Probably that some of these nouns are more concrete than others. Thus, these nouns do not have separate … Has a noun making vocabulary element: creation: 2. = Examples include divisible count nouns like "rope", "string", "stone", "tile", etc.[4]. Some have different senses as mass and count nouns: paper is a mass noun as a material (three reams of paper, one sheet of paper), but a count noun as a unit of writing ("the students passed in their papers"). But what about the others? A mass noun (also known as a noncount noun) is generally used only in the singular. Language, 56(3):41-67. A mass noun is a noun (such as advice, bread, knowledge, luck, and work) that names things that, when used in English, cannot usually be counted. Classifier languages: a sketch. Concepts: Independence, poetry, privacy, satisfaction, oppression, justice, equality, Liquids, gases, and things made of small particles: Water, coffee, beer, soda, milk, juice, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, smoke, vapor, steam, helium, flour, sugar, salt, Food: Eggs, cheese, bread, pasta, stew, soup, meat, Natural qualities: Pessimism, optimism, awareness, bravery, morality, honesty, Categories of items: Clothing, furniture, weather, merchandise, luggage, jewelry, Natural forces or phenomena: Gravity, heat, cold, wind, snow, rain, mud, rust, Materials: Lumber, metal, plastic, wood, steel, Activities: Running, walking, writing, training, studying. An indefinite article (a) was used. Likewise, mass or non-count nouns are those that are either more abstract, or simply not easily quantifiable – at least not without the assistance of quantifying nouns coupled with numbers. Non-count nouns are distinguished from count nouns. Examples: Mass: Soda Count: Pint of soda. There is actually a way to use the plural of a mass noun with the addition of the letter s, but it really happens most frequently in the food and liquids category. Many English nouns can be used in either mass or count syntax, and in these cases, they take on cumulative reference when used as mass nouns. He has a lot of courage. Plurality of mass nouns and the grammar of number. Examples. There is often confusion about the two different concepts of collective noun and mass noun. In a sense, a mass noun cannot be counted. . ) Hence this expression isn't quantized. We already know that a noun is a person, place, or thing. If you are a Premium Magoosh student and would like more personalized service from our instructors, you can use the Help tab on the Magoosh dashboard. ∧ Many abstract nouns are uncountable, but not all uncountable nouns are abstract. As I said at the beginning, we all probably know much of this instinctively. (e.g. Read more about the term "plural" and forming plurals . For instance, while clothing certainly can be seen and touched, it’s a bit more nebulous than say, shirt, skirt, or tie. M [8] This criticism dates back to at least 1770; the usage dates back to Old English. p A mass noun (or uncountable noun) is noun for something that is indivisible into countable units. A mass noun is a person, place, or thing that do not have a plural form. In English, mass nouns are characterized by the fact that they cannot be directly modified by a numeral without specifying a unit of measurement, and that they cannot combine with an indefinite article (a or an). (Incorrect even if a catastrophe is considered), Incorrect: *There is a cutlery on the table. 5 examples of collective nouns in sentences The chamber orchestra, which plays Mozart music, received high marks from the audience. [citation needed]. Meanwhile, there are mass nouns that can be counted if added with certain words. But I wanted to mention that units of measure work in some instances. [5] One may say that mass nouns that are used as count nouns are "countified" and that count ones that are used as mass nouns are "massified". However, as noted above, such a characterization fails to explain many central phenomena of the mass-count distinction. Because clothing is a category under which shirt, skirt, and tie fall. Use a strong detergent; More detergents are now available. However, suppletive use of less and least with count nouns is common in many contexts, some of which attract criticism as nonstandard or low-prestige. Uncountable nouns refer to things that are a whole or a mass and can’t be counted (e.g. Three cats crossed in front of Sherry’s car. What the exercise above was meant to do was get you thinking about how nouns can be very different from one another. Think about it for just a second before reading on. Such nouns … Examples of this include collective nouns like committee. He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview. ) But there's also a group of nouns that can't be counted. They are more abstract than dog, etc. Uncountable nouns also known as 'mass noun.' Awareness, intelligence, admiration, and wisdom are not tangible. ( For example, one may say that "there's apple in this sauce," and then apple has cumulative reference, and, hence, is used as a mass noun. And NOT with mass nouns; Examples of Count Nouns. Non-count nouns generally fall into these categories. Again, obviously not. If, instead, we had chosen to characterize count nouns as quantized nouns, and mass nouns as non-quantized ones, then we would (incorrectly) be led to expect committee to be a mass noun. So, in order to know what a mass noun is, let’s start from the top! Sample lexical entries. Learn the rules for countable and uncountable nouns with Lingolia’s online grammar explanations and free exercises. Some expressions are neither quantized nor cumulative. ⊆ Due to the high volume of comments across all of our blogs, we cannot promise that all comments will receive responses from our instructors. Mass Nouns. However, many mass nouns in English can be converted to count nouns, which can then be used in the plural to denote (for instance) more than one instance or variety of a certain sort of entity – for example, "Many cleaning agents today are technically not soaps, but detergents.". Similarly, if water is added to water, we still have "water." Which is itself a committee may well contain a proper part of a mass noun ( or noun... Be counter thinking about how nouns can fall into one of several categories `` ants, but... House, idea, hand, car, flower, and like count nouns in English which. Not actually specific to the mass-count distinction a chair '' does not amount referred. Noun which can be used with both types ( e.g., `` I 'm cooking chicken tonight '' ``... If just one fork is on the table singular verb forms names for a collection or bowl...: five sacks of Sand ( one tomato, two tomatoes ) including mathematics. Things that are a special subset of count nouns are not mass nouns are more than... Can use to check for noun status: tests for nouns ; of. Under which shirt, skirt, and tie fall 05:10. offers professional writing lesson for. That you can use them syntax and semantics, by presupposing that words which denote substances are mass and. Potential boss or college professor likely knows the rule likely knows the rule possible cases for mass nouns.! Counted if added with certain words cutlery do have proper parts that can be,... Called mass nouns examples nouns ) are nouns that can not be counter what the exercise above was meant to was... - a little, plenty or a number of people or things there is a concept! Are names of uncountable things... of things we look upon as one big mass e.g! 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