a singular verb. |
Countable nouns are used for things that can be counted, using numbers, i. e. 2 things, 3 things, 4 things. Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an".
Below are quantifiers that can be used with countable nouns:
- a few
- a number of
- a great number of
- a large number of
- several
- some
- any
- a lot of
- lots of
- plenty of
- no
- not any
- none
Students find uncountable nouns tricky
Uncountable Nouns
Because an uncountable noun can never have a plural suffix "-s" and , we cannot use the article "a/an" with these nouns. In addition, uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. 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, a handful of, a pinch of, a piece of.
Below are quantifiers that can be used with uncountable nouns:
- a little
- a bit of
- a great deal of
- a large amount of
- some
- any
- a lot of
- lots of
- plenty of
- no
- not any
- none
Typically, uncountable nouns are:
- - materials and substances (water, rice, cement, gold, milk)
- - abstract concepts (advice, information, progress, news, luck, fun, work, chaos, motivation)
- - Names for groups or collections of things (furniture, equipment, rubbish, luggage)
- - natural phenomena (sunshine, snow, rain, weather)
- - states of being (sleep, stress, childhood)
- - feelings (anger, happiness, enthusiasm, courage)
- - Other common uncountable nouns include: machinery, research, baggage, homework, knowledge, money, permission, traffic, travel.
Below is a list of common uncountable nouns. Learn them because students commonly mistake them for countable nouns.
|
amusement accommodation advertising aid advice assistance baggage business childhood clothing content damage data economics education electricity employment entertainment |
equipment evidence furniture genetics harm health homework housework importance information knowledge jewelery labor leisure literature litter management |
mathematics machinery music nature news paper patience pollution poverty room production progress publicity quality quantity research |
sport strength stress time trade traffic transportation travel understanding unemployment violence warmth wealth wildlife work youth |
The more examples you study, the
better you will understand countable vs uncountable nouns.
Uncountable Noun Example Sentences
We recommend you go through the following example sentences carefully. Remember uncountable nouns use singular verbs, never use a plural form, and are not preceded with the articles "a" and "an".
- The study finds little evidence of overt discrimination
- Hotel accommodation is included in the price of your holiday.
- Ask your teacher for advice on how to prepare for the exam.
- Cigarette advertising has been banned.
- I have a career in advertising.
- The company provides advice and assistance in finding work.
- Not enough aid is given to third world countries
- We loaded our baggage into the car.
- When he left school, he went into business with his brother.
- Workers at the factory wear protective clothing.
- The cost of household goods and clothing fell this month.
- The earthquake caused damage to the property estimated at $6 million.
- This data was collected from 69 countries.
- My brother majored in economics.
- The electricity is off.
- Graduates are finding it more and more difficult to find employment.
- There will be live entertainment at the party.
- It was typical family entertainment.
- A lot of equipment is required to play hockey safely.
- We need to buy some new furniture.
- Students don’t seem to have much homework these days.
- Our information is that the police will make an arrest shortly.
- I like wearing jewelery.
- The study of genetics confirms that we are all very closely related biologically.
- The drugs he was prescribed did him more harm than good.
- Employers are using immigrants as cheap labor.
- Most blue-collar jobs are considered manual labor.
- Let's have lunch so we can talk at leisure.
- These days we have more money and more leisure to enjoy it.
- The bumblebee has developed complex machinery for collecting pollen.
- That's great news.
- Heavy traffic flow is a major source of noise pollution in urban areas.
- If we can reduce the cost of production, we can sell our products at cheaper prices.
- There has been a great deal of publicity surrounding his disappearance.
- She works in publicity.
- Products of high quality are usually more expensive than products of low quality.
- Recent research on deaf children has produced some interesting findings about their speech.
- He has carried out extensive research on renewable energy sources.
- Research on animals has led to some important medical advances.
- Do you have room for a computer on your desk?
- The animals huddled together for warmth.
- The increasing use of pesticides poses a real threat to the wildlife of the area.
- There is too much violence on TV
- We did an hour of work yesterday.
- He had been a talented musician in his youth.
- I didn't make much progress today.
Alright!
Are you ready to begin this section's exercise?
Yes. I am ready to start the exercise.
I'm confident! I will skip the exercise, this time.
章节 2
Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable.
Let's look at some nouns which can be countable and uncountable.
Here are some nouns which can be countable and uncountable.
