Any schoolchild can tell you what countable and uncountable nouns are. The name speaks for itself: countable nouns are those nouns that can be counted, while uncountable nouns cannot be counted. However, this is not the only difference. Usually it is not difficult to determine whether a noun is countable or not, but in some cases the differences between Russian and English make themselves felt.
As practice shows, uncountable nouns cause more problems. Either they will put an article in front of them, or they will add the ending -S. Therefore, in this article we will focus our attention on those nouns that cannot be counted.
- Liquids: water, milk, tea, vine etc.
Please note that the words tea, coffee, beer can be countable when, for example, you order something in a restaurant:
One coffee and two teas, please. - One cup of coffee and two cups of tea, please.
- Food (Types of food): bread, meat, cheese, butter etc.
Many names for food products that represent mass are measured in liters, kilograms (kilos), pieces (piece), plates (bowl) and so on. Mistakes are often made with the word bread, since in Russian it is normal to say “one loaf” when we mean a loaf of bread, but in English we should say a loaf of bread.
Some food products are a combination: pasta, spaghetti, rice.
- Materials: sand, metal, concrete etc.
Materials represent a mass or substance, but sometimes the word can become countable when referring to an object made from a given material: paper (paper) - a paper (newspaper). In addition, when talking about varieties of the same material or liquid, the word can take the plural form:
- : love, weather, time, sleep, importance, experience etc.
Many abstract nouns can also be countable, depending on their meaning in a particular sentence. For example, time is time, and time is time. Read more about this in.
- Names of gases: air, oxygen etc.
- Mass Nouns: hair, furniture, clothes, traffic, luggage etc.
Uncountable nouns also include those nouns that are not individual objects and denote a collection of homogeneous objects without clearly defined boundaries.
- Names of diseases (Illnesses): measles, influenza, mumps etc.
But those nouns that denote minor health problems, such as a cold, a headache, a sore throat, a fever are countable and are preceded by an article. As for other diseases with the word ache ( toothache, backache, earache), then in British English they are always uncountable and are not used with the article A/ AN, but in American English they can be countable when they denote a separate attack of the disease:
I had a terrible toothache yesterday. - My teeth hurt a lot yesterday. (AmE)
I had terrible toothache yesterday. - My teeth hurt a lot yesterday. (BrE)
- Fields of Study: mathematics, physics, economics etc.
- Sports: gymnastics, football, tennis etc.
Now let's take a closer look at the differences between countable and uncountable nouns. Different sources highlight different numbers of differences and describe them differently, but we won’t complicate things and highlight three main ones.
1. Countables can be counted, and uncountables can be measured.
You can easily use cardinal numerals with countable nouns:
One tree - one tree
Five people - five people
One hundred dollars - one hundred dollars
When we are dealing with uncountable nouns, we need to use certain measures:
Two liters of milk - two liters of milk
Five tons of coal - five tons of coal
Three bowls of soup - three bowls of soup
Different containers, measures, and shapes are used for measurement. There are a lot of them, certain substances are measured in appropriate containers, so this topic deserves a separate article, which will soon appear on our website.
2. Use of qualifiers
Many + countable:
How many people were in the queue? - How many people were in line?
Much + uncountable:
How much milk do you need? - How much milk do you need?
The a lot of/lots of qualifier can be used with both types:
I"ve got a lot of friends. - I have a lot of friends.
He "s got a lot of money. - He has a lot of money.
If there is a small amount of something, then the pair (a) few and (a) little is used.
(A) few + countable:
(A) little + uncountable:
She gave me a little salt. - She gave me some salt.
Sometimes it is more expedient to use the word some in the meaning of “a little”; it is combined with both countable and uncountable:
Some apples - some apples
Some apple juice - some apple juice
The words any and no are also used with both nouns:
Have you bought any vegetables? - Did you buy vegetables?
Have you bought any oil? - Did you buy oils?
We haven't bought any sweets or any sugar. - We didn't buy sweets or sugar.
