First, let's look at what are the words that are both countable and uncountable:
For example: this is a good ironIt's a good iron.
When the iron is watched, it is a countable noun, but if we want to say: this is a good piece of iron. How to say that?
For example: this is a good piece of ironIt's a good piece of iron. ("Iron" is not countable, and it has to be expressed with [number word + measure word + noun], which will be discussed later).
Uncountable nouns include: material nouns, abstract nouns, genus nouns, subject nouns, etc.
1. The uncountable nouns of matter mainly include:
1) Material: metal, gold, silver, copper, iron, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, titanium, platinum
wood, plastic, glass, stone, concrete
Cloth, leather, fabric, paper, cotton, wool, silk, linen, nylon, polyester, rubber, cork
Marble, Granite, Sandstone, Limestone, Quartz, Crystal, Jade, Diamond
coal, gum, mud, sand, rock, earth, ice.
2) Liquid: water, juice, tea, coffee, soup, orange juice, milk, beer, oil;
3) Gases: AIR, OXYGEN, CARBON, DIOXIDE, HYDROGEN, Ozone, GAS;
4) Food: rice, flour, cake, bread, meat, pork, beef, chicken, food, fish;
5) Plants: grass, rice, wheat;
6) Weather: rain, fog, snow and snow;
7) Granules: salt, sugar, chal** pen;
2. Abstract nouns: words that express abstract concepts such as action, state, quality, and emotion.
Such as: Xi study, work, advice, experience, fun,
beauty, kindness, knowledge, wisdom, help, progress, strength,
justice, honesty, mail, information, love, idea, truth
Friendship, exercise, happiness;
3. Genus. business business, jewelry, money, change
machinery machinery, equipment, furniture, luggage, luggage,
stationery, traffic,
news, propaganda, slang slang, mail,
scenery, weather, fruit, vegetation;
4. Disciplines. architecture, art, chemistry, civics, ci
economics ѧ ѧ ѧ
Geology ѧ ѧ ѧ ѧ
Mathematics, Music **philosophy,
Physics, Science, Technology
vocabulary, grammar;
5. Sports and leisure.
Baseball, Basketball, Bridge, Camping
Dancing, drinking, football, golf
Hiking Hiking, Hockey Hockey, Hunting, Opera
Sailing, singing, softball
swimming, television, tr**eling, volleyball, homework;
6. The word has multiple meanings.
age Age, age, age
baseball (and other balls) (a) baseball (and other balls).
Beer (and other drinks) Beer (and other drinks).
business һ
dope drugs for fools, glass glasses, glasses,
Iron iron, paper file, play, play, play
room space, smoke, cigarettes, tape, and object
tea afternoon tea, work work, writings, youth youth;
Note: Uncountable nouns can be modified with a little, some, much, but there is no plural.
Usage: 1. Uncountable nouns.
1. When it is used as the subject in a sentence, it is of a sentenceThe predicate is only in the singular form
Example sentence 1: water is a liquidWater is liquid. (The is here is the triple singular form).
Example sentence 2: wealth doesn't't mean happiness .Being rich does not mean being happy. (does three singles).
2. It's averageThere is no plural, only in singular form, it is preceded by generalThe indefinite article a an an cannot be used;
For example: the news is not yet officialThis information has not yet been officially confirmed.
3. When the uncountable noun is converted into a plural form, itsThe meaning will change。Such as, glasses, glasses. Contingent refers to all similar things, e.g., fruit means fruit, and fruits refers to all kinds of fruits.
e.g. his glasses were smearedHis glasses were dirty.
the glass was half full.The glass is half full.
For example, dried fruits are especially high in fibreDried fruits are especially high in fiber.
the fruit was drowned in cream.The fruit is soaked in cream.
4. If you want to represent itIndividual significance, generally used in conjunction with a noun phrase, equivalent to [number word + measure word + noun] in Chinese, the meaning of the measure word should be matched with the specific noun. Such as:
a loaf of bread
a fit of anger
a bottle of ink
a slip of ** slip of paper).
a cake of soap
a piece of bread
a piece of jewelry
a length of cloth
a burst of applause
a tube of tooth-paste
an item of information
For example: he was sawing energetically at a loaf of breadHe was slicing a loaf of bread with all his might.
For example: a pane of glass got brokenA piece of glass was shattered.
5. Note that in the following cases, it is in frontYou can tooUse the indefinite article a an an.
1) Some abstract nouns that express emotions and emotions are concretized into a countable noun and indicate ".A person or thing that evokes a certain emotion, emotion".
Such as: Pity, Suprise, Joy, Pleasure, Disappointment.
Example sentence 1: What a surprise!What an astonishing thing!
Example sentence 2: it's a pity that he can't swim.It's a shame he can't swim.
2) RepresentationMovement, condition, natureAbstract nouns can refer to concrete concepts such as "a, once, once, once".
Such as: experience, failure, help, hope, kindness, success, way, time, etc.
Example sentence 1: there's a way across the fields.There is a road through the fields. (specifically a road).
Example sentence 2: It was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my lifeIt was an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. (An experience to be specific).
Example sentence 3: He is a success in his studies,while a failure in his lifeHe was a success in Xi school, but a failure in life. (Here success and failure belong to the abstract noun concretization, specifically for: the person who fails, the person who succeeds.) Therefore, when it refers specifically to something, it is no longer abstract).
3) After some abstract nouns are concretized, they represent concrete things or tangible entities.
Such as: appearance.
an appearance;
he was very tense, but she preserved an appearance of nonchalance.He was nervous inside, but he looked like he didn't care.
4) SomeAn abstract noun with an action meaningIt can represent a process or a brief action.
Such as: examination;
For example: the n**y is to carry out an examination of the wreck tomorrowThe Navy will conduct a careful inspection of the wrecked ship tomorrow. (For: Check this action).
It is important to note that not all abstract nouns can be preceded by a an or plural form after concretizing into a countable noun. Such as advice, information, health, progress, wealth, weather, etc.
It can be said: a piece of advice two pieces of advice
Don't say: an advice two advices