How to distinguish countable noun from uncountable noun?
By szz1990602
@szz1990602 (188)
China
November 3, 2011 2:42am CST
As a chinese and an English learner, it,s really a difficult thing to distinguish countable noun from uncountable noun. What's more, some nouns'countability are not fixed. It's decided by the meaning of the noun, which brings more troubles to use these nouns. I know for a native English speaker it's easy to identify the countability, but as a green hand of English, it's definitely a tough thing. So master hands of English in mylot, could you tell me some ways to distinguish the countability of nouns? Hope to receive your responses.
2 people like this
6 responses
@girl_thinking (1959)
• Philippines
3 Nov 11
Hi szz!
I would like to make it as simple as possible. Here I will try:
COUNTABLE NOUNS- things that we CAN COUNT by one, two, three, four, five...so on.
Example: dog, dollar, table, books..etc
a. one dog, two dogs, three dogs...etc
b. one dollar, two dollars, three dollars..etc
So now, notice that if there is MORE than ONE object, countable nouns have an S at the end of the word. Example: dog = dogs / dollar = dollars
If you are pertaining to a singular or ONE thing, you have to put A or AN at the start of the phrase or sentence instead of adding S at the end of the word.
Example: A dog / A book / An apple / An ant = which means there is only 1 dog, book, apple, ant...
(I will respond again for the UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS)
@girl_thinking (1959)
• Philippines
3 Nov 11
I'm back =)
Now, UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS are substances that we CANNOT divide into SEPARATE elements. Example: milk, sugar, salt, love, happiness.
Unlike COUNTABLE nouns, you cannot use one two three four...etc to count these UNCOUNTABLE nouns. There are NO one milk, two sugars, three salts, four loves, five happiness. Those are incorrect phrases.
Take note, UNCOUNTABLE noun does not have S at the end of the word even if they are plural as we usually treat them as SINGULAR nouns and they take SINGULAR verb.
Uncountable nouns are also called MASS nouns. We use quantifiers to count them like SOME, FEW, CUP, BOTTLE, LITTER, etc..
@szz1990602 (188)
• China
3 Nov 11
Thank you, but the countability of some abstract nouns is not obvious to distinguish. For instance, experience and experiences, relation and relations, material and materials and so on. It seems that the countability is not so easy. Your method can partially solve the problem, but not all.
@girl_thinking (1959)
• Philippines
4 Nov 11
Well, I am glad I helped even if it is just a bit. Learning a new language is really hard at the start but as you get past through the tough lessons, you will earn mastery of the subject.
Good luck to you szz! I hope you will be able to master the English language sooner!
:)
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
4 Nov 11
Countable nouns have a singular and plural form. Singular countable nouns can be used with a/an: a book - two books.
Uncountable nouns don't have a plural form and can't be used with a/an. They are followed by a singular verb. They refer to substances we think of as a mass or to abstract ideas: bread, water, air, life, love, wealth, hapiness.
@youless (112113)
• Guangzhou, China
3 Nov 11
As to some words like sheep and fish, you have to remember it that the form will not change no matter it is one or more than one. And some things like books, eyes etc. which are countable, then you shall know that they should be added "s". And some words like hair, rice etc. which is not possible to know the quantity. Then its form is uncountable.
I love China
@UmiNoor (4483)
• Malaysia
3 Nov 11
Simple. A countable noun are things that can be counted like pens, pencils, animals, bags and so on. A countable noun can have both the singular and the plural form.
On the other hand, uncountable nouns cannot be counted and do not have a plural form. For example, hair, rice, sand, sugar and so on. These are uncountable nouns because you cannot count them and they do not have a plural form. You cannot say rices or hairs or sands or sugars.
The verb that follows an uncountable noun will always be the singular verb whereas a countable noun in the plural form will take the plural verb. For example, These bags are theirs.
@LaraTecson (726)
• Philippines
3 Nov 11
Countable nouns are those of which you can physically count like pillows or cellular phone. You count them in discrete manners. On the other hand, uncountable nouns are those of which is impossible for you to count discretely. You have to use a system of measurement to quantify them like 'twenty kilos of rice' or 'five litters of water'. I hope this helps. Good luck to you. :)
@girl_thinking (1959)
• Philippines
3 Nov 11
I hope I was able to help you..
You can log in to englishclub.com for further explanation. :)
Take care and enjoy learning the English language!
