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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Uncountable noun and the concept of turning it into types
Hi,
I think, In a learner's dictionaries, we often seem to encounter terms like "uncountable nouns"," countable nouns", "variable nouns" and "mass nouns". I think I learned that in order to turn such uncountable nouns that denote some what temporary emotions like "happiness", we seem to make use of the concept of "types." I think a mass noun like "detergent" is countable when cast into types but a variable noun like "discussion" is countable when cast into examples or instances.
So, when a person wants to turn uncountable nouns like "happiness" countable, the"type" concept is almost always, if not always, used, and not (necessarily?) the "example or instance" concept. Would you say this is correct/true?
Then, when someone uses the word "Englishes", what is he/she doing? Is he turning the word into types?
I think, In a learner's dictionaries, we often seem to encounter terms like "uncountable nouns"," countable nouns", "variable nouns" and "mass nouns". I think I learned that in order to turn such uncountable nouns that denote some what temporary emotions like "happiness", we seem to make use of the concept of "types." I think a mass noun like "detergent" is countable when cast into types but a variable noun like "discussion" is countable when cast into examples or instances.
So, when a person wants to turn uncountable nouns like "happiness" countable, the"type" concept is almost always, if not always, used, and not (necessarily?) the "example or instance" concept. Would you say this is correct/true?
Then, when someone uses the word "Englishes", what is he/she doing? Is he turning the word into types?
Top answer
) the "example or instance" concept. Would you say this is correct/true? Almost always may be true, but not absolutely always, as shown below.
- ) the "example or instance" concept.
- Would you say this is correct/true?
- Almost always may be true, but not absolutely always, as shown below.
- At age 52, he finally married his childhood sweetheart -- a happiness he had never thought possible.
- This is an instance or example of happiness, not a type.
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1 Answers
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AnonymousSo, when a person wants to turn uncountable nouns like "happiness" countable, the"type" concept is almost always, if not always, used, and not (necessarily?) the "example or instance" concept. Would you say this is correct/true?Almost always may be true, but not absolutely always, as shown below.
At age 52, he finally married his ch
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