Countable Nouns
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| Countable nouns are people, places, things and ideas (which are things) that can be counted. We can count how many people are on a basketball team, how many friends are with them, how many cars are needed to transport them all to a game and how many ways there are to arrange the players in the cars. We can count the minutes or hours it will take them to get to the basketball court and how many baskets and fouls are made during the game. Singular, countable nouns can only be used as part of a noun phrase, and the noun phrase must begin with a determiner. Maurice has an important game today at two o'clock. (article, adjective, noun) His friend is taking four of the teammates in his car. (possessive, noun) It will take them one hour to get there. (quantifier, noun) This game is their last chance to get into the play-off. (demonstrative, noun) When speaking or writing generally about a countable noun in a way that shows you mean every noun of this sort does a specific thing, use the before the noun. The wheel is an important invention. The basketball court is an excellent place for exercise. The gym is a popular place for meeting friends. Plural countable nouns may be used with or without a determiner. When speaking in general, when specific nouns are not referred to, or there is no need to specify a certain number of people, places or things, a determiner is not necessary. People enjoy playing sports. (general) Uniforms make a team feel special. (general) Scores can be very high. (general) The use of a determiner with a plural countable nouns indicates that something specific is being discussed. Many people enjoy playing basketball. (number) Their uniforms are red and purple. (specific) The scores in Maurice's games are usually high. (specific) |
| Determiners Articles: a, an the Possessives: my, your, his, her, its ours theirs, Maurice's |
| Maurice is the star player on his team. |
| Determiners Quantifiers: two, five, one half, two thirds, either, several etc. Demonstrative: this, that, those, these |
| Remember! Every singular countable noun requires a determiner. |
| The basketball is a common item in many US households. |
| Plural countable nouns without a determiner indicate something general. |
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| Maurice's catches are often spectacular. |
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