Macmillan English Grammar

countable and uncountable

• most nouns add -s to form the piurai


• there are irregular nouns likeman/men, knife /knives, life//ives, /oaf//oaves, person /peop/e,
  chi/d/chi/dren, mouse/mice


• some nouns likesheep, fish,aircra ftdo not normally add piurai -s


• some nouns are always piurai and have no singular form: c/othes (c/oth is a materia I),be/ongings,
  congratu/ations, goods, stairs, surroundings, thanks


• many nouns are uncountable, and do not have piurai-s,or have a different meaning when
  countable or uncountable. Uncountable nouns normally use a singular verb.
  countable trees uncountable e/ectricity
  countable woods (smali forests) uncountable wood (material)


• many nouns have an uncountable generai meaning, and a countable particular meaning which can
  have piurai-s
  general Few peop/e are in favour of war.
  particular There have been severa/ wars between the twa countries.


• most uncountable nouns are things which we c1earlycannot count. We use zero article, orsame.

Grains etc Gas, liquid, materialironf/aurwatersugarpapercoffee airrice
Abstract ideas

timefunpeace hea/th

Feelings

couragepityboredom anger
Activities

researchbehaviourwark trave/

Other com mon nouns which do not normally have piurai-s,and use a singular verb:

accommodation, advice, cash, c/othing, equipment, experience, furniture, hair,

information, know/edge, /uggage, money, rubbish, scenery, traffic, weather, wark

• note changes of meaning when uncountable nouns are used as countables with a / an (see Unit31),
  and can have plurals
  The doctor had many years of experience. (knowledge of life)
  He/en hadabad experience at her /ast schoo/.(something that happens to you)
  Many peop/e here are /ooking for work. Qobs)
  This isawork of1926.(a work of art: a painting etc)
  Can you buyapap er?(a newspaper)
  Wehadagood time last nighf. (when you do something)
  There ;sahair in my soup!(a single one)
  Other countables with specific meaning:
  an iron an object used to make clothes smooth
  a coffee, a beer etc a cup or glass etc of a liquid


• some uncountable nouns have a different countable word
  bread -aloaf
  money -anote, acoin
  trave/ -ajourney, atrip

/uggage -abag,acase

wark -ajob

accommodation -aroom, afiat etc

G

• many uncountable nouns have a scientific or technical use in countable form. Always use your
  dictionary to check which meaning is being used.
  Sugars are a/sa c/assified by the number of carbons they contain.

singular nouns ending in -5 piurai

Some nouns end in a piurai-sbut have no singular, and have a singular verb.

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