Which type of noun represents things that can be counted and has singular and plural forms?
AUncountable Noun
BCountable Noun
CAbstract Noun
DMaterial Noun
Answer:
B. Countable Noun
Read Explanation:
Nouns and Their Classifications
Countable Nouns
- These are nouns that represent items which can be enumerated or counted individually.
- They possess both singular and plural forms.
- Examples: book (singular) - books (plural), chair (singular) - chairs (plural), apple (singular) - apples (plural).
- Quantifiers like 'a', 'an', 'many', 'few', 'several', 'some', and numbers (one, two, three, etc.) are often used with countable nouns.
- For example: 'I have two books.' or 'There are many chairs in the room.'
Uncountable Nouns (Mass Nouns)
- In contrast, these nouns represent things that cannot be counted as separate units. They are often abstract concepts or substances.
- They typically do not have a plural form, or if they do, it signifies a different meaning (e.g., 'advices').
- Examples: water, information, advice, sugar, happiness, furniture.
- Quantifiers like 'much', 'little', 'a lot of', 'some', and measurements (e.g., 'a glass of', 'a kilo of') are used with uncountable nouns.
- For example: 'I need some water.' or 'Please give me a piece of advice.'
Distinguishing Countable from Uncountable
- A key test is to try forming a plural. If it sounds natural (e.g., 'dogs'), it's likely countable. If it sounds odd or changes meaning significantly (e.g., 'furnitures'), it's likely uncountable.
- Another test is to ask 'How many?' for countable nouns (e.g., 'How many dogs?') and 'How much?' for uncountable nouns (e.g., 'How much water?').
Relevance in Grammar and Exams
- Understanding the distinction is crucial for correct subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'A dog barks' vs. 'Two dogs bark').
- It also affects the choice of determiners and quantifiers, which are frequent topics in grammar tests and competitive exams.