Noun

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Hi. I'm Nhan, from Vietnam. Now I have a trouble. When i look up some nouns like hatred, hope...,it (Longman dictionary) says that they are uncountable and countable. I know that some common words like hair are uncountable and countable but with the abstract words like hatred, hope above, i don't know when they are countable and when they are uncountable. Can you here help me to know?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

thegreeneagleWhen i look up some nouns like hatred, hope...,it (Longman dictionary) says that they are uncountable and countable.

It's not always easy. (I'm assuming the Longman dictionary doesn't give example sentences.)
If you find a sentence in a reliable source, and the noun is plural, there's a very good chance it's countable.
If it's singular, try to substitute the plural form and see if it makes sense. If it does, it's probably countable.
In some cases it can be taken either way (with two different meanings).

Don't get your hopes up! Sometimes it's a fixed expression. (We wouldn't say, "Don't get your hope up," although it's technically possible.) The "hope" we're talking about here is usually thought of as uncountable.
But we sometimes say things like, "I have only three hopes (wishes)." This usage is clearly countable.

I'm sure you're familiar with the idea that countable nouns are for things and uncountable nouns are for stuff.
As you note, it can be difficult to picture certain abstract nouns as things.

thegreeneaglewith the abstract words like hatred, hope

"Fear(s)" works like "hope(s)."

Anonymous · Answer

I'll make it easily for you..when you say countable those nouns are can be counted and when its uncountable those nouns are cannot be counted..

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