There are no vegetables in the refrigerator. - There are no vegetables in the refrigerator.
There is no sugar at all! - There is no sugar at all!
If your level is a little higher, then you will probably find this table useful, from which you can see which determiners are used with which nouns:
|
Countable |
Uncountable |
|
|
a good number of a large number of |
a small amount/ quantity of |
3. Plural and singular forms
And finally, the last difference. Countable nouns have singular and plural forms. The plural is presented in an accessible and detailed manner in the material dedicated to. Accordingly, if the noun is singular, we use the singular verb form (is, was), and if it is plural, then the plural verb form (are, were).
And here uncountable nouns can be divided into two groups: those that “always is” and those that “always are”. Of course, you won’t find such terminology in textbooks, but this “classification” will help you remember.
Most uncountable nouns are combined with the singular verb form (is, was, has):
And now, attention: those words that are constantly the cause of our mistakes. Remember that with these nouns in English it is used singular verb form. Let's call them "always is":
news- news
money- money
advice- advice
furniture- furniture
knowledge- knowledge
traffic- traffic
luggage- baggage
But what if you need to say: “a lot of advice” or “one piece of news”? By no means “many advices” and not “one new”! In this situation, use the word piece:
A piece of news - one piece of news
A piece of advice - one piece of advice
Many pieces of advice - a lot of advice
If option with piece you are not satisfied, then select countable synonyms. For example, advice can be replaced by countable recommendation or tip , word news words news story or article.
And I’m generally silent about money! Thoughts in Russian, word money always combined with a plural verb: money are. Don't let this happen! Learn two sentences:
This will help you avoid a common mistake.
In English, among the uncountables there are those that agree with the verbal forms of the plural (are, were). Here are some of them:
clothes- cloth
contents- content
customs- customs
funds- facilities
goods- product
groceries- foodstuffs
manners- manners, behavior
odds- chances
outskirts- outskirts
police- police
premises- real estate
regards- wishes
remains- remains
savings- savings
surroundings- surroundings
staff- staff
congratulations- congratulations
stairs- ladder
thanks- Gratitude
troops- troops
wages- wage
Remember that these words belong to the category of “always are”, even if you really want to say “ is".
As you can see, countable and uncountable nouns are not such a simple topic, there are enough rules to learn them and exceptions to remember them.
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In English there are countable and uncountable. To put it briefly, countable things can be counted with a finger, but uncountable ones cannot. In this article, we'll look at the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, and when a noun can fall into both categories.
What are countable nouns
Countable nouns(countable nouns) denote objects, phenomena, concepts that can be counted in the speaker’s mind. For example: egg (egg), house (house), suggestion (offer), minute (minute). Countable nouns in English can be used in both the singular and:
I have a puppy. - I have puppy.
My sister has puppies. - My sister has puppies.
Other examples of countable nouns:
I have a few questions. - I have some questions.
There is an old tree in the valley. - There is something old in the valley tree.
May I have a donut?- Can I donut?
Take any umbrella you want. - Take any umbrella, whichever one you want.
This is my sister's photo.- This photo my sister's.
As you can see, countable nouns are combined with words that in their meaning are suitable specifically for “piecemeal” rather than abstract objects, for example, with an article: we can say “a donut”, which is literally perceived as “one donut”, the article itself is “a” \an” already implies “piecemeality”, “separateness” of the object. We can say “a few questions” - “a few questions”, because questions are, although not solid, tangible objects, but still something that can be counted.
Uncountable nouns cannot be combined with such words.
What are uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns(uncountable nouns) denote objects, substances, concepts that cannot be counted. These include the names of abstract concepts, substances, various masses, bulk materials and products, liquids: art- art, oil– oil, petroleum, salt- salt, tea- tea. Uncountable nouns are used only in the singular:
We ran out of sugar. - We've run out sugar.
Art is immortal. – Art immortal.
Oil is flammable. – Oil highly flammable.
Other examples of uncountable nouns:
- Abstract concepts:
Kids have a lot of energy.- Children have a lot energy.
