Sport countable or not. Countable and uncountable nouns

Is People a countable noun or not? Russian speakers who communicate in their native language almost never have to think about whether they are using a countable or uncountable noun. Those who are just starting to learn English are even surprised by the very fact of the existence of such a classification. This topic is considered easy and is almost entirely accessible to beginners. But only almost, because lexical incidents such as, for example, the word people can make even a diligent and advanced student make mistakes. Moreover, it is difficult to understand whether this word is countable or uncountable. People is also a polysemantic concept, and the formation of the plural and the use of verbs of the corresponding person and number depend on the meaning.

What is people: the meaning of the word

This word has two meanings.

• People is the plural form of the noun person, which in translation means “person” or “person”. Accordingly, people - “people”. For example: a lot of people - “a lot of people”, kind people - “kind people”, interesting person/people - “interesting person/people”.
• People is a singular noun meaning "people". For example: Russian people - “Russian people”, American people - “American people”, people in this part of country - “people in this part of the country”, my people - “my people”.

Typically, foreigners learning English have no problem understanding which of the two meanings is meant. They are somewhat similar, and most often the meaning is clear from the context. Therefore, for understanding English speech just knowing both meanings is enough. But in order to correctly compose sentences, you will have to pay attention to grammar in both cases. Namely, to determine whether people are countable or uncountable.

People in the meaning of "people": countability

To independently come to the right conclusion, you should ask yourself the following question: is the noun person countable or uncountable? People is its plural form, so it follows exactly the same rules, and is countable in in this case is no exception. Person is a person. People can be counted. Therefore, in this meaning the word people will also be countable. This is a logical conclusion that does not require memorization. It’s not difficult to come to him if you happen to forget. In addition, those who regularly practice composing sentences and texts in English develop the habit of knowingly considering people as a countable noun.

People meaning "people": grammar

Here are some examples of how the fact that people is a plural countable noun affects the grammatical structure of sentences:

These are not all possible options, but on their basis you can understand the principle of using the noun people in a sentence.

People in the meaning of "people": countability

The correct answer to the question “Is the noun people in English countable or not?” you can find it yourself if, as obvious as it may seem, you try to “count” it. There may be one people, there may be two, three or more. Therefore, in this case the word people is also countable.

However, there are some differences here. It is not for nothing that this value appears under a separate heading in this article. Unlike people - “people”, which was originally in the plural, the word people - “people” can be intentionally used in this plural put. For example:

• There live some very conservative peoples here - “several very conservative people live here.”
• This scientist speaks the languages ​​of ancient peoples - “this scientist speaks the languages ​​of ancient peoples.”

The grammar in this case will also “work” differently.

People in the meaning of "people": grammar

Here it is also much easier to understand everything with examples, but, among other things, noticing the differences from people in the meaning of “people”.

Summing up

So, after all the proposed examples and explanations for them, readers have probably answered their question about whether people is a countable or uncountable noun. It is not difficult to come to the right conclusion on your own, but if it is easier for someone to learn something than to parse it in a logical chain, the above can be summarized as follows:

• People is a countable noun in absolutely all cases.
• People in the meaning of "people" is the plural form of the noun person. In combination with it, verbs in the third person plural form are used, as well as the words much and few.
• People in the meaning of "people" can be either singular or plural. This word and the verbs used with it are modified in accordance with general rules.

At first glance it may seem that this topic is quite easy. However, it is important to remember that even professionals sometimes make mistakes in using much/many and few/little and not to neglect exceptions such as people.

In English there are countable and uncountable. To put it briefly, countable things can be counted with a finger, but uncountable ones cannot. In this article, we'll look at the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, and when a noun can fall into both categories.

What are countable nouns

Countable nouns(countable nouns) denote objects, phenomena, concepts that can be counted in the speaker’s mind. For example: egg (egg), house (house), suggestion (offer), minute (minute). Countable nouns in English can be used in both the singular and:

I have a puppy. - I have puppy.

My sister has puppies. - My sister has puppies.

Other examples of countable nouns:

I have a few questions. - I have some questions.

There is an old tree in the valley. - There is something old in the valley tree.

May I have a donut?- Can I donut?

Take any umbrella you want. - Take any umbrella, whichever one you want.

This is my sister's photo.- This photo my sister's.

