Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
movable articles for use in a home or office (i.e. chairs, desks, cabinets, closets, etc.)
furniture
dietician
switch
trouble
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Reported Speech | Is there no even(n)ing?
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #1 (permalink) Mon Apr 12, 2010 17:21 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Hello everybody,
Kindly tell me which sentence is correct:

1) Five dollars are not enough.
Five dollars is not enough.

2) Five dollars per month are not enough.
Five dollars per month is not enough.

3) Three bottles of water is little.
Three bottles of water are little.

4) Three bottles of water is few.
Three bottles of water are few.

5) Three bottles of water is a lot.
Three bottles of water are a lot.

Thanks in advance

Regards,
Nola
_________________
Nola
Nola
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 100

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #2 (permalink) Mon Apr 12, 2010 20:34 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Good questions, Nola. I would like to know too, but I would answer this way: 1-a; 2-a:3-b: 4-b and 5-b. Certainly I am not being helpful, but I expressed my opinion. Thanks.
Cristovam
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 25 Apr 2009
Posts: 163

Learn some cool expressions in the following cool storyEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Read these English anecdotes and maybe smile today? Subscribe to free email English course
Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #3 (permalink) Mon Apr 12, 2010 20:57 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Hi Nola.
My answer is 1. is; 2. is; 3. are; 4. are; 5. are.
In my opinion, nouns that related to an amount of money, time... are always followed by singular verbs. For example:
1. Five thousand pounds (=it) was stolen in the bank robbery.
2. Two years is enough for her to become a mature person.
I hope it can help you.
Best wishes.
Hanglee
New Member


Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Posts: 2

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #4 (permalink) Mon Apr 12, 2010 21:23 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Nola wrote:
1) Five dollars are not enough.
Five dollars is not enough.

Since you are talking about an amount of money 'is' sounds better.

Nola wrote:
2) Five dollars per month are not enough.
Five dollars per month is not enough.

Again, you are referring to an amount of money, so I would use 'is'.

Nola wrote:
3) Three bottles of water is little.
Three bottles of water are little.

I would prefer the singular here since you are referring to an amount of water rather than a number of bottles.

Nola wrote:
4) Three bottles of water is few.
Three bottles of water are few.

I don't like either of those.

Nola wrote:
5) Three bottles of water is a lot.
Three bottles of water are a lot.

I would prefer the singular here since you are referring to an amount of water rather than a number of bottles.

TOEIC listening, photographs: The electrician
Torsten
Learning Coach
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 15008
Location: EU

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #5 (permalink) Mon Apr 12, 2010 21:31 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Hello Torsten,
That was really a great help.
So.. When do we deal with "3 bottles of water" as a plural form?

Thanks
_________________
Nola
Nola
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 100

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #6 (permalink) Mon Apr 12, 2010 21:43 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

I would say when you emphasis the fact that you are talking about the number of bottles rather than the amount of the water they hold.

TOEIC listening, photographs: The checkout
Torsten
Learning Coach
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 15008
Location: EU

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #7 (permalink) Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:50 am   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

What about the following sentences:

* Five kilos of honey is not enough.
Five kilos of honey are not enough.

Which one of them is correct?
_________________
Nola
Nola
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 100

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #8 (permalink) Tue Apr 13, 2010 13:27 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Hello everybody,
In my opinion,

1) Five dollars are not enough.

2) Five dollars per month are not enough.

3)
Three bottles of water are few.

4)
Three bottles of water are few.

5)
Three bottles of water are a lot.
Kar85
New Member


Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 3

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #9 (permalink) Tue Apr 13, 2010 14:07 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Thank you very much!
Mkostya
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 113
Location: Haifa

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #10 (permalink) Tue Apr 13, 2010 19:21 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Hello everybody,
Thank you all for your effort but I got what I wanted to know.

Please look at the other question up there.

Regards,
Nola
_________________
Nola
Nola
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 100

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #11 (permalink) Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:06 am   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

Nola wrote:
What about the following sentences:

* Five kilos of honey is not enough.
Five kilos of honey are not enough.

Which one of them is correct?


I would prefer "Five kilos of honey is not enough." Here, "honey" is the subject. BTW, an asterisk before a sentence may suggest the sentence is predeterminedly wrong.
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
Location: Japan

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #12 (permalink) Wed Apr 14, 2010 22:16 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

So... If we talk about the number of kilos, will we use the plural form "are"?
_________________
Nola
Nola
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 100

Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns #13 (permalink) Wed Apr 14, 2010 22:22 pm   Countable nouns vs. Uncountable nouns
 

"There are five kilos of honey in the back of that truck."
"Five kilos of honey is enough for anyone."
_________________
Cheers m' dears!
Beeesneees
Language Coach


Joined: 08 Apr 2010
Posts: 20428
Location: UK, born and bred

Display posts from previous:   
Reported Speech | Is there no even(n)ing?
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
"at bay" means "at a distance" hereKindly enlighten me."will" vs "Be going to"Why dont we add on in between any and monday? why do we skip it?what is the meaning?etc vs and so onThere are/is no apples? Which one is correct?What is the difference between these two sentence?Useful Vocabulary for Business Executives - from M to Zhave been to vs. had been inA better-quality crystalPlease Check my letter which write to bankHow to say Hello via email?

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail