不可数名词._UNCOUNTABLE_NOUNS.docx

1、CHAPTER 16. UNCOUNTABLE NOUNSSome English nouns usually cannot form a plural or be preceded by a, an or a number. Because they usually cannot be preceded by a number, such nouns can be referred to as uncountable. English uncountable nouns include:a) nouns naming intangible things which normally cann

2、ot be counted:e.g. honestycourageimpatienceb) nouns naming tangible things which are thought of as substances:e.g. buttermilksandc) nouns naming groups of things which in English are referred to collectively:e.g. furnitureluggagenewsd) names of languages:e.g. EnglishGermanSpanishAn uncountable noun

3、takes a singular verb.e.g. Honesty is a virtue.Butter tastes good.Furniture was provided. 1. The absence of a determiner before uncountable nounsa. Making a general statementIn general statements, uncountable nouns are usually not preceded by determiners. The uncountable nouns in the following gener

4、al statements are underlined.e.g. Information is often valuable.Butter is fattening.Courage and honesty are admirable qualities.Sunlight and water are usually required for plants to grow.b. Referring to something not mentioned beforeIn descriptions, uncountable nouns are generally not preceded by a

5、determiner when naming something which has not been referred to previously.e.g. Rain was forecast for the next day.However, thunder and lightning were not expected.Our breakfast consisted of bread, honey and marmalade.In these examples, the uncountable nouns rain, thunder, lightning, bread, honey an

6、d marmalade are not preceded by determiners. It is assumed that the things referred to by these nouns have not been mentioned previously.See Exercise 1. 2. The use of The before uncountable nounsa. Referring to something mentioned beforeThe is used with uncountable nouns referring to things previous

7、ly mentioned.e.g. We were served bread and cheese. The bread was somewhat stale, but the cheese was delicious.Gold was discovered in the Klondike. The gold attracted thousands of prospectors.Furniture and clothing are being sold at the flea market. The furniture is reasonably priced, and the clothin

8、g is cheap.In these examples, the first time the uncountable nouns bread, cheese, gold, furniture and clothing are used, they are not preceded by determiners, because the things referred to have not been mentioned previously. The second time these nouns are used, they are preceded by the, since the

9、things referred to have already been mentioned.See Exercise 2.b. Referring to something when it is considered obvious what is meantThe is used with uncountable nouns when the speaker or writer considers it obvious which particular thing is meant.e.g. The weather is fine.The butter is hard.The music

10、is too loud.The expression the weather usually refers to the local weather. The expression the butter could refer to butter which one plans to use, and the expression the music could refer to music which is playing nearby.The is often used before uncountable nouns followed by descriptive phrases, si

11、nce such phrases tend to make it clear to which particular things the uncountable nouns are referring.e.g. The warmth of the sun causes water to evaporate.The coal mined in Germany is used in making steel.The milk which they produce is marketed locally.In the first sentence, the is used with the unc

12、ountable noun warmth, since the phrase of the sun specifies what warmth is meant. In the second sentence, the is used with the uncountable noun coal, since the phrase mined in Germany specifies which particular coal is meant. In the third sentence, the is used with the uncountable noun milk, since t

13、he phrase which they produce makes it clear which particular milk is meant.As shown in the following table, the absence of a determiner and the use of the before uncountable nouns follows a pattern similar to the absence of a determiner and the use of the before plural countable nouns.The absence of

14、 a determiner and the use of The before uncountable nounsUse Uncountable NounsMaking a general statement no determinerSomething not mentioned before no determinerSomething mentioned before theWhen it is obvious what is meant the3. The use of uncountable nouns to refer to individual thingsUncountable

15、 nouns can be used to refer to individual things by being preceded by a countable noun and the word of. For example:Uncountable Noun Referring to an Individual Thinginformation a piece of informationwheat a grain of wheatmilk a glass of milksunlight a patch of sunlightThe countable nouns may, of cou

16、rse, be put into the plural. For example:Singular Pluralone piece of information two pieces of informationone grain of wheat three grains of wheatone glass of milk four glasses of milkone patch of sunlight five patches of sunlightIn sentences such as the following, it is the countable noun which is

