3 Nouns
Countable nouns have a singular and plural form. You can use them with a/an and with numbers.There’s a man here to see you.I’ve just bought two T-shirts.
Uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. You cannot use them with a/an and they are followed by a singular verb.• The book contains a lot of useful information. ✗Don't say: The book contains a lot of useful informations.• The information in this book is very useful. ✗Don't say: The informations in this book are very useful.
To refer to quantity with uncountable nouns, you can use a phrase with a countable noun + of.a piece of advicean item of clothinga sheet of papera bar of soapa slice of cakea cup of coffeea packet of sugara tube of toothpastea litre of milka kilo of sugara gram of floura metre of cable
Some nouns can be countable or uncountable, but with a change in meaning.Do you like coffee? (uncountable = the drink)I’ll have a coffee, please. (countable = a cup of the drink)She’s very good at painting. (uncountable = the activity)It’s one of the artist’s best paintings. (countable = work of art)I need some writing paper. (uncountable = the material)He’s gone out to buy a paper. (countable = newspaper)
ⓘ Nouns like these usually have more than one definition in the dictionary, one labelled [U] and the other labelled [C].Sometimes, you can use an uncountable noun as countable (usually in the plural form), to talk about a particular type of something.Fatty foods are bad for your health.There are many different skin creams.
ⓘ Nouns like these are labelled [C,U] in the dictionary.Some nouns look like plural nouns because they end in -s, but they are, in fact, uncountable. You use a singular verb with these nouns.
Many of these are subjects that you can study (e.g. business studies, electronics, genetics, home economics, linguistics).Physics is my favourite subject at school.
Others are types of physical activity (e.g. aerobics, athletics, gymnastics).I realised that athletics was great fun.
There are also some names of diseases that are uncountable but end in -s (e.g. diabetes, measles, mumps, rabies, shingles).Shingles is most common in older adults.
You can use some nouns with a singular or plural verb, depending on the meaning (e.g. acoustics, economics, logistics, semantics, statistics).
• You use a singular verb when talking about the subject of study.Economics is the study of how people choose to use resources.Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics.
• You use a plural verb when talking about a particular feature or aspect of something.The economics are simple. (= the economic aspects, the way in which money influences something)The aerodynamics of a racing car are very important. (= the aerodynamic qualities)
Some nouns end in -s in both the singular and plural form (e.g. means, series, crossroads, species).This is my favourite comedy series.Both series are available on DVD.
Some nouns are only plural and are followed by a plural verb. These are usually nouns that refer to things with two parts (e.g. binoculars, jeans, pyjamas, scissors, shorts, trousers) and other nouns ending in -s (e.g. belongings, clothes, congratulations, earnings, outskirts, surroundings).The scissors are in that drawer.I believe congratulations are in order.
To count nouns that refer to things with two parts, you can use a pair of.I’ve just bought two pairs of jeans.
Collective nouns (also called group nouns) are nouns that refer to a group of people.audiencebandcommitteecompanycongregationfamilygovernmentjuryteam
These nouns are usually followed by a singular verb.The government has to do something.The team plays in red and white.
In British English, these nouns can take a singular or plural verb. Singular verb forms are common when we think of the group of people as a whole, as a single unit. Plural verb forms are common when the noun refers to the members of the group considered as individuals.Mario’s family is Italian.(= the group as a whole)Mario’s family have decided to move to Florence. (= each individual in the group)
Many nouns are used with particular prepositions in fixed phrases. Here are some common preposition + noun combinations.at breakfast/lunch/dinner/supperat the cinema/theatreat universityby accidentby bike/bus/car/boat/train/plane/sea/airfor breakfast/lunch/dinner/supperin conclusionin my opinionin the morning/afternoon/eveningin the worldon fireon foot
Sometimes you can use more than one preposition with a noun, but the meaning is different.Make sure you arrive for your interview on time. (= at the right time, not late)I hope my passport arrives in time. (= with enough time to be able to do something, before something happens)She got up three times in the night. (= during the night)Never go out alone at night. (= when it is night and not day) He’s on television tonight. (= appearing on a programme)She works in television. (= in the business of television).
Many nouns are followed by particular prepositions. Here are some common noun + preposition combinations.advice on/aboutanswer toargument about (something)/ with (someone)beginning ofcause ofcomment ondecrease indifference betweendifficulty with/indiscussion about (something)/with (someone)example ofincrease ininformation about/oninterest inlack ofneed forpermission forproblem withproof ofreaction toreason forreply tosearch for
ⓘ To find the right preposition(s) to use with a noun, look up the noun in the dictionary.You use the indefinite article a/an with singular countable nouns. Use it:
• to talk about any one of a group, kind or class, without saying which particular thing, person, place, etc. you mean;There’s a car parked outside their house.She was talking to an old man.
• with jobs, nationalities and religions/beliefs;He’s a plumber.My father is an Italian.I’m an atheist.
• to define something or say what it is used for;A zebra is a wild animal that looks like a horse.She uses this room as a studio.
• with large numbers and fractions, to mean ‘one’;a thousandone and a halfa quarterhalf a mile
• with expressions of quantity and frequency, to mean ‘each’ or ‘per’;six euros a kilotwo dollars a bagtwice a day80 miles an hour
You use the definite article the:
• when you are talking about something unique or specific, or something the reader or listener already knows about;the moonthe sunthe worldthe skyI didn’t like the music in the film.All the computers in the building were down.No one knows who committed the crime.They go to the school in the village.
with the names of some countries, oceans/seas, rivers, dersts, mountain ranges and regions;the UKthe Atlanticthe Black Seathe Mississippithe Saharathe Andesthe Middle East
• with the names of hotels, cinemas, theatres, museums and newspapers;the Hiltonthe Odeonthe National Theatrethe New York Times
• with surnames, nationality adjectives and other adjectives, when they are used as nouns to refer to a group of people;the Johnsons (= the Johnson family)the Italians (= people from Italy)the poor (= poor people)
You do not use an article:
• with uncountable or plural nouns, when you are talking about something in general;I like music.Crime is increasing in this area.
• with the names of people, most countries, continents, cities, towns and states, streets, squares and parks;Emma JonesJapanEuropeParisWashingtonDowning StreetTrafalgar SquareHyde Park
• with meals, games, sports, school subjects and languages;Have you had breakfast?I love chess.Do you play basketball?She’s always hated Maths.Do you speak English?
• with times, months or days;We went to bed at midnight.I’ll see you on Tuesday.They’re getting married in May.
• with institutions and places (e.g. school, prison, hospital, college, university, church), when you are talking about the purpose they are used for;When did you start school? (as a student)She is in hospital. (as a patient)
but: There was a fire in the school four years ago. (the building itself)She went to the hospital to see her friend. (as a visitor)