Easy Word | Luyện ngữ pháp


Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate (Unit 70: Countable and uncountable 2)


A

Many nouns can be used as countable or uncountable nouns, usually with a difference in meaning. Compare:

Countable Uncountable
Did you hear a noise just now? (= a specific noise) I can't work here. There's too much notse. (= noise in general)
I bought a paper to read. (= a newspaper) I need some paper to write on. (= material for writing on)
There's a hair in my soup! (= one single hair) You've got very long hair. (not hairs) (= all the hair on your head)
You can stay with us. There's a spare room. (= a room in a house) You can't sit here. There isn't room. (= space)
I had some interesting experiences while I was travelling. (= things that happened to me) They offered me the job because I had a lot of experience. (not experiences)
Enjoy your trip. Have a good time! I can't wait. I don't have time.

Coffee/tea/juice/beer etc. (drinks) are normally uncountable:
  • I don't like coffee very much.

But you can say a coffee (= a cup of coffee), two coffees (= two cups) etc. :
  • Two coffees and an orange juice, please.
B

The following nouns are usually uncountable:

accommodation        advice        baggage        behaviour        bread        chaos        damage
furniture        information        luck        luggage        news        permission        progress
scenery        traffic        weather        work

You cannot use a/an with these nouns:
  • I'm going to buy some bread. or ... a loaf of bread. (not a bread)
  • Enjoy your holiday! I hope you have good weather. (not a good weather)

These nouns are not usually plural (so we do not say 'breads', 'furnitures' etc.):
  • Where are you going to put all your furniture? (not furnitures)
  • Let me know if you need more information. (not informations)

News is uncountable, not plural:
  • The news was very depressing. (not The news were)

Travel (noun) means 'travelling in general' (uncountable). We do not say 'a travel' to mean a trip or a journey:
  • They spend a lot of money on travel.
  • We had a very good trip/journey. (not a good travel)

Compare these countable and uncountable nouns:

Countable Uncountable
I'm looking for a job. I'm looking for work. (not a work)
What a beautiful view! What beautiful scenery!
It's a nice day today. It's nice weather today.
We had a lot of bags and cases. We had a lot of baggage/luggage.
These chairs are mine. This furniture is mine.
That's a good suggestion. That's good advice.
Exercises - 70.1


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