Common Uncountable Nouns
Which of the following sentences is the only one that is grammatically correct? (question from Facebook poll)
Can you help me move the furniture? It's too heavy for me to lift. 😍
I havea good new - the boss isn't coming to work today. 😡
I have some good news - the boss isn't coming to work today. 😍
Have you corrected myhomeworks yet? 😡
Have you corrected my homework yet? 😍
If I were rich, I'd go ona travel around the world. 😡
If I were rich, I'd go on a round the world trip. 😍
If you needan advice, you should ask your sister. 😡
If you need (some) advice, you should ask your sister. 😍
The informations that they gave me were wrong. 😡
The information that they gave me was wrong. 😍
Furniture, *news, homework, *travel, advice and information are all examples of uncountable nouns.
We do not usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns, nor do they have plural forms.
*News is an uncountable noun that ends in -s (it is not the plural of new).
*Travel is rare in the plural form but it is possible to say - He wrote about his travels around America. - it has the sense of journeys.
We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a singular verb. For example:
Compare the following countable and uncountable nouns:
Countable Uncountable
an hour time
a suitcase luggage
a job work
a euro money
a suggestion advice
a song music
a picture art
a wardrobe furniture
a journey travel
a hotel acommodation
a study research
a problem trouble
a shirt trousers
Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning.
I'm sure I heard a noise coming from upstairs.
I can't concentrate with so much noise.
I've been to London many times.
Hurry up! We don't have much time.
Would you like an ice-cream?
I ate too much ice-cream.
She has a huge house with 10 rooms.
Is there enough room for me too?
What colour is your sister's hair?
Look at the hairs on his jumper. He must have a dog or a cat.
Can you help me move the furniture? It's too heavy for me to lift. 😍
I have
I have some good news - the boss isn't coming to work today. 😍
Have you corrected my
Have you corrected my homework yet? 😍
If I were rich, I'd go on
If I were rich, I'd go on a round the world trip. 😍
If you need
If you need (some) advice, you should ask your sister. 😍
The information that they gave me was wrong. 😍
We do not usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns, nor do they have plural forms.
*News is an uncountable noun that ends in -s (it is not the plural of new).
*Travel is rare in the plural form but it is possible to say - He wrote about his travels around America. - it has the sense of journeys.
We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a singular verb. For example:
- The homework was really easy.
- This music helps me relax.
- a carton of milk
- a piece of advice / furniture / equipment etc.
- a bottle of wine
- a can of coke
- I need some help.
- Have you got any beer?
- He needs to do a little exercise.
- We haven't got much petrol left.
Compare the following countable and uncountable nouns:
Countable Uncountable
an hour time
a suitcase luggage
a job work
a euro money
a suggestion advice
a song music
a picture art
a wardrobe furniture
a journey travel
a hotel acommodation
a study research
a problem trouble
a shirt trousers
Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning.
I'm sure I heard a noise coming from upstairs.
I can't concentrate with so much noise.
I've been to London many times.
Hurry up! We don't have much time.
Source: Elza Kurbanova en Unsplash
I ate too much ice-cream.
She has a huge house with 10 rooms.
Is there enough room for me too?
What colour is your sister's hair?
Look at the hairs on his jumper. He must have a dog or a cat.
Comments
Nicolas.
I hope see you by MOJ!!
I'll try to add an exercise for you to practise them; perhaps a dictation too.
Montse,
I HOPE TO SEE you AROUND MOJ!!
We can go for a coffee whenever you want.
I have read your interesting article and now I am writing my sample sentences with uncountable nouns. Hava I understand the exercise?
Happiest is more interesting than sadness.
He has bad life.
Drinking some of alcohol is good for the health.
A little of water would be beneficial for the forest.
I can’t understand fantastic novel.
Vargas Llosa wrote many novels.
There is too much sugar in the coffee.
The food is too cold.
I have fives foods every day ¿?
The painting is an art, the cinema and the theatre are others.
A piece of your luggage was over the counter.
There was many people in the conference. ¿?
This is the kind of people who thinks the things before doing.
You must never lose the hope.
I had put the uncountable nouns in bold. I believe haves lose my bold nouns
Bye, Lucía.
You've been working really hard. I'll be back soon to correct what you have done.
I'm going to have a few beers too. :-)
I have read your interesting article and now I am writing my sample sentences with uncountable nouns. HAVE I UNDERSTOOD the exercise?
HAPPINESS is more interesting than sadness.
He has A bad LIFE.
Drinking SOME ALCOHOL is good for the health.
A LITTLE WATER would be beneficial for the forest.
I can’t understand SCI-FI NOVELS.
I have FIVE MEALS every day.
PAINTING is an art, the cinema and the theatre are others.
A piece of your luggage was ON the counter.
There WERE many PEOPLE AT the conference.
THEY ARE the kind of people who THINK ABOUT things before doing THEM.
You must never LOSE HOPE.
I had put the uncountable nouns in bold. I believe I HAVE LOST my bold nouns.
Well done, Lucía.
I´ve been there many times.
The time of the exam is over.
The examn takes two hours.
I don't have much time to finish the exanm.
Do you know where our suitcases are?
Do you konw where our luggage is?
His music is horrible.
Some songs are horrible.
I don't drink alcohol.
Yestarday I drank two beers.
Tobacco is unhealthy
I've smoked a lot of cigarrettes.
I've put some sugar in my coffe.
I've put a piece of sugar in my coffe.
I've put two spoonful os sugar in my coffe.
I've got a lot of work tonight, so I hate my job.
I've done a market study about fashion.
I work in market research department.
I like travelling.
I go on a trip to Portugal.
See you!
Good work! I think you have got the hang of it.
exam
I've put a lump of sugar in my coffee.
I've done a market study into fashion.
I'm going on a trip to Portugal.
I think that it's better that I read before your corrections.
bye