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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
three vague questions
1. I understand the/a variable noun is uncount when use in a general sense and is a count noun when it refers to a particular instance of something. OK, and I think they can sometimes be used interchangeably like some of these below. Can you check if they can be used interchangeably?
1. exposed to sufficient and good quality input(s)
2. repeated exposure(s) using innovative method(s)
3. activities for effective writing practice(s)
4. creating diverse environment(s)
2. I understand the word "vocabulary" is also a variable noun and a reference book indicated/noted that a certain expressions of quantity can be used with it. Can we said like to mean nearly the same thing?
a lot of vocabulary
a lot of vocabularies
3. I was looking at this sentence from my teenager friend's Collins/Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary and has been wondering why they haven't put the underlined nouns in plural. When I see the possessive "their" I tend to think of it as being followed up with a plural noun, not a singular noun. Help.
An adjective is a word which is used to tell you more about a person or thing, such as their appearance (why not appearances), color (colors??) , size (sizes??), or other qualities.
1. exposed to sufficient and good quality input(s)
2. repeated exposure(s) using innovative method(s)
3. activities for effective writing practice(s)
4. creating diverse environment(s)
2. I understand the word "vocabulary" is also a variable noun and a reference book indicated/noted that a certain expressions of quantity can be used with it. Can we said like to mean nearly the same thing?
a lot of vocabulary
a lot of vocabularies
3. I was looking at this sentence from my teenager friend's Collins/Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary and has been wondering why they haven't put the underlined nouns in plural. When I see the possessive "their" I tend to think of it as being followed up with a plural noun, not a singular noun. Help.
An adjective is a word which is used to tell you more about a person or thing, such as their appearance (why not appearances), color (colors??) , size (sizes??), or other qualities.
Top answer
Hi Beleiver, Questions like the ones you have sometimes are not possible for us to answer without a full context; meaning preceeding text or conversation. For instnance: "input" can be countable or uncountable. A Dolby Surround Sound amplifier has many audio-visual inputs at the back for many types of media .
- Hi Beleiver, Questions like the ones you have sometimes are not possible for us to answer without a full context; meaning preceeding text or conversation.
- For instnance: "input" can be countable or uncountable.
- A Dolby Surround Sound amplifier has many audio-visual inputs at the back for many types of media .
- Countable Thank you for your valueable input .
- Collective noun/ uncountable
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5 Answers
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Hi Beleiver,
Questions like the ones you have sometimes are not possible for us to answer without a full context; meaning preceeding text or conversation. For instnance: "input" can be countable or uncountable.
A Dolby Surround Sound amplifier has many audio-visual inputs at the back for many types of media . Countable
Questions like the ones you have sometimes are not possible for us to answer without a full context; meaning preceeding text or conversation. For instnance: "input" can be countable or uncountable.
A Dolby Surround Sound amplifier has many audio-visual inputs at the back for many types of media . Countable
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their can be used as a singular. It's often used this way when his, her, and its all seem unsuitable. Below, we see that a person can be a man (his) or a woman (her), and we know the person is not a thing (its). With multiple choices like this, we often use their instead.
... to tell you more about a person, such as [their / t
... to tell you more about a person, such as [their / t
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good quality input is the better choice; inputs is possible.
exposure is better; exposures is possible.
methods only.
We'll need more context for practice. It could be either one. The phrase is a bit strange.
diverse environments only. diverse makes it plural, similar to several, which also requires the plural.
exposure is better; exposures is possible.
methods only.
We'll need more context for practice. It could be either one. The phrase is a bit strange.
diverse environments only. diverse makes it plural, similar to several, which also requires the plural.
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a lot of vocabulary does not mean the same thing as a lot of vocabularies.
First meaning:
I have [a lot of vocabulary / a lot of words] to learn before tomorrow's English class. (Here vocabulary is short for vocabulary items.)
Another meaning:
I don't have a large [vocabulary / store of words / inventory of words] in En
First meaning:
I have [a lot of vocabulary / a lot of words] to learn before tomorrow's English class. (Here vocabulary is short for vocabulary items.)
Another meaning:
I don't have a large [vocabulary / store of words / inventory of words] in En
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Thank you very much.
What factors are involved in determining when to use a "count noun" version or an "uncountable noun" version?
Is it any of these or both?
1) context of the sentence(s)
2) specificity as to how the noun is being used or seen as -- single items or a collective item?
I am asking this question because some variable nouns are hard to dis
What factors are involved in determining when to use a "count noun" version or an "uncountable noun" version?
Is it any of these or both?
1) context of the sentence(s)
2) specificity as to how the noun is being used or seen as -- single items or a collective item?
I am asking this question because some variable nouns are hard to dis
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