5.4 Count and Noncount Nouns

COMPREHENSION Based on the reading, write T for true or F for false.

1. Cranberries grow in all parts of the United States. 2. The Indians used cranberries for medicine.

3. The Pilgrims learned about cranberries from the American Indians.

THINK ABOUT IT Discuss the questions with a partner or in a small group.

1. What is a typical fruit in your country? How do people eat it? 2. Describe your favorite recipe that has fruits from your country. How is the dish made? When do you eat it?

A count noun is something we can count. It has a singular and plural form. A noncount noun has just one form.

EXAMPLES We used one apple in the recipe. We used two pears in the recipe. We use a count noun in the singular form or plural form. We can put a, an, or a number before a count noun.

Boil water and add sugar.

EXPLANATION

We use a noncount noun in the singular form only. We don’t put a, an, or a number before a noncount noun.

There are several types of noncount nouns.

GROUP A: NOUNS THAT HAVE NO DISTINCT, SEPARATE PARTS. WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE. milk oil coffee

tea yogurt beef soup bread butter

paper

water juice honey meat air

GROUP B: NOUNS THAT HAVE PARTS THAT ARE TOO SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT TO COUNT. rice hair sand salt lightning thunder blood

sugar popcorn grass snow

GROUP C: NOUNS THAT ARE CLASSES OR CATEGORIES OF THINGS. THE MEMBERS OF THE CATEGORY ARE NOT THE SAME.

money or cash (nickels, dimes, dollars) furniture (chairs, tables, beds) clothing (sweaters, pants, dresses) fruit (apples, peaches, pears)

GROUP D: NOUNS THAT ARE ABSTRACTIONS. mail (letters, packages, postcards, flyers) homework (essays, exercises, readings) jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings) produce (oranges, apples, corn)

love happiness nutrition patience work nature

truth beauty education intelligence poverty health advice (un)employment music fun help energy

luck/fortune knowledge pollution art

GROUP E: SOME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE USUALLY NONCOUNT NOUNS. information friendship

broccoli celery lettuce kale asparagus spinach

corn squash cauliflower grapefruit cabbage celery

Note: Count and noncount are grammatical terms, but they are not always logical. Rice and beans are both very small, but rice is a noncount noun and bean is a count noun.