Amirhossein Modirkha
which nouns are countable and uncountable?1 Hello! I have a question about countable and uncountable nouns. some nouns are both countable and uncountable like cucumber or salad. could you explain when they are uncountable. For example, I have 5 cucumbers or I have some cucumbers. So when I can use it as an uncountable noun, I can't understand why bread is an uncountable noun. For example, I want to buy ten loaves of bread. Can I say I want to buy ten Breads?! When I can use Meat as an uncountable noun? why we say fruit and vegetables? why we don't say fruits? when it is countable? please help to understand it? I can't understand it when they are countable and uncountable. :(((((((((( thanks in advance :-*
Jul 5, 2013 8:55 AM
Answers · 5
2
Ok this is a big question. Think about it this way. When some nouns can be both we are often talking about part and whole. In your first example " I have 5 cucumbers or I have some cucumbers". If you have 5 whole cucumbers,then they are countable. If you took some and added it to a salad, you might say "I added some cucumber to the salad". Not all 5 of them, just some. Meat in general is uncountable. I don't eat meat, for example. But there are many kinds of meats. If you distinguish between the different kinds of meats or fruits then you can use the plural form. But in general they are considered noncount. Does this make sense? good luck. Bread is uncountable when we talk about it in general. I had (some) bread for breakfast. But if you use a word like "loaf" or "slice" those are countable. Now it is the loaf or slice you are counting, not the bread. So, I had a slice of bread for breakfast.
July 5, 2013
1
Unfortunately, this is something you just have to accept and learn. If you do a little research, you'll find some exercises online about uncountable and countable nouns. Keep practising, and you'll eventually understand it. "Can I say I want to buy ten Breads?" No, not really. Of course we'll understand what you meant to say, but we'd also understand that your level of English could be better.
July 5, 2013
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