Scribd
Upload
56 views1 page

Count Vs Mass Ns

This document summarizes the key differences between count nouns and mass nouns. Count nouns refer to things that are thought of as separate entities that can take a plural form, occur with determiners like "a" or "many", and occur with numerals. In contrast, mass nouns refer to things that are not thought of as separate entities, cannot take a plural form except to designate types, and can occur with determiners like "some" or "much" but not others like "many". Examples of count nouns include "farmer" and mass nouns include "furniture". Some nouns like "salad" can be either count or mass depending on usage.

Uploaded by

Nome Prima
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
56 views1 page

Count Vs Mass Ns

This document summarizes the key differences between count nouns and mass nouns. Count nouns refer to things that are thought of as separate entities that can take a plural form, occur with determiners like "a" or "many", and occur with numerals. In contrast, mass nouns refer to things that are not thought of as separate entities, cannot take a plural form except to designate types, and can occur with determiners like "some" or "much" but not others like "many". Examples of count nouns include "farmer" and mass nouns include "furniture". Some nouns like "salad" can be either count or mass depending on usage.

Uploaded by

Nome Prima
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

ENGL 4/540 Count vs.

Mass Nouns
Count nouns
A count noun is a noun that refers to things that are thought of as separate entities (individuated). Therefore, count nouns can: take a plural form occur with distinctive determiners (e.g. a/an, many), but cannot occur with a determiner such as much. occur with numerals (e.g. three, four).

Example: The word farmer is an example of a count noun, as evidenced by the acceptability of the following expressions: farmer farmers a farmer many farmers two farmers However, the expression much farmer is not acceptable.

Mass nouns
A mass noun is a noun that refers to things that are not thought of as separate entities. Usually refers to undifferentiated substances whose internal composition is uniform: gasses (air), liquids (water), and substances whose particles are too small to easily distinguish from each other (sand). Also to many abstractions (justice) It may have distinguishing features such as the following: The inability to take a plural form except to designate groups, or types, of the referent (e.g. fishes, waters) Cooccurrence with some determiners (such as some and much ), but not others (such as many )

Example: The word furniture is a mass noun. It cannot take the plural suffix -s: *furnitures In addition, it can occur with some determiners, but not others: the furniture much furniture some furniture *a furniture *many furnitures

Some nouns permit treatment as either count or mass nouns


In English, salad may be treated as either a count or mass noun, as evidenced by the acceptability of the following expressions: Many salads Much salad

You might also like