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  1. Nouns: countable and uncountable - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

    • English (US)

      Nouns: countable and uncountable - English Grammar Today - a...

    • Nouns

      Nouns - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and...

    • Rules For Using Countable Nouns
    • Rules For Using Uncountable Nouns
    • Determiners For Count and Noncount Nouns
    • Some Nouns Can Be Countable and Uncountable

    We’ll begin by going over the rules for using countable nouns, since these are most straightforward. Countable nouns: 1. Can be separated into whole, individual, countable units 2. Broadly refer to people, places, and things 3. Have a singular and a plural form (with a few exceptions like sheep, deer, fish) – see this sitefor more about how to form...

    Uncountable nouns are used less often in English, and they: 1. Are abstract ideas, qualities, or masses that can’t be separated and counted individually 2. Do not have a plural form and are treated as singular nouns (and therefore take the singular form of the verb) 3. May take the definite article (the) but do not take the indefinite articles (a/a...

    You’ll have seen from the examples above that certain determiners can only be used for one type of noun, whereas others can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Here’s a handy reference table for these, although this is not an exhaustive list. Most other adjectives can modify both countable and uncountable nouns. See also: What’s the ...

    You might often hear people say something like “I take two sugars in my tea”. What they really mean is “two teaspoons of sugar”, but the noun “sugar” has taken on that meaning and become countable. In this way, uncountable nouns can sometimes be used as countable when referring to a complete unit or measurement of something, normally in relation to...

  2. Jan 21, 2024 · Other examples of countable nouns include house, idea, hand, car, flower, and paper. Uncountable nouns. Uncountable nouns, or mass nouns, are nouns that come in a state or quantity that is impossible to count; liquids are uncountable, as are things that act like liquids (sand, air). Abstract ideas like creativity or courage are also uncountable.

  3. Jun 21, 2019 · Using articles with uncountable nouns. Singular countable nouns generally require an article or other determiner (e.g., “the interview,” “a participant,” “my hypothesis“). Uncountable nouns, in contrast, can usually stand alone without an article. Because uncountable nouns can’t be counted as a single item, indefinite articles ...

  4. There are nouns that can be countable and uncountable, depending on the meaning of the word and the context of the sentence. Take the word light as an example. When I went outside, the bright light of the sun took me by surprise. They switched on the lights of the cabin. Because the light of the sun is something that cannot be counted, it’s ...

  5. The facts are accurate. (countable) The information is accurate. (uncountable) The necklace is expensive. (countable) The jewelry is expensive. (uncountable) Don’t say “That’s an expensive jewelry.”. Instead, say “That’s an expensive piece of jewelry.” or “That’s an expensive necklace.”. Download free PDF + quiz.

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  7. More examples: a girl - two girls, a lion - two lions, a book - two books, a man - three men, a sheep - five sheep. Uncountable nouns. Uncountable nouns (or mass nouns) are substances, abstract ideas, qualities and other things that we cannot count. We cannot usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns: I need money. Substances:

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