17、the subject of the verb. e.g. Fifty grains of wheat are required.Two glasses of milk are enough.In the above examples, the plural countable nouns grains and glasses each take the plural verb are.In English, the names of games are usually uncountable nouns.e.g. He plays hockey.Chess is a challenging

18、game.When it is desired to refer to individual games, the word game must usually be used. For example:Uncountable Noun Referring to an Individual Thingchess a game of chesshockey a game of hockey or a hockey gameSee Exercise 3. 4. Nouns which can be either countable or uncountableMany English nouns

19、are used sometimes as countable nouns and sometimes as uncountable nouns. Nouns which can be either countable or uncountable include nouns which may have different shades of meaning; normally uncountable nouns which are used to refer to types of things; and a few nouns which refer to places used for

20、 specific activities.a. Differences in meaningMany nouns are uncountable when they refer to something as a substance or a concept, but are countable when they refer to an individual thing related to the substance or concept. For instance, cake is used as an uncountable noun when referring to cake as

21、 a substance, but is used as a countable noun when referring to individual cakes.e.g. Cake and ice cream is my favorite dessert.This afternoon we baked two cakes.In the first sentence cake is an uncountable noun, and in the second sentence cakes is a countable noun.Similarly, life is used as an unco

22、untable noun when referring to life as an abstract concept, but is used as a countable noun when referring to individual lives.e.g. Life is full of surprises.It was feared that two lives had been lost.In the first sentence life is an uncountable noun, and in the second sentence lives is a countable

23、noun.b. Referring to a type of somethingAn uncountable noun can be used as countable noun when it refers to a type of something.e.g. He has an honesty which is rare nowadays.The wheats of Canada differ from those of India.In the first sentence, the usually uncountable noun honesty is used with an as

24、 a countable noun to refer to a type of honesty. In the second sentence, the usually uncountable noun wheat is used as a countable noun in the plural to refer to types of wheat.c. Referring to places used for specific activitiesA few nouns referring to places used for specific activities can be eith

25、er countable or uncountable. These nouns are used as uncountable nouns when referring to places as locations where specific activities are carried out, but are used as countable nouns when referring to the places as objects. In the following pairs of sentences, the words bed and church are used firs

26、t as uncountable nouns, and then as countable nouns.e.g. Because I was tired, I stayed in bed.Please help me to move the bed.She goes to church.She likes to photograph churches.In the first pair of sentences, stayed in bed refers to the activity of resting in bed; whereas move the bed refers to a be

27、d as an object. In the second pair of sentences, goes to church refers to the activity of taking part in church services; whereas likes to photograph churches refers to churches as objects.Nouns which are used in this way include:bed home seachurch hospital towncollege prison universitycourt school

28、d. Names of mealsSimilarly, the word television and the names of meals such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper are used as uncountable nouns when it is desired to emphasize the activity being carried out.e.g. They are watching television.We are eating breakfast.See Exercise 4. 5. Infinitives use

29、d in the place of nounsInfinitives are sometimes used in the place of nouns.e.g. To ski well is one of my goals.They plan to call us.In the first sentence, the infinitive to ski performs the function of a noun, since it is the subject of the verb is. In the second sentence, the infinitive to call pe

30、rforms the function of a noun, since it is the object of the verb to plan. These infinitives also function as verbs, since to ski is described by the adverb well, and to call takes the object us.Like an uncountable noun, an infinitive which is the subject of a verb takes a singular verb. Unlike an u

31、ncountable noun, an infinitive usually cannot be preceded by the word the. 6. GerundsPresent participles are often used in the place of nouns. A present participle used in the place of a noun is usually referred to as a gerund. In the following sentences, the gerunds are underlined.e.g. Skating is g

32、ood exercise.They like jogging.In the first sentence, skating is the subject of the verb is. In the second sentence, jogging is the object of the verb like.A gerund can perform the functions of a noun and a verb at the same time.e.g. Riding a bicycle is good exercise.They like playing hockey.In the

33、first sentence, the gerund riding functions as a noun, since it is the subject of the verb is; and also functions as a verb, since it takes the object bicycle. In the second sentence, the gerund playing functions as a noun, since it is the object of the verb like; and also functions as a verb, since

34、 it takes the object hockey.In their role as nouns, gerunds are sometimes regarded as uncountable nouns. Like an uncountable noun, a gerund which is the subject of a verb takes a singular verb. Also, like an uncountable noun, a gerund can be preceded by the when referring to a particular thing or to

