Academic Writing for International Students of Business

education progress vocabulary

equipment research weather

furniture rubbish work

NB: Many of these can be ‘counted’ by using an extra noun:

Three kindsof commerce

An itemof equipment

Two membersof staff

(b) Another group of uncountable nouns is used for materials:

wood/rubber/iron/coffee/paper/water/oil/stone

Little woodis used in the construction of motor vehicles.

Huge amounts of paperare used to produce these magazines.

Many of these nouns can be used as countable nouns with a rather different meaning:

Over 20 daily papersare published in Delhi.

Most woodsare home to a wide variety of birds.

(c) The most difficult group can be used either as countable or uncountable nouns, often
with quite different meanings (further examples: business/capital/experience):

She developed an interestin microfinance.

The bank is paying 4% intereston six-month deposits.

Other nouns with a similar pattern are used for general concepts (love/fear/hope):

Most people feel that lifeis too short.(in general)

Nearly 20 lives were lost in the mining accident.(in particular)

4 Practice A

 In the following sentences, choose the correct alternative.

(a) Little/fewnews about the takeover was released.

(b) She established three successful businesses/businessin 2009.

(c) Substantial experiences/experienceof report writing are/isrequired for this post.

(d) It has often been claimed that travel broadens/travels broadenthe mind.

(e) How much advice/many adviceswere they given before coming to Australia?

2.12:Singular or Plural? 139