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Jigneshbharati Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Uncountable nouns:mass vs abstract ideas or concepts

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/nouns
Here are some common categories of noncount nouns. Like all things in English (and language in general), there may be exceptions.

A mass: work, equipment, homework, money, transportation, clothing, luggage, jewelry, traffic
An abstract concept: advice, happiness, health, education, research, knowledge, information, time

Please explain the difference between "mass" and "abstract concepts or ideas" in relation to uncountable nouns.
How to differentiate them?
  

Top answer

I think you almost have to be a native speaker to understand that explanation, and even then I'm having a little trouble with it. Generally speaking, most of the time you can touch the mass items and you can't touch the abstract concepts. You can touch equipment, money, clothing, and jewelry, for example, and you can't touch advice, happiness, knowledge, etc.

— CalifJim

  • I think you almost have to be a native speaker to understand that explanation, and even then I'm having a little trouble with it.
  • Generally speaking, most of the time you can touch the mass items and you can't touch the abstract concepts.
  • You can touch equipment, money, clothing, and jewelry, for example, and you can't touch advice, happiness, knowledge, etc.
  • Not all of the examples given fit into this way of distinguishing them, but it's close.
  • CJ
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2 Answers
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I think you almost have to be a native speaker to understand that explanation, and even then I'm having a little trouble with it.

Generally speaking, most of the time you can touch the mass items and you can't touch the abstract concepts.

You can touch equipment, money, clothing, and jewelry, for example, and you can't touch advice, happiness, knowledge, etc.

Not all of the e

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Here is a good resource for noncount nouns and their different categories.

https://www.chompchomp.com/terms/noncountnoun.htm


The word "research" is interesting in that in old literature or certain dialects of English you will come across the plural form. A dictio

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