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a particular company or other commercial organisation | the activity of making, buying or selling things for money |
| Sentence | My friend wants me to invest in a small business he's starting. | It is my pleasure to do business with you. |
currency
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | the monetary unit of a particular country | the banknotes and coins used in a country |
| Sentence | He made a lot of money from buying and selling foreign currencies. | You'll need enough local currency to pay for a taxi from the airport. |
distribution
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | the geographic range of a species, a language, a disease, etc. |
1. the transportation and delivery of goods to shops and
buyers 2. the act of giving or delivering something to a number of people |
| Sentence | This map shows the distributions of endangered species in Australia. | Two thousand copies of the booklet have been printed and are available for distribution. |
Here are some nouns which can be countable and uncountable.
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a particular type or category of food | things that people or animals eat |
| Sentence | Most processed foods contain artificial flavorings and colorings. | If you want to lose weight, you should eat less food. |
gas
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a particular type of gas | any substance like air that's neither solid nor liquid |
| Sentence | Cows emit methane, one of the many gases that cause global warming. | A cow emits around 200 litres of gas a day by burping |
fuel
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a particular kind of fuel | something that's burned for heat or power, like wood, oil, gas, etc. |
| Sentence |
One day we'll run out of fossil fuels like oil, coal and
natural gas. A tax on carbon-producing fuels such as coal and oil was proposed. |
1. Make sure you don’t run out of fuel. 2. The power plant burns sugar cane as fuel. |
tea
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | one cup of tea, or a particular type of tea | a drink made by adding boiling water to dried plant parts |
| Sentence | We'll have two teas and a coffee, please | Would you like tea or coffee with your breakfast? |
Drinks (coffee, water, orange juice) are usually uncountable. But if
we are thinking of a cup or a glass, we can say (in a restaurant, for
example):
Two teas and one coffee please.
Here are some nouns which can be countable and uncountable.
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a type of skilled work, or a particular type of business | the buying and selling of goods and services |
| Sentence | James wants to learn a trade like plumbing. | International trade is very important for a country's economic success. |
content
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition |
1. The things that are contained in something (usually in
plural form) 2. the subject matter of a book, speech, programme, etc. |
the information or other material contained on a website or other digital media |
| Sentence |
1. She emptied the contents of her bag onto the floor 2. The content of the course depends on what the students would like to study. |
Record companies have had to transform themselves into digital content providers. |
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition |
1. a small individual fact or item; a less important fact or
item 2. information about something |
the small facts or features of something, when you consider them all together |
| Sentence |
Tell me the main points now; leave the details till later. Further details and booking forms are available on request. |
The research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to
detail. This issue will be discussed in more detail in the next chapter. |
material
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition |
1. a substance that things can be made from 2. things that are needed in order to do a particular activity |
information or ideas used in books, etc. |
| Sentence |
Many household cleaning materials are highly toxic. This website has teaching materials for mathematics. |
She's collecting material for her latest novel. |
Here are some nouns which can be countable and uncountable.
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a film, play, television or radio programme | the process of making or growing things |
| Sentence | Many people are employed in movie and TV productions in our city. | If we can reduce the cost of production, we can sell our products at cheaper prices. |
quality
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a particular feature of someone or something | the standard of something, or how good it is |
| Sentence | My best qualities are kindness and willingness to help other people. | Products of high quality are usually more expensive than products of low quality. |
quantity
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | an amount or a number of something or a large amount or number of something | the measurement of something by saying how much of it there is |
| Sentence | Groundwater from aquifers is used in large quantities for industry, agriculture, and energy production. | Economists mention both quality and quantity when they talk about the cost of production. |
Here are some nouns which can be countable and uncountable.
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a newspaper | a material that's used for writing on, printing on, or wrapping things in |
| Sentence | Could you get me a paper while you're at the store, please? | We need to put some paper in the printer. |
emission
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | a gas or other substance that is sent into the air: | the act of sending out light, heat, gas etc |
| Sentence | We must take action to cut vehicle emissions. | One of the few pros of nuclear power is the relatively low emission of carbon dioxide, one of the major causes of global warming. |
time
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | duration as measured by clocks | a particular occasion or time when something happened |
| Sentence | We had a great time at the party. | I spend too much time working, and not enough time with my family. |
Alright!
Are you ready to begin this section's exercise?
Yes. I am ready to start the exercise.
I'm confident! I will skip the exercise, this time.
章节 3
Let's look at how nouns end with suffixes.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| house | houses |
| cat | cats |
The plural form of nouns ending in -s, -x,-z,-ch,-sh, are formed by adding the suffix "-es".
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| bus | buses |
| box | boxes |
For singular nouns ending with a -y preceded by a consonant, the plural is formed by dropping the -y and adding the suffix "-ies".
