COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
On the basis of quality nouns can be divided into two category- Countable and uncountable.
COUNTABLE NOUN
The nouns which can be counted in numbers are called
countable nouns.
a)
There are seven stars in ‘Saptrishi’.
b)
I decorated that wall-hanging leaves.
c)
Some students are playing in the ground.
d)
I have taken four books from library.
e)
This house has big rooms.
In the above
sentences, ‘stars’, ‘leaves’, ‘students’, ‘books’, ‘house’ and ‘rooms’ are
countable because these are found in numbers not in quantity.
COUNTLESS NOUN
When the number of a countable noun is very big and it cannot be counted easily then such nouns are called countless countable nouns. For examples
a)
The stars in the sky are shining brightly.
b)
The leaves on this tree are yellow.
Of course, ‘stars’ and ‘leaves’ are countable as they are
found in numbers not in quantity but in these sentences, ‘stars’ in the sky and
‘leaves’ on a tree cannot be counted due to their big numbers; hence these are
countless.
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
The nouns which cannot be counted in numbers are
called uncountable nouns. Generally, the things which have units of
measurement, and abstract nouns are uncountable.
For example-
a)
I need some sugar.
b)
Would you please lend me some money?
c)
You should have some patience.
d)
Only little oil is left in the bottle.
In these sentences, sugar, money, patience, and oil are the
nouns which can never be counted. Hence, these are uncountable nouns.
Exercises
1.
Select the countable, countless and
uncountable nouns in the following sentences
a) The children are playing in the garden.
b)
I don't like milk.
c) I prefer tea.
d)
Scientists say that the environment is
threatened by pollution.
e)
My mother uses butter to prepare cakes.
f) There are a lot of windows in our classroom.
g) We need some glue to fix this vase.
h)
The waiters in this restaurant are very
professional.
i) My father drinks two big glasses of water every
morning.
j) The bread my mother prepares is delicious.
k) Drivers must be careful; the road is slippery.
l) Some policemen are organizing road traffic to
avoid any accidents.
m)
I bought three bottles of mineral water for our
picnic.
n)
I'd like some juice please!.
o)
Successful candidates will join the camp later
this year.
p) A rise in oil prices is inevitable since there
is more and more world demand for energy.
q)
The exercises on this website are
interesting.
r)
Dehydrated babies must drink a lot of water.
s)
Adult illiterates learn through a special
government program.
t)
I met some nice people when I was walking along
the beach.
