this furniture or this piece of furniture?

[japanjapan]

Dear teachers,

My English teacher used to tell me "furniture" is a collective noun, so we can only say "a piece of furniture". But while reading, I met "this furniture" several times. so I am puzzled now. I don't think "this furniture" is correct or standard, I think "this piece of furniture" is the right one. Am I right?

yours
japanjapan

[oregeezer]

Since it is a collective noun "this furniture" refers to two or more pieces - "this piece of furniture" is ONE piece; "these pieces of furniture" could also be used as a plural. To be more specific you can say "these three pieces of furniture."
Confusing, huh?

[Barb_D]

Let me ask you a question about another non-count noun instead.

Does this milk taste sour to you?

You can use "this" before a non-count noun.

In the case of your sentence, you are not referring to a particular piece of furniture, but a collection of pieces of furniture. "This furniture won't fit in our new living room." "This furniture is a lovely color - it will go so nicely with the paint we've chosen."

[beaverbeaver]

so it's based on the speaker's assumption?

if i'm thinking more than one and only one like that ?







Beavercanal Land English Community

[Barb_D]

If you are thinking about only a single chair, a single table, then you are correct - you would think of it as "a piece of furniture" not "this furniture."

[beaverbeaver]

it's like a discussion i had with my friends in a forum. about the use of "any" in questions, like :

1. did you find any STAMPS there?
2. did you find any STAMP there ?

it's also based on assumptions right ?


Beavercanal Land English Community

[engee30]

it's like a discussion i had with my friends in a forum. about the use of "any" in questions, like :

1. did you find any STAMPS there?
If you wanted to find some.
2. did you find any STAMP there ?
If you wanted to find one, or if you wanted to find a thing called a stamp.