Post on 17-Dec-2015
Count and Non Count Nouns The basic rules: Count and noncount
nouns
Count and noncount nouns with adjectives
Other basic rules
Basic rules_count noun
A count noun can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s."
For example, "cat—cats," "season—seasons," "student—students.“
car, man, key, house, flower, idea, accident
Basic rules_noncount noun A noncount noun cannot be expressed
in a plural form.
For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food."
advice, information, weather, news, bread, hair, furniture, paper, work, baggage
Usually, you can't say, "He had many moneys."
Basic rules_Quiz
If sentence is true, write OK. If it’s wrong, correct with a/an. I haven’t got watch __________Beth never wears hat __________Eve doesn’t eat meat __________I am going to concert tonight ____________Jamaica is island _____________Everybody needs food __________
a watch a hat
OK a concert
an island OK
Count and Non-Count Count and Non-Count NounsNouns
(with Plurals, Articles, (with Plurals, Articles, and Quantity Words)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. it usually contains the two kinds of nouns:
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).
Class noun Collective nounTractor panda factory teacher
Class herd crowd army
Material noun Abstract nounSteel grain fire cotton Happiness life work
whiteness
Both Count& Noncount:
Usually, some word has different meanings in the different sentences.
I've had some difficulties finding a job. (refers to a number of specific problems)
She succeeded in school with little difficulty. (refers to the general idea of school being difficult)
The city was filled with bright lights and harsh sounds. (refers to a number of specific lights and noises)
Light travels faster than sound. (refers to the way light and sound behave in general)
Section 2: Uses of Count and Noncount Nouns
Pluralizing
The Rule From the definitions of mass and count given above you may have already guessed the rule for pluralizing them: most count nouns pluralize with –s; -es ; noncount nouns don't pluralize at all
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. So, we can separate the noun into 4 parts: the Count Noun, Count Use, Noncount Noun, Noncount Use
A Revision of the Rule
Pluralizes with -s Doesn't Pluralize
Count Noun XX
Count Use XX
Noncount Noun XX
Noncount Use XX
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 2) singular or plural. Both count nouns (whether singular or plural) and noncount nouns take articles.
Combinations of Nouns and Articles
a, an the this, thatthese, those
no article
Count singular
XX XX XX
Count plural
XX XX XX
Noncount
XX XX XX
Quantity Terms
much, less, little, a little,
very little
some, any, most, more, all, a lot of, no, none of
the
many, both, several,
few/fewer/fewest, a few, one of the, a
couple of
each, every, any, one
Count singular
XX
Count plural XX XX
Noncount XX XX
Examples:
Examples:Count Singular:I practice every day.I'd like one donut, please.Count Plural:Can I have some chips?She has a lot of books, and many are autographed.I have fewer pencils than you.Noncount:Can I have some water?She has a lot of strength, and much is due to her upbringing.I have less courage than you.
Errors in using nouns - 11. Countability and uncountability of English nouns
Countable nouns - could be used with indefinite articles, such as, a, an, or
one, two, many, a large number of, plenty of. They show the number.
Uncountable nouns - cannot be used with indefinite articles, but with
« much », « a little », « a large amount of », « plenty of », etc. They show the
quantity.
Something that is countable, but rarely counted, such as « hair » and « rice »,
is considered as uncountable. Remember: uncountable nouns always go with
singular verbs. Ex.,
1. The CNN news is always very informative.
2. This ink is not suitable for my pen.
3. The rice from Thailand tastes very good.
Errors in using nouns - 2
2. Common errors - determining the real subject
A box of eggs (is, are) on the table.
The memoranda (is, are) not important.
Fifty years (is, are) not a long time.
The United States (is, are) in North America.
3. Parenthetical elements between subject and verb
If a subject is followed by a parenthetical element like, as well as, besides, like, together
with, in addition to, as much as, no less than, etc., the verb is often mistaken as plural.
Ex.,
a. My sister, together with Bob and John, (is, are) gone.
b. The boy, like his father, (sit, sits) still.
c. Your father, rather than your brother, (is, are) responsible for the act.
4. Colletive nounsfamily crew crowdboard committee partyenemy audience reader
This group of nouns can both be singular and plural, depending on the situations.
○ This class has only 16 students.○ The class are all listining to me.
Other nouns have singular forms but plural contents, so the verbs to be used must be plural.
people, cattle, police, etc.
○ Japanese are a hard-working people.○ The cattle are in the shed.○ Fish are cold-blooded.○ Why Iraq’s police are a menace?○ The youth of Taiwan have lofty ideals.