As you can see, countable nouns are combined with words that in their meaning are suitable specifically for “piecemeal” rather than abstract objects, for example, with an article: we can say “a donut”, which is literally perceived as “one donut”, the article itself is “a” \an” already implies “piecemeality”, “separateness” of the object. We can say “a few questions” - “a few questions”, because questions are, although not solid, tangible objects, but still something that can be counted.

Uncountable nouns cannot be combined with such words.

What are uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns(uncountable nouns) denote objects, substances, concepts that cannot be counted. These include the names of abstract concepts, substances, various masses, bulk materials and products, liquids: art- art, oil– oil, petroleum, salt- salt, tea- tea. Uncountable nouns are used only in the singular:

We ran out of sugar. - We've run out sugar.

Art is immortal. – Art immortal.

Oil is flammable. – Oil highly flammable.

Other examples uncountable nouns:

• Abstract concepts:

Kids have a lot of energy.- Children have a lot energy.

You can't stop progress.- Can't be stopped progress.

• Liquids, solids, food:

I mean food when we're talking about not about one, say, stick of sausage, but about sausage in general as a product.

I spill milk.- I spilled milk.

This jar holds two pounds of sugar.– This jar holds two pounds Sahara.

My girlfriend doesn't eat meat.– My girlfriend doesn’t eat meat.

• Languages, games, academic disciplines

Sorry, amigo, I don’t speak Spanish.- Sorry, amigo, I don't say in Spanish.

I can't play volleyball- I don't know how to play volleyball.

We have chemistry now, and then math.- We have now chemistry, and then mathematics.

• Metals, natural resources, gaseous substances

This pendant is made of iron and gold.– This pendant is made from gland And gold.

We don't have that much wood.– We don’t have that much wood

I couldn't see anything in the bathroom because of steam.– Nothing was visible in the bathroom because pair.

The list can be continued by adding, for example, natural phenomena(thunder - thunder), but I think that the general meaning is clear: uncountable nouns are presented to us as something NOT “piecemeal”, as something that cannot be counted with a finger, as something generalized.

Uncountable nouns cannot be in the plural, they are not combined with, implying that we are talking about something separate, countable, and such pronouns as “a few” - several. Although in a certain context a word that is usually uncountable can become countable.

When an uncountable noun becomes countable

Sometimes a noun is used as a countable noun in one context and as an uncountable noun in another. For example, if we talk about coffee in general, as a drink in general, then coffee is an uncountable noun:

Do you like coffee?- Do you like coffee?

If we talk about coffee as a portion of a drink, meaning one cup or glass, then coffee is already a countable noun.

May I have a coffee, please? – Can I have some coffee, please? (Cup of coffee)

Note: in English it so happens that not every drink can be said “a + drink”, meaning a glass of drink. You can say “a coffee”, “a tea”, “a whiskey”, but about water they usually say “a glass of water” - a glass of water.

“A Piece of Advise” and other ways to make the uncountable countable

When we are talking about a separate part, portion, element of something uncountable, established combinations are used. There is something similar in the Russian language. For example, when talking about a “portion”, one unit of chocolate, we usually say “chocolate bar”, because chocolate is usually sold in the form of bars, the very phrase “chocolate bar” for us is something familiar, established, like “a cup of tea” or “piece of furniture.” Here are the “portioned” combinations in English:

• a bar of chocolate- chocolate bar
• a bar of soap- a piece of soap
• a loaf of bread– roll/loaf of bread
• a slice of pizza– a slice of pizza (slice – a piece cut with a knife)
• a bottle of whiskey– a bottle of whiskey
• a cup of tea- Cup of tea
• a piece of furniture- piece of furniture
• a tube of tooth paste– a tube of toothpaste

I will highlight separately:

• a piece of advice- advice

In English, the word “advice” is uncountable, so you can’t say “an advice”.

Why is it necessary to divide nouns into countable and uncountable?

What is the practical benefit of knowing that “milk” is an uncountable noun and “table” is a countable noun? The benefit is that sometimes the choice of word to go with a noun depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.

1. Articles.

If any is possible before a countable noun, then “a\an” cannot be placed before an uncountable noun, since it implies piecework.

There is a table in the room. - There is a table in the room.

