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Jan 31, 2022 · A mass noun is a noun that is considered to exist in abstract quantities or in mass, therefore cannot be counted. Mass nouns are also referred to as non-count nouns or uncountable nouns. Because of this, mass nouns have no plural form and cannot be represented with a number.
Jul 12, 2016 · The difference between count nouns and mass nouns. 12 July 2016. TLDR: Count nouns can be counted (trees), mass nouns can’t (dust). Essentially, a count noun is something able to be counted one at a time, so you can see the individual entities. If you take a moment to look up from your computer screen, phone or tablet, you can see many count ...
Jun 2, 2019 · Mass or uncountable nouns. Mass nouns, also called non-count or uncountable nouns, are thought of as a quantity rather than as individual units of a thing. Since these nouns are not spoken of in terms of number, they have no distinct singular and plural forms. Examples. Materials and substances: wood, plastic, steel, concrete, cotton.
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Mar 28, 2024 · Consider the following examples: Paper: As a mass noun, it refers to the material used for writing or printing. As a count noun, it refers to individual sheets or documents. Chocolate: Refers to the substance as a mass noun, but becomes countable when talking about individual pieces or types of chocolate.
Mar 24, 2022 · A mass noun doesn’t have a plural form, like the popular mass noun examples blood or clothing —it’s incorrect to say blood s or clothing s. It’s hard to tell the difference between mass nouns and normal nouns (called “count nouns” or “countable nouns”). In fact, sometimes it can be downright frustrating, even for English experts.
Mass nouns (also called non-count nouns) have no plural form and can only be counted with the addition of a “measure word.”¹ Mass nouns are often substances or abstract things: five rices. five grains of rice. five pounds of rice. two waters ². two glasses of water. one sadness, two sadnesses. a lot of sadness at the funeral.
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The most important difference between mass nouns and count nouns is that mass nouns cannot be counted. Mass nouns are words for substances or ideas, and so we measure mass nouns instead of counting them. This means that there are some differences between the grammar of mass nouns and count nouns in English. Here are the main rules:
