Drink countable or uncountable. Count and Noncount Nouns in English (plurals, articles, quantities)

Is everything in the world accountable and measurable? No. True, here we are not talking about such philosophical concepts as love or friendship. We are interested in uncountable nouns in English. Let's look at all the nuances of their use.

The concept of an uncountable noun

The words “love” will be most directly related to this topic. Neither one nor the other can be counted. We can say “many loves,” but we cannot say “three loves.” This is how we distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns; the number of the former can always be counted. There may be one bottle of water, two bottles of water, but “one water”, “two waters” or “three waters” - so do not speak. The word "water" is uncountable.

Why even get acquainted with the category of uncountable nouns? Is it really impossible to use these words correctly without knowing whether they can be counted? In fact, in English this is important, because the indefinite article “a” is not used before uncountable nouns (for nouns with a vowel - an), and the definite article “the” is used only in some cases.

Types of uncountable nouns

It should be borne in mind that any Russian uncountable noun can have an English counterpart that can be counted. Although discrepancies are quite rare. In any case, you should have an idea of ​​which words can be classified as uncountable, at least in order to correctly use articles with them. The list of uncountable nouns in English includes:

• beauty - beauty, permission - permission;
• names of diseases: flu - influenza;
• weather conditions: rain - rain;
• food: cheese - cheese;
• substances: water - water;
• types of sports or activities: gardening - gardening;
• items: equipment - equipment;
• geographical features: the Mississippi - Mississippi;
• languages: German - German, Russian - Russian.

And also a number of generalizing nouns like information - information, money - money. In most cases, it is not difficult to guess whether a noun is uncountable. But some words can be difficult. For example, hair - hair. Some students become confused when they encounter a hair in assignments. In fact, hair and a hair are different words. The first is indeed uncountable and is translated as hair, the second word means “hair” and can be used in the plural. The word advice can also surprise you. It has no plural, advices does not exist. It can be translated both as “advice” and “advice” depending on the situation. The word fruit does not mean “one fruit”, but “fruit”. It is very rare to find fruits, but it has a rather specific meaning with the approximate meaning of “fruits of different types”.

Features of the use of uncountable nouns: pronouns, articles

With uncountable nouns, only the definite article is used. For example, the news - these news. "a" is never placed in front of them. Also, these nouns do not have a plural form. Many of them are already in the news. But they can well be used with quantitative pronouns: some (a certain amount), little (little), much (many), as well as with demonstratives: this (this), that (that). In addition to all this, there are a number of words that allow you to make uncountable nouns in English countable: piece, bowl, bag, jar, glass, tile, cup, loaf, slice and others.

For example, a bar of soap/chocolate/gold - a bar of soap/chocolate bar/gold bar, a bowl of fruits - a bowl of fruit, a carton of milk - a package of milk, a can of beer - a can of beer, a cup of coffee - a cup of coffee, a loaf of bread - a loaf or loaf of bread.

Uncountable nouns with the expression a piece of

The use of the word “piece” is very interesting. It is often used with abstract and uncountable words that are most unexpected for a Russian person, for example, a piece of advice, a piece of music, a piece of information. And, of course, we will not translate these expressions as “a piece of advice”, “a piece of music” or “a piece of information”, although the latter option is quite acceptable. But since this is quite the translation will be specific: “advice”, “piece of music”, “message”.

Agreement of uncountable nouns with verbs

Which verb should I use with an uncountable noun: singular or plural? For example, how do you say "money is on the table"? The money is on the chest or The money are on the chest? The first option will be correct. Only singular verbs are used with uncountable nouns. Examples: the milk is fresh - the milk is fresh, the water is very hot - the water is very hot. But if they are used that allow us to measure uncountable nouns, then verb agreement occurs with them. For example, two cartoons of milk are on the table, three bottles of water are in the refrigerator.

Uncountable nouns in English: types

Can all nouns that cannot be counted be divided into groups? There are two such groups in English, and, oddly enough, they are divided by number, singular or plural. Plural nouns include nouns that end in -s, -es. For example, game names (darts), scientific theories (economics), groups and associations (Police, the Andes). They are preceded by the plural demonstrative pronouns those or these. Before uncountable singular nouns, which are the majority, in this case we use this or that.

Countable and uncountable nouns: examples

To better understand the characteristics of these types of nouns, consider pairs of nouns, one of which is countable and the other uncountable. Particularly interesting are those that have the same translation. So: song - music (song - music), bottle - wine (bottle - wine), report - information (message - information), cupboard - furniture (cabinet - furniture), tip - advice (advice, hint - advice), job - work (work, piecework - work), jorney - travel (travel, trip - journey), view - scenery (review, view - view, landscape). The word "clock", which in Russian is used only in the plural, will appear only in the singular in English. The watch is very expensive - This watch is very expensive. Although, if we are talking about a lot of watches, then it is quite possible to say watches. The word money can also be confusing. After all, the Russian “money” is plural. In English, the word money is always, without exception, only the singular number. For example, Money in not for me - Money is not for me. Money is under the pillow - Money under the pillow.

Other interesting uncountable nouns in English: mail (mail, that is, parcels and letters), garlic (garlic), harm (harm, evil, loss, damage), homework (housework), chalk (chalk), content (content, text and graphic content of the site), currency (currency), fame (fame, fame, popularity), garbage (garbage, garbage, leftovers), innicence (purity, innocence), jelly (jam), labor (work, especially physical work) , livestock (livestock, animals kept on a farm).

Uncountable nouns in English and the possessive case

The possessive case expresses property relations. For example, in the phrase “dog's tail” it is unclear who belongs to whom. But if we give the word “dog” the form of the possessive case, then it is immediately clear that the tail belongs to the dog, and not vice versa. The rules for putting English countable nouns into the possessive case are quite simple: you just need to add the ending “s” through an apostrophe, for example dog’s tail. But how do you say “temperature of water,” “mass of a substance,” or “several pounds of ice cream”? It is immediately worth noting that inanimate nouns are extremely rarely used in the possessive case. As a rule, the preposition "of" is used, for example: mass of a substance - mass of a substance (as we see, in English, the word "substance" is not uncountable), few pounds of ice-cream - several pounds of ice cream. The construction “noun + noun” is often used. For example, water temperature - water temperature.

So. In other words, more than one grammatical topic concerns this category, because many points depend precisely on what kind of noun we are working with - with a countable ( countable noun) or uncountable ( uncountable noun). How are they different from each other? This can be understood just by looking at their name.

Countable nouns

Countable nouns (“countable”) are words that denote the names of concrete objects and abstract concepts that can be counted. And since they can be counted, they are used both in the singular and in the plural. Here are examples of countable nouns: table, picture, hour, holiday, offer, boy, decision, way-out etc.

When using such words in the singular, you can precede them with a / an: a table, a picture, an hour, an offer, a boy, a decision, a way-out. Moreover, a countable singular noun must always be accompanied by some kind of determiner. If there is no indefinite article, you need or ( the), or ( my, his, our etc.), ( that, this Let me remind you that a determiner is a linguistic indicator with a noun, expressing the meaning of definiteness. For example:

• I saw a boy .
• This picture is a masterpiece.
• I approve of the decision you've made.
• I brokemy leg.

With plural countable nouns we can use some (any, many, few):

Some friends of mine will come to this party. - Several of my friends will come to the party. (Some of my friends will come to the party).

Uncountable nouns

In contrast to the previous ones, uncountable nouns (“non-countable”) are the names of substances, abstract concepts that cannot be counted. And, therefore, they are used only in the singular. Examples: knowledge, silver, music, milk, water, happiness, furniture, advice etc. These nouns cannot be used with indefinite articles a / an, but they can be combined with the other determiners mentioned above (definite article, possessive, demonstrative pronoun).

They are also used with some indefinite pronouns: some, any, much, little. For example:

• These earrings are made of silver .
• I have some news for you.
• I don't like the music you are listening to now.
• Her beauty attracts me.