You can't stop progress.- Can't be stopped progress.
- Liquids, solids, food:
I mean food products, when we are talking not about one, say, stick of sausage, but about sausage in general as a product.
I spill milk.- I spilled milk.
This jar holds two pounds of sugar.– This jar holds two pounds. Sahara.
My girlfriend doesn't eat meat.– My girlfriend doesn’t eat meat.
- Languages, games, academic disciplines
Sorry, amigo, I don’t speak Spanish.- Sorry, amigo, I don't say in Spanish.
I can't play volleyball- I don't know how to play volleyball.
We have chemistry now, and then math.- We have now chemistry, and then mathematics.
- Metals, natural resources, gaseous substances
This pendant is made of iron and gold.– This pendant is made from gland And gold.
We don't have that much wood.– We don’t have that much wood
I couldn't see anything in the bathroom because of steam.– Nothing was visible in the bathroom because pair.
The list can be continued, adding, for example, natural phenomena (thunder), but I think that the general meaning is clear: uncountable nouns appear to us as something NOT “piecemeal”, as something that cannot be counted with a finger, as something generalized .
Uncountable nouns cannot be in the plural, they are not combined with, implying that we are talking about something separate, countable, and such pronouns as “a few” - several. Although in a certain context a word that is usually uncountable can become countable.
When an uncountable noun becomes countable
Sometimes a noun is used as a countable noun in one context and as an uncountable noun in another. For example, if we talk about coffee in general, as a drink in general, then coffee is an uncountable noun:
Do you like coffee?- Do you like coffee?
If we talk about coffee as a portion of a drink, meaning one cup or glass, then coffee is already a countable noun.
May I have a coffee, please? – Can I have some coffee, please? (Cup of coffee)
Note: in English it so happens that not every drink can be said “a + drink”, meaning a glass of drink. You can say “a coffee”, “a tea”, “a whiskey”, but about water they usually say “a glass of water” - a glass of water.
“A Piece of Advise” and other ways to make the uncountable countable
When we are talking about a separate part, portion, element of something uncountable, established combinations are used. There is something similar in the Russian language. For example, when talking about a “portion”, one unit of chocolate, we usually say “chocolate bar”, because chocolate is usually sold in the form of bars, the very phrase “chocolate bar” for us is something familiar, established, like “a cup of tea” or “piece of furniture.” Here are the “portioned” combinations in English:
- a bar of chocolate- chocolate bar
- a bar of soap- a piece of soap
- a loaf of bread– roll/loaf of bread
- a slice of pizza– a slice of pizza (slice – a piece cut with a knife)
- a bottle of whiskey– a bottle of whiskey
- a cup of tea- Cup of tea
- a piece of furniture- piece of furniture
- a tube of tooth paste– a tube of toothpaste
I will highlight separately:
- a piece of advice- advice
In English, the word “advice” is uncountable, so you can’t say “an advice”.
Why is it necessary to divide nouns into countable and uncountable?
What is the practical benefit of knowing that “milk” is an uncountable noun and “table” is a countable noun? The benefit is that sometimes the choice of word to go with a noun depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.
1. Articles.
If any is possible before a countable noun, then “a\an” cannot be placed before an uncountable noun, since it implies piecework.
There is a table in the room. - There is a table in the room.
It takes courage to follow your heart. “It takes courage to follow your heart.”
2. Pronouns denoting quantity.
About countable objects we can say many, but you can't say much. And vice versa. This is a bit strange for us, because both many and much in Russian mean “many,” and in Russian “many” is combined with both countable and uncountable nouns. In English, many is “a lot of countable things,” and much is “a lot of uncountable things.”
We don't have much time! - We don't have much time!
I've never seen so many people. – I have never seen so many people.
She has many friends who have much power. – She has many friends who have a lot of power.
Countable nouns (“countable”) are words that denote the names of concrete objects and abstract concepts that can be counted. And since they can be counted, they are used both in the singular and in the plural. Here examples of countable nouns: table, picture, hour, holiday, offer, boy, decision, way-out, etc.
