Introduction to NounsIntroduction to Nouns

Countable vs. Uncountable NounsCountable vs. Uncountable Nouns

OPEN WORDS – Nouns – TYPES OF NOUNS

• COUNTABLE NOUNScan be counted and so they can take a

plural form. They can also take the determiner ‘a’ in a singular form:

a lorry two lorries

a pen many pens

a girl fifty girls

a story three stories

• UNCOUNTABLE NOUNSrefer to things that cannot be counted.

They don’t have a plural form and they never take the determiner ‘a’.

water NOT ‘a water’ / ‘waters’

advice NOT ‘an advice’ / ‘advices’

information NOT ‘an information’ / ‘informations’

baggage NOT ‘a baggage’ / ‘baggages’

work NOT ‘a work’ / ‘works’

• UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS1) Things that cannot be counted individually. They would have to be measured

out to be counted. For example:

bread but you can have ‘a loaf of bread / a slice of bread’

beer but you can have ‘a pint of beer / a bottle of beer’

coffee but you can have ‘a cup of coffee / a jar of coffee’

glass but you can have ‘a pane of glass / a shard of glass’

paper but you can have ‘a sheet of paper / a piece of paper’

soap but you can have ‘a bar of soap’

wood but you can have ‘a lump of wood’

ice but you can have ‘a lump of ice / a block of ice’

water but you can have ‘a glass of water / a bottle of water’

sand but you can have ‘a pile of sand’

OPEN WORDS - Nouns

• UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS2) ABSTRACT NOUNS are also uncountable. For example:

OPEN WORDS - Nouns

advicebeautycouragereliefworkfearhelpnewsinformation

I will give you a piece of advice.Our ideals of beauty differ from culture to culture.He showed great courage in battle.I felt relief when he left.I’m looking for work.She was paralysed by fear.I asked him for help.Is there any news of Jake’s whereabouts? I’ve found a piece of information you might find useful.

REMEMBER!

• UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS never take ‘a / an’ and they always take a singular noun:

The news is good. (CORRECT) NOT: The news are good (INCORRECT)

My hair needs washing. (CORRECT) NOT: My hair need washing. (INCORRECT)

REMEMBER!

• Some ABSTRACT NOUNS can sometimes be used with ‘a’ or ‘an’:

– It is a wonder (that) he didn’t get killed.– It is a pity (that) I hadn’t met him earlier.– Jane has been a great help to me.– I have a good working knowledge of all Ms Office programmes.– It would be a crime to leave her like that.

OPEN WORDS – Nouns – TYPES OF NOUNS

• COUNTABLE NOUNS

1) I don’t have many friends.

2) I have very few friends.

3) I have fewer friends than Jane.

4) I trust some of my friends but not all of them.

5) I’ve known most of my friends since childhood.

• UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

1) I don’t have much time.

2) I have very little time.

3) I have less time than yesterday.

4) You can have some of my time but not all of it.

5) I spend most of my time working

REMEMBER!

• Some UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS can sometimes be made COUNTABLE, but with a change of meaning:

– She has lots of experience in this field. (she knows a lot about it)

– Have I told you about my experiences in Thailand? (my adventures in Thailand)

– I have to go to work.

– I have just bought the Complete Works of Shakespeare.

– This table is made of glass.

– I can’t find any champagne glasses.

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