However, there are cases in which it is permissible to use an uncountable noun with an indefinite article a / an, as well as with numerals ( one / two, etc.). This can be done when ordering food in a restaurant or cafe:

We'll have four coffees, please. - We need four coffees.

Uncountable nouns include various edible products ( meat, flour, milk, salt, etc.), liquid ( petrol, coffee, etc.), substances and materials ( gold, wood, glass, etc.), abstract concepts ( help, education, etc.) and many other words ( advice, weather, hair, etc.). What if we need to use such a word in speech? How to transfer any quantity? Certain words serve this purpose: a piece of advice(advice), a bowl of fruit(bowl of fruit) a carton of milk(a carton of milk), a bar of chocolate(chocolate bar), a glass of wine(a glass of wine), a can of Coke(can of Coca-Cola), a tube of paint(tube of paint), a kilo of meat(kilogram of meat), a cup of tea(Cup of tea), a loaf of bread(a loaf of bread), a rasher of bacon(rasher).

If we are talking about material nouns, then we remember that there are nouns that denote not the substance itself, but the object consisting of this substance. Such a noun will already be countable. For example:

Their house is built of local stone.– Their house is built from local stone. (uncountable noun)

I have a stone in my shoe. - I have a pebble in my shoe. (countable noun)

In yet another case, material nouns can become countable: when they convey different varieties or types of a substance.

There is a live coal in the fire-place. - There is a burning coal in the fireplace.

You can read about four tips in choosing and using various body oils. – You can read four tips on how to choose and use different body oils.

What is the difficulty in understanding the principle of “countability-non-countability”? But the fact is that some nouns in English are uncountable, but in Russian or other languages, on the contrary, they are countable. Among them are the following words: baggage, bread, information, furniture, traffic, work, progress, accommodation, cash, clothing, cutlery, equipment, health, luck, money, photography, research, safety, sunshine, underwear, violence, etc.

That is great news! – What great news!

May I give you two pieces of advice? - May I give you two pieces of advice?

And there are nouns that can be used both as countable and uncountable. But in this case we will observe a difference in meaning. For example:

I'm three apples. - I ate three apples. (countable)

Is there apple in this salad? – Is there an apple in this salad? (uncountable)

Would you like a glass of lemonade? - How about a glass of lemonade? (countable)

This sculpture was made of glass. – This sculpture is made of glass. (uncountable)

I'm pressed for time. – I don’t have any time.

How many times did you read this article? – How many times have you read this article?

Countable and uncountable nouns– this is not the most difficult topic in the English language. And if you perceive every noun in English precisely from the point of view of this language, and not your native one, you will master this topic without any problems.

Now test your knowledge by taking the following test:

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Test

Countable and uncountable nouns in English

In one of our topics (Countable and uncountable nouns. Using the article “a/an”) we talked about the fact that the words “fruit” and “fish” can be both countable and uncountable nouns.

Let's talk about these cases so that we know when to use an article and when not to.

Fruit

1. So, if you mean fruits as a type of food, those. is a common collective name, then fruit is considered uncountable a noun that can have only unit form — fruit, and consequently, used without an article“a”/”an” and agrees with the singular verb.

E.g. Fruit is very useful food. – Fruits are very healthy food.

Canned fruit. - Canned fruits.

2. However, if by fruit you mean a specific type of fruit(for example, citrus or seasonal), then fruit has only plural form. h. – fruits and also used without the article “a”/”an”.

— What are the local fruits? – What fruits are especially common in this area?

— Mostly pears and apples. -Mainly pears and apples.

3. If it comes about the botanical term “fruit – fruits” any plant, then in this case it will be: a fruit - fruits

E.g. These trees give very tasty fruits. These trees bear very tasty fruits.

4. The word “fruit” also has a figurative meaning – success, fruits of labor, those. the result of some activity. In this case, the word "fruit" will be in plural in combination with the definite article and the preposition of:

the fruits of learning - the fruits of learning,

the fruits of labor - the fruits of labor.

