Questions about uncountable (non-count, mass) nouns
0
votes
0answers
16 views
(a) part of something [duplicate]
I've been puzzled about the usage of "part" as an uncountable noun. It often seems to me that there is no difference in meaning between its countable and uncountable form. Is there any difference in ...
0
votes
2answers
48 views
“No restriction” vs. “no restrictions”
The data center must be flexible. There should be no restriction/restrictions on user's choice of protocols.
What should it be?
2
votes
1answer
120 views
What is the plural of “stiffness”?
I’m proofreading for a friend (not that I am an expert on English or his subject matter!), and he has used the word stiffnesss in an engineering context.
I believed the plural should be stiffnesses, ...
9
votes
4answers
648 views
Can I use the word “milks” when discussing KINDS of milk
Heard at the cafe: "We have three milks: soy, almond, and cow."
Is it ok to use the word "milks" in this context? I've heard it in other uncountable nouns, like "essential oils", or "simple sugars", ...
-2
votes
1answer
129 views
“I am puzzled by conflicting opinion on [a] coffee.”
I am puzzled by conflicting opinion on a coffee.
I am puzzled by conflicting opinion on coffee.
These sentences are from a syllabus book. And I don't know which one is correct.
-3
votes
1answer
107 views
Do nonsense and bull**** have corresponding plural forms?
For example, I've heard nonsenses, but I've never heard bullshits.
Why one is plural and the other is singular? They mean the same thing.
-1
votes
1answer
112 views
When saying supplier of a building material should the material be singular or plural?
Which of the following is correct:
Supplier of tile, stone, tools and equipment
or
Supplier of tiles, stones, tools and equipment
If you could provide an English rule to know that would also be ...
0
votes
2answers
231 views
Should we say less or fewer “fruit and vegetables”?
Fruit is uncountable but vegetables is countable, so we should use less or fewer before them together?
37
votes
4answers
2k views
Is “Just a friendly advice” grammatical?
I know that "advice" is uncountable and thus is incompatible with the article "a".
However, the phrase "Just a friendly advice" seems to be rather widespread.
Is it idiomatic, or incorrect? What is ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Is “goods” countable?
I am referring to goods as in services and goods provided. I came across this definition (emphasis mine):
tender document:
A written invitation sent to potential suppliers of a good or ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
Definite article with “Wiener filtering”, an uncountable noun
I have a sentence something like this
We apply Wiener filtering to obtain a solution.
In this "Wiener filtering" is a uncountable noun. I am not sure whether "the" is required before it.
1
vote
1answer
110 views
“Seems like an overkill” vs. “seems like overkill” [closed]
I’m wondering if an article is used with the word overkill:
Something seems like an overkill (to me).
Something seems like overkill (to me).
Which is grammatical?
-1
votes
1answer
80 views
What is the appropriate usage of “attentions”?
I recently wondered what the difference between attention and attentions was, as I've heard both, but couldn't think of or remember when someone would use attentions.
One definition for attentions ...
5
votes
3answers
243 views
Count vs. mass — where can you look this up?
Most dictionaries don't say whether a noun is count vs. mass. Short of asking a fluent English speaker, where can you get this kind of information?
I've tried asking various other ESL/EFL people I ...
1
vote
2answers
256 views
Verb agreement of “heaps”/“lots”: uncountable nouns
I am a non-native English speaker and I recently started noticing that most people do not do the correct agreement of the verb with the noun when saying "there is"/"there was"/"here is". They say, for ...
1
vote
2answers
174 views
When can you pluralize uncountable nouns?
I have a two part question, the second depending on the answer of the first. I don't know if that is frowned upon, but I'm not sure how else to ask.
Foil is an uncountable noun so it is not ...
11
votes
3answers
282 views
Difference in usage of “rock” and “rocks”
Recently, I came across this situation where I was asked which one was correct:
Fossils are found in sedimentary rock.
Fossils are found in sedimentary rocks.
Is there is distinction ...
8
votes
2answers
434 views
Usage of English definite article when referring to generic word
My mother language does not have articles, so I still struggle to choose when to use the indefinte and definite article. The other day, I learned:
"The dog is an animal" is acceptable.
"The iron is ...
0
votes
1answer
196 views
Can the word “personnel” ever be singular? [closed]
Can personnel be used in reference to a single person? See the example below:
Testing must take place by a qualified personnel other than the requestor.
0
votes
2answers
79 views
“Censorship” as a countable noun [closed]
Is censorships a legitimate word? Obviously it could be used to mean multiple censorships for something.
-1
votes
3answers
98 views
Can “network” be a mass noun?
I stumbled upon a video having this phrase in its narration, "[The university] has been equipped with computer network, electric systems, and internet".
Personally, I never use "network" as a mass ...
2
votes
2answers
257 views
Does the sentence “I recycle a paper” make sense?
Could the following sentence make sense?
I recycle a paper.
It's from one of the school English exam's answers, and we're arguing about giving the whole point or half point. The teachers have ...
1
vote
3answers
126 views
Usage of uncountable nouns [closed]
Which option is correct to use in this sentence and why?
I have (much, many, an) orange juice.
0
votes
2answers
122 views
Why the indefinite article in “have a good time”?
Why do we use the indefinite article in the expression "have a good time"?
Time is an uncountable noun, and we never say "what a beautiful weather!", but "what beautiful weather it is!"