35、 something previously mentioned.e.g. The skiing was excellent.He went hunting. The hunting was good.In the first example, the skiing could refer to skiing done at a particular place. In the second example, the hunting refers to the hunting mentioned in the previous sentence. 7. Specific verbs follow

36、ed by infinitives and gerundsa. Verbs followed by infinitivesMany English verbs can be followed by an infinitive. In the following examples, the verbs are underlined, and the infinitives are printed in bold type.e.g. They want to succeed.He hopes to travel next year.The following verbs can take an i

37、nfinitive as an object, but cannot take a gerund as an object:agree demand learn promiseappear deserve manage refusearrange expect mean seemask fail need tendclaim forget offer threatenconsent hesitate plan waitdare hope prepare wantdecide intend pretend Other examples of the use of infinitives with

38、 these verbs are:They agreed to come.He expected to win.She managed to keep the secret.We pretended to agree with them.b. Verbs followed by either infinitives or gerundsSome English verbs can be followed either by an infinitive or by a gerund. In the following examples, the verbs are underlined, and

39、 the infinitives and gerunds are printed in bold type.e.g. I like to fish.I like fishing.She prefers to ride a bicycle.She prefers riding a bicycle.The following verbs can take either an infinitive or a gerund as an object:attempt likebegin lovecease prefercommence proposecontinue starthate tryc. Ve

40、rbs followed by gerundsOther English verbs can be followed by a gerund, but cannot be followed by an infinitive used as an object. In the following examples, the verbs are underlined, and the gerunds are printed in bold type.e.g. They disliked waiting.It stopped raining.The following verbs can take

41、a gerund as an object, but cannot take an infinitive as an object:1 2 3 4 5keep appreciate admit avoid completepractise deplore anticipate defer finishrisk detest consider delay quitdislike deny escape stopdread discuss miss enjoy mention postpone loathe recall mind recommend regret suggest resent r

42、esist tolerate It should be noted that many of the verbs listed above have similar meanings. The second column contains verbs which express feelings about doing something; many of the feelings are negative. The third column contains verbs which refer to thoughts about doing something. The fourth col

43、umn contains verbs which refer to negative actions with respect to doing something. The fifth column contains verbs which refer to ceasing to do something.Other examples of the use of gerunds with these verbs are:I kept calling the office.We appreciate hearing from you.He denies following us.They av

44、oid discussing the subject.She finished filling in the blanks.See Exercise 5.EXERCISES for Chapter 161. For the following sentences, fill in the blanks with a or an or leave the blanks empty, as appropriate. Fill in the blanks with a or an before countable nouns, and leave them empty before uncounta

45、ble nouns. For example:_ bird is singing outside the window.A bird is singing outside the window._ copper is used in making electrical wiring.Copper is used in making electrical wiring.1. _ air is made up of elements such as _ oxygen and _ nitrogen.2. _ book is lying on the floor.3. _ Russian is a d

46、ifficult language.4. _ onion is _ vegetable.5. _ butter and _ cream are made from _ milk.6. _ letter has been delivered to the wrong house.7. _ child is playing on the sidewalk.8. _ asbestos is a fireproof material.9. _ tree is growing outside the house.10. _ curiosity is considered a sign of _ inte

47、lligence.11. They want to buy _ camera.12. _ egg was added to the soup.13. _ rain is expected this evening.14. The farmers wished for _ peace and _ prosperity.15. _ bicycle is parked in front of the store.Answers 2. Paying attention to whether the nouns in the following paragraphs are countable or u

48、ncountable, and to whether or not the nouns refer to things which have been mentioned before, fill in the blanks with a or the, or leave the blanks empty, as appropriate.Phil Jones was _ prospector, who was looking for _ gold. He had to travel a long way, crossing _ mountains and _ streams to reach

49、his destination.Previously, he had been _ miner and had mined _ copper and _ coal. But _ copper had given out, and mining _ coal was dangerous work. When he had heard about _ gold in _ mountains, Phil had left his job and traveled west. He knew he would need _ courage and _ determination to reach his goal.One evening he camped beside _ stream. When he tested _ stream, he found there was a small amount of glittering g