It takes courage to follow your heart. “It takes courage to follow your heart.”

2. Pronouns denoting quantity.

About countable objects we can say many, but you can't say much. And vice versa. This is a bit strange for us, because both many and much in Russian mean “many,” and in Russian “many” is combined with both countable and uncountable nouns. In English, many is “a lot of countable things,” and much is “a lot of uncountable things.”

We don't have much time! - We don't have much time!

I've never seen so many people. – I have never seen so many people.

She has many friends who have much power. – She has many friends who have a lot of power.

We figured out that nouns can be countable and uncountable - and how to determine whether a particular noun is countable or not. If we can count apples and stars, they are countable. It is impossible to count water and joy - they are uncountable.
There are two difficult points left that need to be mentioned. Firstly, many nouns can be either countable or uncountable, depending on their meaning. Secondly, there are two nouns from which we would not expect uncountability. Let's start with them.

Countable in Russian, uncountable in English

These two words cause the greatest problems for students right up to the very high levels. We are talking about advice and news. In Russian, we are accustomed to “five tips” and “three news,” but for English speakers, news and advice are something that cannot be counted.

Advice

It would seem “button up, put on a hat” - these are already two pieces of advice that can be easily calculated. But if you suddenly say " two advices", this will greatly cut into the American or British ear. You just need to remember: advice– uncountable. If you divide it so fundamentally into countable pieces, then you will be surprised, but advice is considered precisely “pieces,” i.e. pieces of advice. Or "words" word of advice.

Wise men don't need advice. Fools won't take it. Wise people don't need advice, but stupid people won't accept it anyway.
Let me give you a piece of advice. Let me give you one piece of advice.

News

It’s clear why this word is so desirable to use in the plural – at the end –s, and in Russian “news” is “they”. Once again you will just have to break yourself and remember that news is always it, and never “a news”. If we need to count them, we count them again pieces of news or bits of news.

What's the news (what is the news)? What's the news?
Good news or bad news first? Which news comes first - bad or good?

Countable or not depending on meaning

Some of the nouns can be either countable or uncountable. Let me say right away that there are a lot of such words. Here are three of them as an example: chocolate, wine, sand. All three are uncountable in the sense of "substance", but countable if:

• these are indeed objects that can be counted. I'm in a box of chocolates. Now I'm happy. I ate the box chocolates and now I'm happy.
• this is about different types: There are many delicious wines in France. France has many delicious wines. Note that " There is much wine ” will mean not many varieties, but that there is simply a lot of it.
• in some special expressions: Sands of Sahara are one of the hottest places on Earth. The sands of the Sahara are one of the hottest places on the planet. In this case, sands is a literary word that can be used to describe a desert or a beach.

Here are a few of the most common and most interesting words, which can be either countable or uncountable, depending on their meaning.

Tea, Coffee and other drinks

Like other liquids, tea and coffee are innumerable. But if you order tea or coffee in a cafe, it is not necessary to mention that you mean a “cup”. “Can we have two teas, please” – drinks, as in Russian, become countable. The same applies to all drinks ordered at the bar, except, perhaps, water - it will still be some water.

Two coffees for me and two tequilas for that pretty lady at the bar. Two coffees for me and two tequilas for that pretty girl at the bar.

Hair

Theoretically, hairs can be counted - there are about 150 thousand of them on the average head. But in English, hair is an uncountable noun. Those. If you want to say “my hair is dark,” refrain from both hairs and are – the correct option my hair is dark or I have dark hair.

But if there are few hairs and they can really be counted - for example, they are floating in the tea that you just ordered - they become countable. In this meaning, hair corresponds to our word “hair”.

There's a hair in my coffee! There's hair in my coffee!
There are two hairs growing in the middle of my nose. That's disgusting. I have two hairs growing on my nose, what an abomination.

Time

Time is measured in hours, minutes, centuries - therefore hours, minutes and centuries are countable nouns, but time itself is not.
In the case where the word time means “once”, “one time”, “three times”, etc. This is a completely different meaning - and in this case, time is a countable noun.
And one more example - “ to have a great time", have a great time. Or " A long time ago" Not definite article with time indicates that time in this case is countable. Simply because it is a stable expression.

Time is money. Time is money.
In the meaning of “time” it is uncountable.