Could ...
1
vote
3answers
486 views
“The” and superlative of uncountable noun — “the clearest water”?
Uncountable nouns are usually used without an article. Superlatives require definite article. What comes out of these 2 rules when superlative meets uncountable article?
We need an example, I hope it ...
0
votes
2answers
257 views
“Developments” or “development” [closed]
Should development be countable?
Some websites use developments, e.g. http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/
While others use development, e.g. http://www.un.org/en/development/
1
vote
2answers
679 views
“It is bad practice …” vs. “It is a bad practice …”
"At work, it is bad practice to go to lunch early."
"At work, it is a bad practice to go to lunch early."
The noun "practice" is both countable and uncountable. So, could both sentences be ...
5
votes
2answers
169 views
Combined reference to multiple leave
Dictionaries(dictionary.com, OALD etc.) suggest that leave (absence from work) is a noun- uncountable, which means it has to be "leave" for plural. Also, searching SE to find ...
2
votes
0answers
28 views
Less versus fewer in time related phrases [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Less” vs. “fewer”
I am quite pedantic when using 'less' versus 'fewer' but don't really understand how the situation works when it comes to ...
4
votes
3answers
571 views
'… the weather' vs. '… weather'
There are two correct (I hope so) sentences with weather taken from a book:
Was the weather nice?
Did you have nice weather?
Can somebody explain why there's an article in the first ...
0
votes
2answers
470 views
Definite article in the beginning of a sentence
I'm confused with the usage of the definite article.
During the development the following tasks were accomplished:
Software with a graphical interface was created;
[some other things]
...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Could you lend me any/a little/../money?
I would like to know how to say that correctly and whether some/any could stand as a subject in the sentence:
Could you lend me ... money? Sure, If I find some/any.
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Is thanks a countable noun? Many thanks or much thanks?
A colleague of mine recently wrote in an email "much thanks for your efforts." Does this usage make sense? How does "much thanks" differ from "many thanks"?
This is similar to "Is “Many thanks” a ...
5
votes
2answers
418 views
Are uncountable nouns considered irregular plurals like man men?
Is "rice", for example only, considered an irregular plural?
6
votes
4answers
981 views
When to use “the” before food names
I am new to the English language and I am going to English classes. In the middle of my book, we have a lesson about foods. In this lesson, food names are explained but I do not understand something.
...
3
votes
4answers
236 views
Can “listening” be countable?
Can listening be countable? Can I say We will do a listening during today's lesson?
5
votes
3answers
309 views
When do we use 'revision' as a countable noun?
'Revision' might be countable or uncountable. I am a little bit confused.
3
votes
1answer
208 views
Why are “homework” and “work” uncountable in English? [closed]
In Bulgarian both "homework" and "work" are countable. Why are they uncountable in English then? What is the difference in meaning that makes that happen?
0
votes
2answers
119 views
Is “deliberation” or “deliberations” correct when done over multiple topics?
Are these sentences correct?
Contemporary deliberation on American culture, economy, politics in the 20th and 21st century?
Contemporary deliberation*s* on American culture, economy, and politics ...
3
votes
3answers
345 views
Plurality of data [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is “data” considered singular or plural?
Milton Friedman, the Nobel-prize winning economist used to threaten that he would "take away any graduate student's ...
3
votes
5answers
947 views
Is it grammatically correct to say “have you got paper?”
Is it grammatically correct to say have you got paper? Do you have to specify have you got a piece of paper, any paper or some paper or can you just say paper?
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Many more vs much more / many fewer vs much fewer
This year there were:
many more people
much more people
Alternatively:
many fewer people
much fewer people
Which is considered better English?
1
vote
4answers
550 views
The article “a/an” with uncountable nouns
Sometimes I read in books sentences where uncountable nouns are used with the article "a/an". For example "She fades like a dew before the sun". Is it out of the common rules?
P.S.: Sorry if this ...
7
votes
3answers
864 views
Is the plural “bosoms” an acceptable word? Or is it always “bosom”?
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bosom
I found recently that even an elderly educated woman was referring to her bosom in the plural, as her bosoms.
Please settle my discomfort finally, and clarify ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
“Is there” versus “Are there”
Are there any questions I should be asking?
Is there any articles available on the subject?
My instinct is that in the two questions above, it should be 'are' as the subjects of the sentences ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
“Baggage” versus “luggage”
I have the feeling that luggage is more closely associated with vacation travel, whereas baggage is for general transportation. Or... are they just exact synonyms?
3
votes
1answer
212 views
When do nouns convert between mass and count?
I confess to having the pedantic hangup of refusing to use email as a count noun, but it's a lost cause.
Over the past week I've been working on a modeling and simulation proposal, and I've noticed ...
6
votes
3answers
194 views
Is “latte” a countable noun?
I have learned that liquids are uncountable, except for measurements such as "three cups of water."
So, does "three lattes" in this context refer to three cups of latte?
7
votes
3answers
730 views
Are two or more clusters of ivy considered “ivy” or “ivies”?
When referring to two or more clusters of ivy,
is it ivy, ivies, or something else entirely?
0
votes
2answers
233 views
What is the plural form of “whitespace”?
I ask this because Firefox suggested that whitespaces is not a valid word; rather it gave me whitespace or white spaces.
