 Extra!!!
unreasonable classification of count/uncount noun
When I was in primary school, my teacher first told me how to classify nouns as count or uncount. My teacher explained to me some of the strange cases.
Eg: bread (uncount noun)
It is because bread has a lot of different sizes, say, a slice, a loaf, a lumb; so it is countable.
As I grow up, this kind of explanation cannot hold water anymore.
The only reason I can explain to you about this phenomenon is "English says it is!"
Now uncount and count noun is abbreviated to un; cn
Weird examples and why
Why mail is (un)? Letter and parcel are (cn).
Reason: "English says it is! Just follow, man!"
Why when mail simply means letter, it is (un); when mail means letter/parcel etc. delivered/collected at one specific time/period, we are able to count the mail (cn) suddenly?
Reason: "English Power! Please remember it by rote!"
Both "suggestion (cn)" and "advice (un)" refers to the same kind of things. Why this can make such a difference of (c/u)?
Reason: "See! The magic play by English!"
The following are countable in other languages, why not for English:
- furniture, equipment, money, baggage, luggage, rubbish, trash, homework, machinery, traffic, information, news
Reason: "Because it is English, English, English…"
How can you understand the system of u/cn? It is only u/c
So I do not feel proud of it when I know I have to say "There is a piece of luggage!", but others don't.
Yes, English is that capricious. I am never proud that I get used to writing and speaking that capriciously.
However, on the other side of the coin, I am quite happy to get used to it because I can teach people how to cope with this capriciousness. What's more importantly, I can earn a good job (with higher salaries).
It is what the complexity is worth - a good job.
If English becomes too easy, "high English proficiency" will no longer be a benefit during a company interview.  |