Difference between revisions of "Countable - non-countable"
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'''Count''' nouns are also called '''countable''' nouns. '''Non-count''' nouns are also called '''uncountable''' and '''mass''' nouns. Some grammarians use the names '''countable(s)''' and '''uncountable(s)'''. (These are countable nouns, technically speaking.) | '''Count''' nouns are also called '''countable''' nouns. '''Non-count''' nouns are also called '''uncountable''' and '''mass''' nouns. Some grammarians use the names '''countable(s)''' and '''uncountable(s)'''. (These are countable nouns, technically speaking.) | ||
| − | Logically, it is not hard to distinguish between the two types of noun. '''Count''' nouns are the names of things which can be <u>count</u>ed: such things as 'door' , 'book' and 'ball'. '''Non-count''' nouns are the names of substances, often liquids, or other things that are not normally counted: 'water' is not an individual thing, and one doesn't easily talk of 'three waters'; 'air' in the sense of atmosphere is indivisible; and the name of the profession 'journalism' is almost always singular. What is difficult is the various [[count - non-count usage|problems of usage]].[[Category:Noun | + | Logically, it is not hard to distinguish between the two types of noun. '''Count''' nouns are the names of things which can be <u>count</u>ed: such things as 'door' , 'book' and 'ball'. '''Non-count''' nouns are the names of substances, often liquids, or other things that are not normally counted: 'water' is not an individual thing, and one doesn't easily talk of 'three waters'; 'air' in the sense of atmosphere is indivisible; and the name of the profession 'journalism' is almost always singular. What is difficult is the various [[count - non-count usage|problems of usage]].[ |
| + | [Category:Noun attributes]][[category:usage]] | ||
Revision as of 14:24, 4 March 2007
(This page is a detail about nouns, a word class. The course in Word Classes forms part of the Grammar course in AWE. You may choose to follow it in a structured way by following the links. Each item can also be accessed separately.)
The difference between count nouns and non-count nouns is important to foreign learners of English. Native speakers are rarely troubled by it.
Count nouns are also called countable nouns. Non-count nouns are also called uncountable and mass nouns. Some grammarians use the names countable(s) and uncountable(s). (These are countable nouns, technically speaking.)
Logically, it is not hard to distinguish between the two types of noun. Count nouns are the names of things which can be counted: such things as 'door' , 'book' and 'ball'. Non-count nouns are the names of substances, often liquids, or other things that are not normally counted: 'water' is not an individual thing, and one doesn't easily talk of 'three waters'; 'air' in the sense of atmosphere is indivisible; and the name of the profession 'journalism' is almost always singular. What is difficult is the various problems of usage.[ [Category:Noun attributes]]