It's okay to make mistakes. It’s not okay to repeat each mistake several times. It's okay to make mistakes. Making mistakes several times is a no. In the meaning of “times” – countable.

It's a long time since we had a good time. It's been a while since we've had a blast.
Two stable expressions in which time, although it means “time,” is used with the indefinite article.

Paper

With the word paper, everything is the same as in Russian: paper as a material is an uncountable noun; you can only count pieces or sheets. But if we are talking about documents: contracts, scientific articles, essays, etc. - all this can be called paper, newspapers, in the end - also paper - they can already be counted.

I want to draw a picture. Have you got some paper? I want to draw a picture. Do you have paper?
Have you got a paper to read? Do you have a newspaper to read?
Sometimes I laugh when I read students’ papers. Sometimes I laugh when I read student essays.

Room

Room - room in English, obviously, is a counting word - everyone living in two-, three- or more-room apartments will not argue with this. This word is also useful for tourists when booking a hotel room. But besides this, the word room has another meaning - “free place, space”, and in this meaning it becomes uncountable.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms.These include 240 bedrooms and 78 bathrooms. IN Buckingham Palace 775 rooms, including 240 bedrooms and 78 toilets.
There's no room for personal life in my schedule. There is no place for personal life in my schedule.
Come sit on the sofa with us, we can make some room for you. Sit on the sofa with us, we'll move over.

Work

If you work two jobs, then “you have two jobs” (in general, the difference between job and work is a topic for a separate discussion). And work itself is an uncountable noun. It becomes countable only in the world of painting, literature and other forms of art - in the meaning of “work, product”.

I seem like I’m not leaving office anytime soon, I have some work to finish. It looks like I won't be leaving the office anytime soon; I have some work to finish.
A familiar situation, isn't it? I hope not. But the work, be it for 5 minutes or until late in the evening, remains incalculable.

There are 130 thousand works of art in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The Tretyakov Gallery houses 130 thousand works of art.
In this context, work—a countable noun—is countable in pictures, from “Morning in a Pine Forest” to “Black Square.”

If you are still at a loss as to whether a particular noun is countable or not, the solution would be to look in the dictionary. Countable nouns are marked in it as , uncountable nouns - . Moreover, if it depends on the meaning, it is indicated for which of them the noun is countable and for which it is not.

Is everything in the world accountable and measurable? No. True, here we are not talking about such philosophical concepts as love or friendship. We are interested in uncountable nouns in English. Let's look at all the nuances of their use.

The concept of an uncountable noun

The words “love” will be most directly related to this topic. Neither one nor the other can be counted. We can say “many loves,” but we cannot say “three loves.” This is how we distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns; the number of the former can always be counted. There may be one bottle of water, two bottles of water, but “one water”, “two waters” or “three waters” - so do not speak. The word "water" is uncountable.

Why even get acquainted with the category of uncountable nouns? Is it really impossible to use these words correctly without knowing whether they can be counted? In fact, in English this is important, because the indefinite article “a” is not used before uncountable nouns (for nouns with a vowel - an), and the definite article “the” is used only in some cases.

Types of uncountable nouns

It should be borne in mind that any Russian uncountable noun can have an English counterpart that can be counted. Although discrepancies are quite rare. In any case, you should have an idea of ​​which words can be classified as uncountable, at least in order to correctly use articles with them. The list of uncountable nouns in English includes:

• beauty - beauty, permission - permission;
• names of diseases: flu - influenza;
• weather conditions: rain - rain;
• food: cheese - cheese;
• substances: water - water;
• types of sports or activities: gardening - gardening;
• items: equipment - equipment;
• geographical features: the Mississippi - Mississippi;
• languages: German - German, Russian - Russian.

And also a number of generalizing nouns like information - information, money - money. In most cases, it is not difficult to guess whether a noun is uncountable. But some words can be difficult. For example, hair - hair. Some students become confused when they encounter a hair in assignments. In fact, hair and a hair are different words. The first is indeed uncountable and is translated as hair, the second word means “hair” and can be used in the plural. The word advice can also surprise you. It has no plural, advices does not exist. It can be translated both as “advice” and “advice” depending on the situation. The word fruit does not mean “one fruit”, but “fruits”. It is very rare to find fruits, but it has a rather specific meaning with the approximate meaning of “fruits of different types”.