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| city | cities |
| baby | babies |
Let's look at some irregular plural nouns.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| woman | women |
| man | men |
| child | children |
| tooth | teeth |
| foot | feet |
| person | people |
| leaf | leaves |
| mouse | mice |
| goose | geese |
| half | halves |
| knife | knives |
| wife | wives |
| life | lives |
| potato | potatoes |
| tomato | tomatoes |
| cactus | cacti |
| fungus | fungi |
| nucleus | nuclei |
| analysis | analyses |
| diagnosis | diagnoses |
| oasis | oases |
| thesis | theses |
| crisis | crises |
| phenomenon | phenomena |
| criterion | criteria |
| datum | data |
Alright!
Are you ready to begin this section's exercise?
Yes. I am ready to start the exercise.
I'm confident! I will skip the exercise, this time.
章节 4
Let's look at nouns having the same form in the singular and the
plural.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| sheep | sheep |
| fish | fish |
| deer | deer |
| species | species |
Let's look at nouns always having a plural form.
| Plural nouns used with a singular verb | Sentence |
|---|---|
| news | The news is at 6. 30 p. m. |
| athletics | Athletics is good for college students. |
| linguistics | Linguistics is the study of language. |
Some nouns have a fixed plural form and take a plural verb.
| Plural noun with plural verb | Sentence |
|---|---|
| trousers | My trousers are too tight. |
| jeans | Her jeans are blue. |
| glasses | Those glasses are his. |
Some nouns are usually used in plural form.
| noun usually used in plural form | Sentence |
|---|---|
| finding | Our recent findings are in line with those of an earlier study. |
Let's look at nouns having different meanings in the singular and
the plural.
| custom | customs | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | something that is done by people in a particular society because it is traditional | the place where your bags are checked for illegal goods when you go into a country |
| Sentence | The custom of naming women after flowers is becoming less common. | She was stopped at customs and questioned. |
| manner | manners | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | the way in which someone behaves towards or talks to other people: | polite ways of behaving in social situations |
| Sentence | She has a calm relaxed manner. | It's bad manners to talk with your mouth full |
| cloth | clothes | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition |
1. (countable) a piece of cloth, often used for a special
purpose, especially cleaning things or covering a table 2. (uncountable) material made by weaving or knitting cotton, wool, silk, etc. |
the things that people wear to cover their body or keep warm. |
| Sentence |
Wipe the table with a damp cloth. This jacket is made from woollen cloth |
I enjoy shopping for new clothes. |
Finally, we are going to look at the word "people".
People were dancing in the streets.
There were 15 people in the elevator.
The Portuguese people have chosen a new president.
There were 15 people in the elevator.
The Portuguese people have chosen a new president.
When the noun people is used to refer to ALL the men, women, and children of a particular tribe, nation, country or ethnic group, it is a countable noun. The singular form is "people". The plural form is "peoples".
The Japanese people are an industrious people.
The English people are a great people.
The exact date of the arrival of indigenous peoples in Canada is unknown, but archaeological discoveries have revealed that eastern Canada has been inhabited for nearly 12, 000 years
The English people are a great people.
The exact date of the arrival of indigenous peoples in Canada is unknown, but archaeological discoveries have revealed that eastern Canada has been inhabited for nearly 12, 000 years
Alright!
Are you ready to begin this section's exercise?
Yes. I am ready to start the exercise.
I'm confident! I will skip the exercise, this time.
Review Exercise (1/18)
Complete the multiple choice below
Since ancient times, humans have used diamonds as ____ to decorate valuable ornaments or other special object such as rings or necklaces.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((B))”。
clear 不太对。((B)) 才是正确答案。
Jewelry is used for both the singular and plural. However, whether it’s "a piece of jewelry" or "pieces of jewelry" the number of the verb used is always singular i.e. "Your jewelry goes well with your dress", not "go". The number of "pieces" of jewelry can be counted, but jewelry itself is uncountable.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
The history of ______ is closely related to that of human beings.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((B))”。
clear 不太对。((B)) 才是正确答案。
Like jewelry, furniture refers to a group of items and is used for both the singular and plural. Furniture, as a category of items, cannot be counted. Again, the number of "pieces of" furniture can be counted, but furniture is uncountable.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
The data derived from this project ___ increased our knowledge of how genes work.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word data here is uncountable, so the answer is A. While data is used for both the singular and plural, data itself cannot be counted as it refers to a group of facts and figures. Always use the singular version of the verb i.e. "The data was collected", not "were".
