Unit 6.1
Uncountable Nouns
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Introduction
Nouns refer to a person, place, thing, event, substance or quality.
Uncountable nouns are nouns which cannot be counted easily or what we refer to as a mass.
Form
Uncountable nouns refer to things we consider as a mass and not as separate objects. We have three types of uncountable nouns:
- with only singular form: advice, baggage, energy, hair, homework, information, money…;
- with only plural form: clothes, groceries, news, regards, thanks…;
- nouns that can be both countable and uncountable:
- Depending on the context: a type of, a kind of…;
- Materials and liquids: coffee, glass, paper, water…;
- Abstract nouns: life, time…
Example
- My baggage is so heavy because of the camera in it.
- Her energy as a salsa dancer is incredible.
- Their money was not enough to buy the painting.
- Could you get the groceries?
- He told me some news about your journey.
- We send our thanks to the director.
- Siberian husky is a kind of dog.
- Can I borrow some coffee?
- Do you want a glass of coke?
- I need more time.
Use
We use uncountable nouns to refer to things we consider as a mass and not as separate objects (abstract ideas, substances, materials, gases and liquids).
There are nouns that can be both countable and uncountable:
- they are uncountable when referring to a general meaning;
- they are countable when referring to a specific thing or meaning.
Summary
Uncountable nouns refer to things we consider as a mass and not as separate objects. We have three types of uncountable nouns:
- Only singular uncountable nouns: advice, baggage, energy, hair, homework, information, money…
- Only plural uncountable nouns: clothes, groceries, news, regards, thanks…
- Both uncountable and countable uses: a type of…, a kind of…; coffee, glass, paper, water… (materials and liquids); life, time… (abstract nouns).
For example:
— “I don’t have energy for another trip.” = Energy has only singular uncountable form.
— “I will tell you later the news of today.” = News has only plural uncountable form.
— “Can I have some coffee?” / “Can I have a coffee?“= Coffee refers to coffee as a powder (singular uncountable), and a coffee has the implicit meaning of a cup of coffee (singular countable).
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. And take a look to the {Example} that show its use within a context.
Exercises
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