Countable /uncountable
According to the Oxford dictionary, the word 'change' can be both countable or uncountable:
[ C or U ] the https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/act of https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/becoming different, or the https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/result of something https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/becoming different
Allow me to provide a few examples from the dictionary.
1. They've made a lot of changes to the house.
2. We're https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/living in a https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/time of https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E-%E7%B9%81%E9%AB%94/great change.
As for the following, it is extracted from newspaper NZ Herald
Feeling anxious about the beginning of the school year is natural for children as, like any transitional time, it involves coping with change.
The question is: Why not 'changes'?
How do we know whether the 'change' is countable or uncountable?
Thanks for helping.
Top answer
Where there is a clear idea of individual instances of something changing or being changed, we use the countable noun. For example, we can say "I have made several changes to the text". When we are not concerned with individual instances, but see change more as general process or abstract concept, we use the uncountable noun.
- Where there is a clear idea of individual instances of something changing or being changed, we use the countable noun.
- For example, we can say "I have made several changes to the text".
- When we are not concerned with individual instances, but see change more as general process or abstract concept, we use the uncountable noun.
- For example, we can say "No one likes change".
- Having said that, there is a fairly large grey area of overlap, where both words could work.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
Where there is a clear idea of individual instances of something changing or being changed, we use the countable noun. For example, we can say "I have made several changes to the text". When we are not concerned with individual instances, but see change more as general process or abstract concept, we use the uncountable noun. For example, we can say "No one likes change". Having said that, the
0LONG HIN LAMcoping with change.
Change here means the general situation of an unstable environment. It does not refer to specific changes.
Consider these two sentences:
Future generations will have to cope with climate change.
Future generations will have to cope with changes in the earth's climate, such as ri
0Thanks for the replies. However I am still struggling with it due to the fact that when a nonspecific thing is mentioned , usually the plural form will be used. For example,
Sausages are not good for health.
Oranges contain a lot of vitamin C.
We don't say the following sentences:
Sausage is not good for health.
Orange contains a lot of vitamin C.
0
Related Questions