Using words like this singular, you can put the indefinite article a / an in front of them: a table, a picture, an hour, an offer, a boy, a decision, a way-out. Moreover, a countable singular noun must always be accompanied by some kind of determiner. If there is no indefinite article, you need either a definite article (the), or a possessive pronoun (my, his, our, etc.), or a demonstrative pronoun (that, this). Let me remind you that a determiner is a linguistic indicator with a noun that expresses the meaning of certainty. For example:
I saw a boy.
This picture is a masterpiece.
I approve of the decision you've made.
I broke my leg.
With countable nouns in plural we can use indefinite pronouns some (any, many, few, many):
Some friends of mine will come to this party. - Several of my friends will come to the party. (Some of my friends will come to the party).
In contrast to the previous ones, uncountable nouns(“non-countable”) are names of substances, abstract concepts that cannot be counted. And, therefore, they are used only in the singular.
Examples: knowledge, silver, music, milk, water, happiness, furniture, advice, etc. These nouns cannot be used with the indefinite articles a / an, but they can be combined with the other determiners mentioned above (definite article, possessive, demonstrative pronoun).
They are also used with some indefinite pronouns: some, any, much, little. For example:
These ear-rings are made of silver.
I have some news for you.
I don’t like the music you are listening to now.
Her beauty attracts me.
However, there are cases in which it is permissible to use an uncountable noun with the indefinite article a/an, as well as with numerals (one/two, etc.). This can be done when ordering food in a restaurant or cafe:
We'll have four coffees, please. - We need four coffees.
Uncountable nouns include
- various edible products (meat, flour, milk, salt, etc.),
- liquids (petrol, coffee, etc.),
- substances and materials (gold, wood, glass, etc.),
- abstract concepts (help, education, etc.)
- and many other words (advice, weather, hair, etc.).
What if we need to use such a word in speech? How transfer any quantity? Certain words serve this purpose: a piece of advice, a bowl of fruit, a carton of milk, a bar of chocolate, a glass of wine ), a can of Coke, a tube of paint, a kilo of meat, a cup of tea, a loaf of bread, a rasher of bacon (thin slice of bacon).
If we are talking about material nouns, then we remember that there are nouns that denote not the substance itself, but the object consisting of this substance. Such a noun will already be countable. For example:
Their house is built of local stone. – Their house is built from local stone. (uncountable noun)
I have a stone in my shoe. - I have a pebble in my shoe. (countable noun)
In yet another case, material nouns can become countable: when they convey different varieties or types of a substance.
There is a live coal in the fire-place. - There is a burning coal in the fireplace.
You can read about four tips in choosing and using various body oils. – You can read four tips on how to choose and use different body oils.
What is the difficulty in understanding the principle of “countability-non-countability”? But the fact is that some nouns in English are uncountable, but in Russian or other languages, on the contrary, they are countable. Among them are the following words: baggage, bread, information, furniture, traffic, work, progress, accommodation, cash, clothing, cutlery, equipment, health, luck, money, photography, research, safety, sunshine, underwear, violence, etc.
Ports are open to internal passenger traffic. – The ports are open for international passenger traffic.
A change of underwear must be done at least once a day. – You need to change your underwear at least once a day.
The hotel checked our baggage. – The hotel accepted our luggage for storage.
And there are nouns that can be used both as countable and uncountable. But in this case we will observe a difference in meaning. For example:
I'm three apples. - I ate three apples. (countable)
Is there apple in this salad? – Is there an apple in this salad? (uncountable)
Would you like a glass of lemonade? - How about a glass of lemonade? (countable)
This sculpture was made of glass. – This sculpture is made of glass. (uncountable)
I'm pressed for time. – I don’t have any time.
How many times did you read this article? – How many times have you read this article?
A little about countable and uncountable nouns.
In English they are called Countable - [‘kauntəbl] (countable) and Uncountable - [ʌn’kauntəbl] (uncountable) Nouns.