Features of the use of uncountable nouns: pronouns, articles

With uncountable nouns, only the definite article is used. For example, the news - these news. "a" is never placed in front of them. Also, these nouns do not have a plural form. Many of them are already in the news. But they can well be used with quantitative pronouns: some (a certain amount), little (little), much (many), as well as with demonstratives: this (this), that (that). In addition to all this, there are a number of words that allow you to make uncountable nouns in English countable: piece, bowl, bag, jar, glass, tile, cup, loaf, slice and others.

For example, a bar of soap/chocolate/gold - a bar of soap/chocolate bar/gold bar, a bowl of fruits - a bowl of fruit, a carton of milk - a package of milk, a can of beer - a can of beer, a cup of coffee - a cup of coffee, a loaf of bread - a loaf or loaf of bread.

Uncountable nouns with the expression a piece of

The use of the word “piece” is very interesting. It is often used with abstract and uncountable words that are most unexpected for a Russian person, for example, a piece of advice, a piece of music, a piece of information. And, of course, we will not translate these expressions as “a piece of advice”, “a piece of music” or “a piece of information”, although the latter option is quite acceptable. But since this is quite the translation will be specific: “advice”, “piece of music”, “message”.

Agreement of uncountable nouns with verbs

Which verb should I use with an uncountable noun: singular or plural? For example, how do you say "money is on the table"? The money is on the chest or The money are on the chest? The first option will be correct. Only singular verbs are used with uncountable nouns. Examples: the milk is fresh - the milk is fresh, the water is very hot - the water is very hot. But if they are used that allow us to measure uncountable nouns, then verb agreement occurs with them. For example, two cartoons of milk are on the table, three bottles of water are in the refrigerator.

Uncountable nouns in English: types

Can all nouns that cannot be counted be divided into groups? There are two such groups in English, and, oddly enough, they are divided by number, singular or plural. Plural nouns include nouns that end in -s, -es. For example, game names (darts), scientific theories (economics), groups and associations (Police, the Andes). They are preceded by the plural demonstrative pronouns those or these. Before uncountable singular nouns, which are the majority, in this case we use this or that.

Countable and uncountable nouns: examples

To better understand the characteristics of these types of nouns, consider pairs of nouns, one of which is countable and the other uncountable. Particularly interesting are those that have the same translation. So: song - music (song - music), bottle - wine (bottle - wine), report - information (message - information), cupboard - furniture (cabinet - furniture), tip - advice (advice, hint - advice), job - work (work, piecework - work), jorney - travel (travel, trip - journey), view - scenery (review, view - view, landscape). The word "clock", which in Russian is used only in the plural, will appear only in the singular in English. The watch is very expensive - This watch is very expensive. Although, if we are talking about a lot of watches, then it is quite possible to say watches. The word money can also be confusing. After all, the Russian “money” is plural. In English, the word money is always, without exception, only the singular number. For example, Money in not for me - Money is not for me. Money is under the pillow - Money under the pillow.

Other interesting uncountable nouns in English: mail (mail, that is, parcels and letters), garlic (garlic), harm (harm, evil, loss, damage), homework (housework), chalk (chalk), content (content, text and graphic content of the site), currency (currency), fame (fame, fame, popularity), garbage (garbage, garbage, leftovers), innicence (purity, innocence), jelly (jam), labor (work, especially physical work) , livestock (livestock, animals kept on a farm).

Uncountable nouns in English and the possessive case

The possessive case expresses property relations. For example, in the phrase “dog's tail” it is unclear who belongs to whom. But if we give the word “dog” the form of the possessive case, then it is immediately clear that the tail belongs to the dog, and not vice versa. The rules for putting English countable nouns into the possessive case are quite simple: you just need to add the ending “s” through an apostrophe, for example dog’s tail. But how do you say “temperature of water,” “mass of a substance,” or “several pounds of ice cream”? It is immediately worth noting that inanimate nouns are extremely rarely used in the possessive case. As a rule, the preposition "of" is used, for example: mass of a substance - mass of a substance (as we see, in English, the word "substance" is not uncountable), few pounds of ice-cream - several pounds of ice cream. The construction “noun + noun” is often used. For example, water temperature - water temperature.