ctivnan
09/28/07, 12:36 PM
:wrrrrr:
PROBLEMS WITH COUNT AND NONCOUNT NOUNS
Usually it is easy to see whether a noun is count or noncount.
Obviously, house is normally a count noun and sand is not. But it is not always so clear: compare a journey (count) and travel (noncount); a glass (count) and glass (noncount).
Let's see why.
TRAVEL and JOURNEY
They both have similar meanings, but TRAVEL is normally a noncount as it means TRAVELING IN GENERAL. We do NOT talk about a travel.
JOURNEY is a count noun because it refers to ONE PARTICULAR MOVEMENT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER and can have a plural: journeys.
e.g.
I like travel, but it is often very tiring.
Did you have a good journey?
Knowledge is essential in life. (noncount)
We only deal with facts in school. (count)
NB: NONCOUNT NOUNS take the SINGULAR form of the verb.
A GLASS and GLASS
Words referring to MATERIALS are NONCOUNT, but we often use the same word a count noun to refer to something made of the material.
e.g.
A bulletproof glass is very expensive.
The house is made of glass.
I like those glasses. They are so big you can put a lot of water!
Why are you not wearing your glasses (eyeglasses).
Other examples:
Iron is good for the body. (material)
I need the iron! My clothes are all wrinkled!
Korean paper is popular is Asia. (material)
I have to submit two papers in my Curriculum class.
The boy just threw the paper on the lawn. (newspaper)
To know exactly how a particular noun can be used, it is necessary to check in a good dictionary.
PROBLEMS WITH COUNT AND NONCOUNT NOUNS
Usually it is easy to see whether a noun is count or noncount.
Obviously, house is normally a count noun and sand is not. But it is not always so clear: compare a journey (count) and travel (noncount); a glass (count) and glass (noncount).
Let's see why.
TRAVEL and JOURNEY
They both have similar meanings, but TRAVEL is normally a noncount as it means TRAVELING IN GENERAL. We do NOT talk about a travel.
JOURNEY is a count noun because it refers to ONE PARTICULAR MOVEMENT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER and can have a plural: journeys.
e.g.
I like travel, but it is often very tiring.
Did you have a good journey?
Knowledge is essential in life. (noncount)
We only deal with facts in school. (count)
NB: NONCOUNT NOUNS take the SINGULAR form of the verb.
A GLASS and GLASS
Words referring to MATERIALS are NONCOUNT, but we often use the same word a count noun to refer to something made of the material.
e.g.
A bulletproof glass is very expensive.
The house is made of glass.
I like those glasses. They are so big you can put a lot of water!
Why are you not wearing your glasses (eyeglasses).
Other examples:
Iron is good for the body. (material)
I need the iron! My clothes are all wrinkled!
Korean paper is popular is Asia. (material)
I have to submit two papers in my Curriculum class.
The boy just threw the paper on the lawn. (newspaper)
To know exactly how a particular noun can be used, it is necessary to check in a good dictionary.