| Uncountable Nouns |
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Many nouns cannot be counted in every situation; these
nouns are called uncountable, and include:
Uncountable nouns are not usually used as plurals. There
are, however, times when one may wish to speak of
differing types of an uncountable noun. For instance, there
are many freedoms listed in the US Constitution: freedom
of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press. It is
therefore possible to speak of the freedoms enjoyed by
US citizens.
Fruit can be discussed in the same manner; one might say
that there were several different fruits offered at a buffet
table
When non-count nouns are used as plurals, they should be
treated like plural, countable nouns.
Many fabrics were used to create our AIDS quilt.
Like plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns require a
determiner only when discussing something specific:
Yesterday we shopped for fabric.
We bought some fabric that matched our sofa.
Freedom is important.
The freedom to practice one's religion is important.
Please buy fruit.
Buy the fruit you like.
Tennis can be boring to watch.
The tennis at Nimble don is always interesting.
nouns are called uncountable, and include:
- the names of materials - fabric, lumber, glass
- liquids - water, juice, milk
- things that we do not usually see as separate
objects, or are too small to count - hair, sugar,
coffee - abstract nouns, which are nouns that can only
be thought of, and can't be touched -
- nouns that describe groups of dissimilar things
fruit, jewelry, mail - nouns that end with 's' but are not plural -
economics, news, tennis
Uncountable nouns are not usually used as plurals. There
are, however, times when one may wish to speak of
differing types of an uncountable noun. For instance, there
are many freedoms listed in the US Constitution: freedom
of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press. It is
therefore possible to speak of the freedoms enjoyed by
US citizens.
Fruit can be discussed in the same manner; one might say
that there were several different fruits offered at a buffet
table
When non-count nouns are used as plurals, they should be
treated like plural, countable nouns.
Many fabrics were used to create our AIDS quilt.
Like plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns require a
determiner only when discussing something specific:
Yesterday we shopped for fabric.
We bought some fabric that matched our sofa.
Freedom is important.
The freedom to practice one's religion is important.
Please buy fruit.
Buy the fruit you like.
Tennis can be boring to watch.
The tennis at Nimble don is always interesting.
| Fruit is uncountable but vegetables are countable. Do you know why? Please tell me. |
| Fabric was sewn together to make this quilt. |
| Plural count nouns require a determiner when discussing something specific or known to the listener. |
| The fabrics used in this quilt are mostly blue and green. |
| Uncountable, or non-count nouns, are those that can't be counted in every situation. |
| The woman used some fabric from her children's baby clothes to make this quilt. |
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