5. In American slang "a fruit" translated as "strange guy" Remember the Russian equivalent: “He’s still that type!”

E.g. He comes on like a fruit. - He seems like a strange guy.

Fish

1. In its basic meaning “fish” (i.e. some kind of fish) the word "fish" is a countable noun whose singular form is and plural matches: a fish – two fish – many fish , i.e. in the singular the article “a”/”an” is required.

Please note that the coincidence of unit forms. and many more numbers will also be observed in fish species, i.e.:

a code(cod) – three cod (three cod) – many codes(lots of cod)

a pike(pike) – two pike (two pikes) – many pikes(lots of pike)

2. If you use the word "fish" meaning "different types of fish", then it is necessary to say fishes and agree the word with the plural verb, i.e. there can be no talk of any article “a”/”an”.

The Peter was given a colorful album on tropical fishes. – Petya was given a colorful album dedicated to tropical fish.

3. If the word "fish" is used as a food product then "fish" is considered uncountable noun having only unit form

Fish is very helpful food. – Fish is a very healthy food.

4. If "fish" is used as a collective noun, i.e. you talk about fish as a class, then these words will be consistent with plural verb. and have only form fish. The article “a”/”an” cannot be used.

How do fish breathe? – How does a fish breathe?

We also suggest that you remember a few common expressions with the word “fish”:

to feel like a fish out of water - to feel out of place.

to drink like a fish - to get drunk, to drink without drying out

neither fish, nor fowl - neither fish nor meat

freshwater (saltwater) fish - freshwater (sea) fish

fish story - “hunting story”; tall tales

filleted fish - fish fillet

an odd fish - strange person

All's fish that comes to his net. - For lack of fish and cancer, fish

√ Countable or uncountable.
√ Uncountable nouns.
√ Countable or uncountable in other languages.
√ When an uncountable noun is used as a countable noun.
√ Uncountable noun as singular countable nouns.

Countable or uncountable.

Nouns can be either countable or uncountable. Countable nouns are those that can be counted and can be preceded by the article a/an or used in the plural.

When an uncountable noun is used as a countable noun.

a) Sometimes an uncountable noun is used when we talk about a substance or idea, but a countable noun when we talk about containers for things. Compare:
She prefers coffee to tea. AND
Four coffees (= cups of coffee), please.

About the type/type of something, the brand, or what the thing is made of. Compare:
There"s butter in the refrigerator. and There are a lot of butters (= brands of butter) to choose from..

About a specific example of a physical or some specific thing. Compare:
Karina has got black hair. and There's a hair in my soup!

About a specific example of a substance or idea. Compare:
The steps were made of stone. and She has got a stone in her sandal.
We were always bad at sport. and Badminton is mainly a summer sport in Belarus.

B) The same noun can be used both countable and uncountable. Compare:
- There is a lot of iron in Russia. (Metal)
- There was an iron on the table. (a device for clothes to make them smooth)

Other similar nouns like these include:

Weather- in all weathers.

A transport- impulse (emotion) I was in a transport of delight - I was in a fit of delight

Time- once, chance. That has been the only time my parents disagreed.

Speech- speech give/make/deliver a speech - Each pupil had to delivered a short speech to the class.

Sight- sight, view, As they opened the front door they saw a strange sight. When they opened the front door, they saw a strange sight.

- the sights and sounds of the forest sights and sounds of the forest

Room- room. There are a lot of rooms at my place.

Property- physical/chemical properties. physical/chemical properties

Paper- newspaper. Have you read today's paper yet? Have you already read today's newspaper?

Education- lesson, experience. Having Jimmie to stay has been quite an education! Jimmy taught us a good lesson when we left him!

The noun damage can be used as a countable noun only in the plural:
David and Max had damage to the car.

A little about countable and uncountable nouns.

In English they are called Countable - [‘kauntəbl] (countable) and Uncountable - [ʌn’kauntəbl] (uncountable) Nouns.