I think everyone knows what countable and uncountable nouns are in English. Simply put, what can be counted and what cannot be counted.
Usually not considered:
1) materials – (Wood, Silver, Gold)
2) liquids – (Water, Wine, Juice),
3) languages – (Spanish, English, German)
4) subjects of study – (Economics, Physics),
5) games – (Chess, Golf, Basketball),
6) diseases – (Herpes, Flu),
7) abstract nouns – (see below)
8) natural phenomena – (Rain, Snow, Humidity)
Used with them Much.
Much snow - a lot of snow.
In fact, you can imagine that somewhere there is a big pile of... wood, sap, rain, German, information, business, shopping... from which you piece by piece pick out something interesting and countable. For example, from shopping dresses that you can count, and from business - ideas)
List of example abstract nouns: advice, anger, applause, assistance, behavior, business, seaside, seasidechaos (Chaos), countryside (In the village), courage (courage, courage), damage (damage), dirt (dirt), education (education), accommodation (premises), evidence (certificate), housework (housework), homework (D/Z), information (information), intelligence (intelligence), knowledge (Knowledge), luck (luck), music (music), news (news), peace (peace), progress (progress), shopping (Shopping ), traffic ( traffic), trouble (trouble), truth (truth), wealth (wealth), work (work), beauty (beauty), charity (charity), capitalism (capitalism), democracy (democracy), eternity (eternity),individualism, faith, infinity, liberty, misery, motivation, observation, poverty, privacy, slavery, space ( place, space), stability (stability), unemployment (unemployment), violence (violence), wisdom (wisdom)
Uncountable nouns have the 3rd person singular form - conventionally denoted (IS)
Your luggage looks heavy. Your luggage looks heavy.
This news is very important. This news is very important.
It’s a good idea to remember that News IS
Money IS
Hair IS,
Because it is in these words that mistakes are made, since in Russian they sound like
NEWS/HAIR/MONEY.
Uncountable nouns are not preceded by the article “a”, only “the”, when we need to clarify definiteness. For example Give me the money - Give me the money (the same money).
For what we cannot count, we use words and expressions how much/much,a little/little,a lot of.
We cannot say an information, but we can say little information (a little information) or much/a lot of information (a lot of information) or the information (that very information)
* Little here does not mean “small”, but “little”.
To turn uncountable nouns into countable nouns, you need to add the preposition of and, for example, from water you get a glass or cup of water, and from information you get a piece of information)
a piece of news - news.
a bottle of water – a bottle of water
a grain of rice - a grain of rice
These words are called a kind of “Measure words” (Measure words), there are quite a lot of them, but mostly food measurements are remembered.
a cup of tea. A cup of tea.
a slice of meat. A piece of meat.
MANY CUPS OF TEA.
Or, you can imagine that “Money” is counted in “Rubles”, “Music” has “Songs”, and “Furniture” (furniture) is counted in “Tables.” (for example)
And, naturally, with uncountables we can use some (+) in affirmative sentences and any(?-) in interrogative and negative ones.
For example: We haven`t got any milk. We don't have milk at all.
Have you got any cheese?
Do you have any cheese? Yes, I've got some cheese in the fridge
. Yes, there's some cheese in the fridge.
* We can use Some in questions as a POLITE SENTENCE.
For example: Can I have some milk?
With countable nouns everything is much simpler.
1) easy to count – A Cup – Cups
A doctor – doctors
A lemon – lemons
I like oranges - I love oranges.
Bottles can break. Bottles may break.
2) Also used with some and any.
I would like some berries. I'd like some berries
I wouldn`t like any berry s. I would like any berries.
Have you got any berries? Do you have any berries?
Can I have some berries? Can I have some berries?
3) C With countables we can use expressions such as few – (little), a few (a little), many (a lot of),
lots of (a lot)
For example: There are few people in the street
. There are few people on the street. There are A few people in the street
. There are few people on the street. There are lots of pizzas on the table
. There are a lot of pizzas on the table (large and different).
Speak correctly =).