Errors in using nouns - 35. Plural nouns commonly misused as singular
The following nouns are always plural:annals ashes billiards clothesdregs leavings goods obsequiespants pliers pincers remainsscissors shears thanks trousers
tweezers wages
6. Singular nouns with plural formsacoustics aeronautics athletics civicscomics dynamics economics estheticsethics hydraulics linguistics magneticsmathematics means news opticsphonetics physics politics statisticsUnited States whereabouts
7. Incorrect use of uncountable nouns - There are many evidences; He gave me several informations. - Several deformations are observed in this mountain belt. - This is a good news. - He gave me many good advices; Do you have other softwares? - What progresses have you made? He has plenty of knowledges.
Exercise 1: find the errors I have many good news to tell you. I saw a flock of sheeps in the meadow. The tailor cut the cloth with a scissors. I received many e-mails yesterday. This cattle (is, are) from Australia, not from
Holland. He has plenty of knowledges. Her family (is, are) all waiting for her. Politics (is, are) much more difficult than physics.
(Some or so much)
ReviewReview
Uncountable or Noncount NounsFood & Drink:
beef, bread, cheese, milk, water, rice, ice creamNonfood:
air, coal, plastic, wood, dirt, petroleum, soap, steelAbstract:
advice, anger, beauty, fun, information, knowledge, truth Other:
research, clothing, furniture, weather, work, equipment Language:
English, Mandarin, French
Uncountable nouns are not pluralWe need some information[s] about rainforests.He asked me for some advice[s].Wood and steel are used in construction.
Uncountable nouns always go with singular verbsThe CNN news is always very informative.This ink is not suitable for my pen.The rice from Thailand tastes very good.
Uncountable nouns do not usually need an article (a, an), because those articles imply specific individuals
Furniture makes our houses more comfortable.
We had some delicious beef for dinner.
Knowledge is power.
Time is money.
Geology is an interesting field of study.
But Uncountable nouns do take the referring to the group or concept as a whole
The air in this room is cool.
The pork in this restaurant is very good.
The dirt on the wall is very messy
The knowledge we have gained will be useful to us.
Some adjectives for uncountable nounsanalysis a statistical analysispaper a scientific papercalculation a computer calculation
a little rainless violencemore coffeeenough moneyany homework
More examplesa bottle of watera cup of coffeea carton of milka loaf of breada piece of advicea cubic meter of wooda tube of toothpastean item of informationan article/piece of furniture
Exercise 2 Some deformation (is/are) observed in this
mountain belt. These windows are made of (glass/glasses). (Many/Much) clothing is needed in cold weather. I ate six (loaves/slices) of bread for breakfast this
morning. In the number 198,700,504,000, there are six
(0s/0’s)
I think somebody is talking too much!!!I think somebody is talking too much!!!
Let me stop him!Let me stop him!
Errors in using articles - 1English articles, in comparison with nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc.,
appear to be unimportant; they are often overlooked by the learner of English. However, article is used the most frequently among the 10 categories of words. The presence or absence of an article may significantly change the meaning of a sentence. Correct use of article is indeed very important, but it is not an easy thing to do.
Indefinite article exists in two forms: a, anTest: which one is correct?1. Do you have father? Do you have a father?2. I need a secretary and treasurer. I need a secretary and a tresurer.
(two different meanings)3. Happy New Year to you. A Happy New Year to you.4. Heineken is a good beer. Heineken is good beer.
(Material noun in normally uncountable. However, if it represents a kind, a part, or a brand, then it becomes a countable noun.)
Errors in using articles - 2
Definite article - « the » The most important concept of « definite article » is to distinguish a
particular object from a group of similar objects. In general, the use of a definite article is more flexible and complicated than that of an indefinite article. Consequently, the chance of misuse is also greater.
Ex.,1. Do you play piano? Do you play the piano?2. Do you play tennis? Do you play the tennis?3. He is very good at baseball. He is very good at the baseball.4. Sun usually sets before moon rises. The sun usually sets before
the moon rises. (unique subject needs it; other examples: the earth, the world, the universe, the Pacific)
5. The pen is mightier than the sword (abstract concept needs it).6. Proper nouns do not need articles unless they are rivers, oceans,
bays, ranges, islands, or country names (The Yangtse River, the Thames, the Japan Sea, the Rockies, the Philippines, the U.S.A.)
7. Abstract nouns do not need articles: Honesty is the best policy; Diligence is the father of success.