ONLINE ENGLISH GRAMMAR QUIZ
topic: COUNT and NON-COUNT NOUNS | level: Advanced
In each space in the following sentences, indicate whether the noun before that space is a count noun (write c) or a non-count noun (write nc). Some of these words could be either count or non-count nouns, but you should determine how each is being used in the sentence.
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Count or Noncount?
The main difference between count and noncount nouns is whether you can count the things they refer to or not.
Count nouns refer to things that exist as separate and distinct individual units. They usually refer to what can be perceived by the senses.
ex. table, chair word
Noncount nouns refer to things that can't be counted because they are thought of as wholes that can't be cut into parts. They often refer to abstractions and occasionally have a collective meaning (for example, furniture).
ex: weather, furniture, warmth
REMEMBER: One of the main differences in usage between the two types of nouns is that countable nouns CAN be counted - "Two apples, three beds" but non-countable nouns CANNOT be counted - two pieces of furniture (NOT "two furnitures"!)
You can get more info on countable and non-countable nouns by reading the article at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslcount.html.