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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Countable use of uncountable nouns
The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable.
So they cannot have the plural forms with these meanings. But could these nouns be used as countable nouns as shown in the following when they mean "sort of them"
though these usage may require very specific situations? for example
uncountable nouns countable usage
an expected answer
butter How many butters do you have? two: a German butter and a French butter
cheese How many cheeses do you have? two cottage cheeses and one blue cheese
oil How many oils do you have? one olive oil and two sesami oils
beer How many beers do you have? one draft beer and two pilsner beers
water How many waters do you have? two: evian and alps
dressing How many dressings do you have? two: Italian and French dressings
sugar How many sugars do you have? one:maple sugar
beef How many beefs do you have? two: Aussie and American
bread How many breads do you have? two:English
Thank you.
G.Cantor
So they cannot have the plural forms with these meanings. But could these nouns be used as countable nouns as shown in the following when they mean "sort of them"
though these usage may require very specific situations? for example
uncountable nouns countable usage
an expected answer
butter How many butters do you have? two: a German butter and a French butter
cheese How many cheeses do you have? two cottage cheeses and one blue cheese
oil How many oils do you have? one olive oil and two sesami oils
beer How many beers do you have? one draft beer and two pilsner beers
water How many waters do you have? two: evian and alps
dressing How many dressings do you have? two: Italian and French dressings
sugar How many sugars do you have? one:maple sugar
beef How many beefs do you have? two: Aussie and American
bread How many breads do you have? two:English
Thank you.
G.Cantor
Top answer
"Georg Cantor" (Email Removed) wrote on 07 Jan 2004: [nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable. So they cannot have the plural ... [/nq] Sure they can, but at a place that carries more than one type of what you're asking for, the person you're talking to will more than likely ask what you mean.
- "Georg Cantor" (Email Removed) wrote on 07 Jan 2004: [nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable.
- So they cannot have the plural ...
- [/nq] Sure they can, but at a place that carries more than one type of what you're asking for, the person you're talking to will more than likely ask what you mean.
- It's not at all unusual for native speakers of English to order "5 beers" instead of 5 bottles, steins, or glasses of beer.
- We drop the counter (glass, bottle, stein, type, sort, kind).
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14 Answers
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"Georg Cantor" (Email Removed) wrote on 07 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable. So they cannot have the plural ... nouns as shown in the following when they mean "sort of them" though these usage may require very specific situations?[/nq]
Sure they can, but at a place that carries more than one type of what you'
[nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable. So they cannot have the plural ... nouns as shown in the following when they mean "sort of them" though these usage may require very specific situations?[/nq]
Sure they can, but at a place that carries more than one type of what you'
00
[nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable. So they cannot have the plural ... nouns as shown in the following when they mean "sort of them" though these usage may require very specific situations?[/nq]
Yes, no problem: it's normal.
Mike.
Yes, no problem: it's normal.
Mike.
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[nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materialsare considered uncountable. So they cannot have the plural forms ... youhave? one:maple sugar beef How many beefs do youhave? two: Aussie and American bread How many breads do youhave? two:English[/nq]
Yes, you can, but it's not normal ("how many types/kinds/brands/makes of..." being more usual), and in some cases it
Yes, you can, but it's not normal ("how many types/kinds/brands/makes of..." being more usual), and in some cases it
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[nq:1]The following nouns which mean objects with unfixed shape and materials are considered uncountable. So they cannot have the plural ... sugar beef How many beefs do you have? two: Aussie and American bread How many breads do you have? two:English[/nq]
Right you are you expressed the distinction well, and gave good examples. Most of these uncountables are frequently used in the countable s
Right you are you expressed the distinction well, and gave good examples. Most of these uncountables are frequently used in the countable s
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Just thought I'd mention.
Michael Hamm Since mid-September of 2003, AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis I've been erasing too much UBE. (Email Removed) Of a reply, then, if you have been cheated, http://math.wustl.edu/~msh210/ Likely your mail's by mistake been deleted.
Michael Hamm Since mid-September of 2003, AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis I've been erasing too much UBE. (Email Removed) Of a reply, then, if you have been cheated, http://math.wustl.edu/~msh210/ Likely your mail's by mistake been deleted.
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[nq:1]Georg Cantor asked about countable objects. Just thought I'd mention.[/nq]
Don't.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
Don't.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
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[nq:1]Moreover, "beeves" is still an acceptable plural, especially when people are referring to cattle.[/nq]
This has been done before on AUE. As far as I know, this is strictly North American usage.
Rob Bannister
This has been done before on AUE. As far as I know, this is strictly North American usage.
Rob Bannister
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Hello Ms.Bilyeu,
Thank you for answering my questions.But unfortunately I could not read your answers because they were deleted while I was out
for a few days.I am very curious about your answers.Could you kindly post them again if you don't mind?
Thank you
Georg Gantor
Thank you for answering my questions.But unfortunately I could not read your answers because they were deleted while I was out
for a few days.I am very curious about your answers.Could you kindly post them again if you don't mind?
Thank you
Georg Gantor
00
[nq:2]Moreover, "beeves" is still an acceptable plural, especially when people are referring to cattle.[/nq]
[nq:1]This has been done before on AUE. As far as I know, this is strictly North American usage.[/nq]
Sometimes parts of UK, too.
Mike.
[nq:1]This has been done before on AUE. As far as I know, this is strictly North American usage.[/nq]
Sometimes parts of UK, too.
Mike.
00
[nq:1]Hello Ms.Bilyeu, Thank you for answering my questions.But unfortunately I could not read your answers because they were deleted while ... days.I am very curious about your answers.Could you kindly post them again if you don't mind? Thank you Georg Gantor[/nq]
Rethink that "Ms."
http://www.smsu.ed
Rethink that "Ms."
http://www.smsu.ed
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