Nouns Continued…

Countable and uncountable nouns

What are countable and uncountable nouns?

Countable nouns are people, places, or things that we can count, like 1,2,3,4, etc For example: 5 apples, 2 cities, 10 bridges, 10,000 cars

Uncountable nouns are the opposite of countable nouns and thus as the name suggests are nouns that cannot be quantified. Uncountable nouns usually refer to things such as liquids, materials, substances and abstract qualities (Parrot, 2010, p.10). Examples of this type of noun include: pollution, traffic, milk, success, marble etc

Note!

 

Some nouns which are countable can also be uncountable which means the meaning of the noun can change. The following examples have been taken from Parrot, M. (2010). Grammar for English Language Teachers (2nd).  Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.

Countable

Uncountable

We got lost in a wood. Wood burns more easily than coal.
I told her a few truths about herself. We’ll never learn the truth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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