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Soaps like 'Neighbours' are pure _____.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
Entertainment is an uncountable noun as one cannot count the number of "entertainments" (not a word). Types of entertainment, such as games and shows can be counted, however. Again, use the singular verb for entertainment i.e. "Entertainment is", not "entertainment are". The plural form of the verb "to be" is used in this example because the subject ("Soaps") is plural.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Health authorities estimate that as many as 60 ____ of all patients in America suffer from psychological stress.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((B))”。
clear 不太对。((B)) 才是正确答案。
The word percent in this sentence is uncountable. "Percent" really means the number "per hundred", which makes it clear why the singular is used. The number of the verb used depends on the object and whether it is singular or plural. In this case, "patients" is plural so the plural verb "suffer", not "suffers", is used.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Long exposure to intensive _______ may result in a wide variety of skin diseases.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word sunlight is uncountable as there cannot be more than one "sunlight". The singular form of the verb is always used, i.e. "The sunlight is bright", not "are".
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
We didn't see ___ on the trip.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word "wildlife" refers to a category of living objects, rather than a specific "thing", so it cannot be counted. The word "much" modifies uncountable nouns, whereas "many" modifies countable nouns. "Much" is most often used in negative sentences and questions.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Outlining is a useful approach to the organization of _____ in English composition.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word "knowledge" is not a countable noun and there is no such word as "knowledges", thus the answer is A.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
_______ a lot of untrue news spread on the stock exchange market during inflation or economic depression.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((B))”。
clear 不太对。((B)) 才是正确答案。
The word "news" is an uncountable noun that only exists in the singular, and refers to new information, which is also an uncountable noun. The singular form of the verb is always uesd. Thus, the answer is B.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Measles ___ extremely contagious, and each year it kills thousands of children in developing countries.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word "Measles" refers to an infection caused by the Measles virus and is not countable. Since it is the name of a virus, it is always in what appears to be the plural form.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
First aid experts indicate that diving deep in the underground rock caves need a set of very special ________.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((B))”。
clear 不太对。((B)) 才是正确答案。
The word "equipment" is uncountable and does not exist in the plural form. You can have a "set of equipment", "a lot of equipment", or "more equipment", which refers to multiple objects, but you cannot have "six equipments" or "six equipment".
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Before the invention of modern automobiles, the horse-drawn carriage was the primary ____ of private transportation.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word "means" is uncountable. There are several uses of this word, and in this case it is being used as a noun that is synonymous with "mode" or "method". Though it appears to be plural, it is singular as this form of the word has a singular meaning that cannot be counted. The singular and plural form of a verb can be used, but this noun does not change regardless, i.e. "There is only one means of transportation", versus "There are several means of transportation".
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Although commonly included in botany curricula and textbooks, _______ more closely related to animals than to plants.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
"Fungi" is the plural form of "fungus" and it is used here because the sentence is referring to a group of organisms classified as "fungi", rather than a specific "fungus", and it cannot be counted.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
More corn ______ in the United States than in any other country.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The noun "corn" is uncountable. The word "corn" is used for both the singular and plural; there is no such word as "corns" when referring to the food. Thus, the singular form of the verb is used, i.e. "is".
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
One of the most common diseases affecting children is _______.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
"Tooth decay" refers to a single type of dental damage and it cannot be counted. Similar to "Measles", it is used singularly as it refers to a process that causes damage.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
There __________ for the federal government to collect taxes and then to make grants to aid local governments.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((B))”。
clear 不太对。((B)) 才是正确答案。
The word "tendency" is a countable noun with a singular and plural form. The singular version, "an increasing tendency" is used here because the object, "the federal government", is singular, and there is only one tendency being noticed. The word "tendency" here refers to an overall "trend", or "pattern". Individuals can have "a tendency" to be a certain way, or they can have "many tendencies".
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
Groundwater from aquifers ____ used in large _____ for industry, agriculture, and energy production.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((C))”。
clear 不太对。((C)) 才是正确答案。
The answer is C because the noun "quantities" is used here as a countable noun as it refers to a number or amount of something.
重新测验
Complete the multiple choice below
The Chinese are ______.
提交答案
done 答对了！正确答案是“((A))”。
clear 不太对。((A)) 才是正确答案。
The word "people" is always plural, but when it refers to a collective group of persons, it can be used in the singular or plural depending on if it is a single group of people, or a many groups of people. The word "people" is a countable noun, and here it refers to one group of people, indicated by the indefinite article "a". Though the noun is singular, the verb is used in its plural form, which is not unusual in these cases.
重新测验
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