Count and Non-Count Nouns. A Simple
Explanation.
Count
Nouns
What is a count noun?
Count nouns can be separated into individual units and
counted. They usually have both a singular and a plural form. Most
English nouns are count nouns.
- one phone, two phones
- one dog, two dogs
- one shirt, two shirts
However, a few countable nouns only have a plural form
in English. Here are a few examples:
- clothes
- pants
- jeans
- shorts
- pajamas
These are often used with some sort of quantifier, or
quantity word, to show how they are counted (e.g., "a pair of" pants,
"two pairs of" pants, "some" pants).
English Grammar and 11 Guidlines for Making it More Understandable.
https://englishforyoutheteachersvoice.blogspot.com/2020/07/understanding-grammar-11-key-rules-for.html
Making the Rules of Grammar Easy to Understand
https://englishforyoutheteachersvoice.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-essential-rules-of-english-grammar.html
How are count nouns made plural?
Count nouns are usually made plural by adding an
"-s" or an "-es."
- one boy, two boys
- one folder, two folders
- one box, two boxes
- one church, two churches
If the noun ends in "-y," change the
"-y" to "-ies" to make it plural.
- one family, two families
- one party, two parties
However, if a vowel proceeds the "-y," add
just an "-s" to make it plural.
- one toy, two toys
- one donkey, two donkeys
If the noun ends in "-o," add
"-es" to make it plural.
- one potato, two potatoes
- one tomato, two tomatoes
If the noun ends in "-f" or "-fe,"
change the "-f" to a "-v" and add "-es."
- one thief, two thieves
- one hoof, two hooves
Some count nouns have irregular plural forms. Many of
these forms come from earlier forms of English.
- one foot, two feet
- one person, two people
- one tooth, two teeth
- one criterion, two criteria
When unsure of the plural form, please consult the
dictionary. An English learner’s dictionary (such as Merriam-Webster,
Cambridge, Oxford, or Longman) may be the most useful.
Important: Singular
count nouns must have a word in the determiner slot. This could be an article,
a pronoun, or a possessive noun (i.e., "a," "an,"
"the," "this," or a possessive noun).
Noncount
Nouns
What is a noncount noun?
Noncount (or uncountable) nouns exist as masses or
abstract quantities that cannot be counted. They have no plural form. Although
most English nouns are count nouns, noncount nouns frequently occur in academic
writing.
Here are some common categories of noncount nouns.
Like all things in English (and language in general), there may be exceptions.
A mass: work, equipment,
homework, money, transportation, clothing, luggage, jewelry, traffic
A natural substance: air,
ice, water, fire, wood, blood, hair, gold, silver
Food: milk, rice, coffee,
bread, sugar, meat, water
An abstract concept: advice,
happiness, health, education, research, knowledge, information, time
A game: soccer, tennis,
basketball, hockey, football, chess, checkers
A disease: diabetes,
measles, polio, influenza, malaria, hypothyroidism, arthritis
A subject of study: economics,
physics, astronomy, biology, history, statistics
A language: Arabic, Chinese,
Spanish, English
An activity (in the "-ing"
form): swimming, dancing, reading, smoking,
drinking, studying
Important: Noncount
nouns do not use the indefinite articles "a" or "an." They
can, however, use the definite article "the" if what is being
referred to is specific.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhgzqbv9Rxk
Double
Nouns
Some nouns can be both count and noncount. When they
change from a count to a noncount noun, the meaning changes slightly. In the
noncount form, the noun refers to the whole idea or quantity. In the count
form, the noun refers to a specific example or type. When the noun is
countable, it can be used with the indefinite article "a" or
"an" or it can be made plural.
Check the published literature in your field of study
to determine whether specific nouns are used in a countable or an uncountable
way. Sometimes, a noun that is generally countable becomes uncountable when
used in a technical way.
Here are a few examples:
- life
- Life is
a gift. (noncount)
- She leads a very fulfilling life. (count = This specifies the type of life. It
could be a boring life, a dangerous life, and so on.)
- cheese
- I like cheese.
(noncount)
- The cheeses of
France are my favorite. (count = This specifies the type of cheese.)
- language
- The study of language is called linguistics. (noncount)
- English is often considered an international language. (count)
Quantity
Words
Quantity words are used to add information about the
number or amount of the noun. Some quantity words can only be used with
countable singular nouns (e.g., computer, pen, and crayon), some can only be
used with countable plural nouns (e.g., printers, flash drives, and keyboards),
some can only be used with uncountable nouns (i.e., paper, ink), and some can
be used with both plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
With countable singular nouns (e.g.,
computer, pen, crayon):
- each
- each computer
- every
- every computer
- another
- another computer
With countable plural nouns (e.g.,
printers, flash drives, and keyboards):
- several
- several printers
- a large/small number of
- a large number of printers
- a small number of printers
- (not/too) many
- not many printers
- too many printers
- many printers
- a few*
- a few printers
- (very) few*
- very few printers
- few printers
- fewer
- fewer printers
With uncountable nouns (e.g.,
paper or ink):
- a great deal of
- a great deal of paper
- a large/small amount of
- a large amount of paper
- a small amount of paper
- (not/too) much
- not much paper
- too much paper
- much paper
- a little*
- a little paper
- (very) little*
- very little paper
- little paper
- less
- less paper
With countable plural nouns and with
uncountable nouns (e.g., printers, flash drives,
keyboards; paper, or ink):
- some
- some printers
- some ink
- any
- any printers
- any ink
- a lot of
- a lot of printers
- a lot of ink
- hardly any
- hardly any printers
- hardly any ink
- (almost) all
- (almost) all printers
- (almost) all ink
- no
- no printers
- no ink
- none of
- none of the printers
- none of the ink
- not any
- not any printers
- not any ink
- other
- other printers
- other ink
Note the difference between "few/little"
(almost none) and "a few/a little" (some, but
not many/much). "Few/little" tend to have a negative connotation.
"A few/a little" tend to be more positive.
- There are few solutions.
(There are not many solutions.)
- There are a few solutions.
(There are some solutions.)
- He received little education.
(He did not receive much education.)
- He received a little education.
(He received some education.)
Well, I hope that
you enjoyed reading this article and that you find these tips helpful in your
classes
Good luck and good teaching.
David White
Managing Director English For You Language
Institute Trujillo Peru
Headmaster American School Trujillo Peru.
Comments
Post a Comment