Read & Compare
Are these Count or Non-count Nouns?
A large number of nouns can be counted,
but others cannot because the item is too small, is too spread out,
is part of a group, or is abstract (exists in the mind.)
| A group or collective
noun |
An item in the
group |
The money is on the table.
|
The dollar is on the table.
The dollars are on the table.
The dollars and coins are on the table.
|
| Non count Nouns (singular) |
Count Nouns (singular or plural) |
Non-count
nouns:
Not countable because they are too small to count, or they are particles, liquids, gases, concepts or activities.
| CATEGORIES |
EXAMPLES WITHIN |
| fluids / liquids |
water, coffee, tea, milk, oil, gasoline,
wine |
| solids |
ice, bread, butter, cheese, meat,
gold, chalk silver, glass |
| gases |
air, oxygen, nitrogen, smoke, smog,
pollution, steam |
| particles |
rice, corn, dirt, dust, flour, sugar,
grass, hair, pepper, salt |
| collective
nouns (grouped items) |
baggage, luggage, clothing, furniture,
food, fruit, money, traffic, garbage, scenery, junk, mail,
jewelry, homework, housework, work, grammar, slang, vocabulary |
| abstractions |
happiness, health, love, fun, help,
honesty, peace, progress, beauty knowledge, justice, intelligence,
luck music, time, space, energy, mass, gravity |
| languages |
Arabic, French, Spanish, English, Portuguese |
| language study |
grammar, slang, vocabulary |
| fields
of study |
chemistry, engineering, art, philosophy,
science, law |
| recreation |
basketball, soccer, baseball, dance |
| activities (gerunds) |
sleeping, driving, writing, studying,
swimming, studying, rock climbing, sky diving |
| natural
phenomena |
weather, fog, heat, humidity, lightning,
rain, snow, thunder, wind, darkness, light, sunshine, electricity,
fire |
| varieties: |
They have four kinds of eggplants.
All the fishes in the sea need clean water. |
| common
mistakes: |
*I
have a lot of homeworks to do.
*She
is washing her hairs.
*The
equipments weren't working well.
*My
baggages were lost. (suitcases.)
* I bought new furnitures. |
Fruit vs. Fruits
Dialectal
variations occur for the noun "fruit".
The same
variations occur with: grapefruit,
breadfruit and eggplant.
|
 |
| SINGULAR PREFERENCE |
DIALECTAL VARIATION |
Most speakers prefer the singular form (below):
|
Preferences vary
with "fruit(s) and vegatables":
|
Fruit
is delicious in the summertime.
*Fruits
are delicious
in the summertime.
(incorrect unless talking about different groups / species of fruit)
|
I
have to buy some fruit and
vegetables.
I have to buy some fruits and
vegetables. |
The items
within the category "fruit" are countable. (no variation) |
    |
| SINGULAR |
PLURAL |
| This cantaloupe is delicious. |
These cantaloupes are delicious. |
| This grape is sweet. |
These grapes are sweet. |
EXPRESSION: "May we soon enjoy the fruits of our labor." (benefits)
|