I think everyone knows what countable and uncountable nouns are in English. Simply put, what can be counted and what cannot be counted.

Usually not considered:
1) materials – (Wood, Silver, Gold)
2) liquids – (Water, Wine, Juice),
3) languages ​​– (Spanish, English, German)
4) subjects of study – (Economics, Physics),
5) games – (Chess, Golf, Basketball),
6) diseases – (Herpes, Flu),
7) abstract nouns – (see below)
8) natural phenomena – (Rain, Snow, Humidity)

Used with them Much.

Much snow - a lot of snow.

In fact, you can imagine that somewhere there is a big pile of... wood, sap, rain, German, information, business, shopping... from which you piece by piece pick out something interesting and countable. For example, from shopping dresses that you can count, and from business - ideas)

List of example abstract nouns: advice, anger, applause, assistance, behavior, business, seaside, seasidechaos (Chaos), countryside (In the village), courage (courage, courage), damage (damage), dirt (dirt), education (education), accommodation (premises), evidence (certificate), housework (housework), homework (D/Z), information (information), intelligence (intelligence), knowledge (Knowledge), luck (luck), music (music), news (news), peace (peace), progress (progress), shopping (Shopping ), traffic ( traffic), trouble (trouble), truth (truth), wealth (wealth), work (work), beauty (beauty), charity (charity), capitalism (capitalism), democracy (democracy), eternity (eternity),individualism, faith, infinity, liberty, misery, motivation, observation, poverty, privacy, slavery, space ( place, space), stability (stability), unemployment (unemployment), violence (violence), wisdom (wisdom)

Uncountable nouns have the 3rd person singular form - conventionally denoted (IS)
Your luggage looks heavy. Your luggage looks heavy.
This news is very important. This news is very important.

It’s a good idea to remember that News IS
Money IS
Hair IS,
Because it is in these words that mistakes are made, since in Russian they sound like

NEWS/HAIR/MONEY.

Uncountable nouns are not preceded by the article “a”, only “the”, when we need to clarify definiteness. For example Give me the money - Give me the money (the same money).
For what we cannot count, we use words and expressions how much/much,a little/little,a lot of.

We cannot say an information, but we can say little information (a little information) or much/a lot of information (a lot of information) or the information (that very information)
* Little here does not mean “small”, but “little”.

To turn uncountable nouns into countable nouns, you need to add the preposition of and, for example, from water you get a glass or cup of water, and from information you get a piece of information)
a piece of news - news.
a bottle of water – a bottle of water
a grain of rice - a grain of rice
These words are called a kind of “Measure words” (Measure words), there are quite a lot of them, but mostly food measurements are remembered.
a cup of tea. A cup of tea.
a slice of meat. A piece of meat.

MANY CUPS OF TEA.

Or, you can imagine that “Money” is counted in “Rubles”, “Music” has “Songs”, and “Furniture” (furniture) is counted in “Tables.” (for example)

And, naturally, with uncountables we can use some (+) in affirmative sentences and any(?-) in interrogative and negative ones.
For example: We haven`t got any milk. We don't have milk at all.
Have you got any cheese? Do you have any cheese?
Yes, I've got some cheese in the fridge. Yes, there's some cheese in the fridge.

* We can use Some in questions as a POLITE SENTENCE.

For example: Can I have some milk?

With countable nouns everything is much simpler.
1) easy to count – A Cup – Cups
A doctor – doctors
A lemon – lemons
I like oranges - I love oranges.
Bottles can break. Bottles may break.

2) Also used with some and any.

I would like some berries. I'd like some berries
I wouldn`t like any berry s. I would like any berries.
Have you got any berries? Do you have any berries?
Can I have some berries? Can I have some berries?

3) C With countables we can use expressions such as few – (little), a few (a little), many
(a lot of), lots of (a lot)

For example:

There are few people in the street. There are few people on the street.
There are A few people in the street. There are few people on the street.
There are lots of pizzas on the table. There are a lot of pizzas on the table (large and different).

Speak correctly =).

Have a great day