Count vs. Noncount

[kooiu]

Please help with the problem with why count nouns not used in 1a and 1b. Is this a matter of preference?

1a. Over the years as more and more Americans turn to government to resolve society's problems, government grew in size.


1b. What is political reality?


1aa. Over the years as more and more Americans turn to a government or governments to resolve the society's problems, governments grew in size.


1bb. What is a political reality?

[Tdol]

At any one time, there is only one government, so they always turn to the same thing: the system of government, which is what matters rather than the party in power.

[kooiu]

Tdol,
Thank you for your prompt response.

Please I still have some confusion.

From the same text where I got the statements above, this is also used: "Governments do many things; they organize society to carry on conflict with other societies."

Why not "Government does many things; it organizes the society to carry on conflict with other societies."?

Then, what about "what is political reality". Why not "What is a political reality"

[Raymott]

Tdol,
Thank you for your prompt response.

Please I still have some confusion.

From the same text where I got the statements above, this is also used: "Governments do many things; they organize society to carry on conflict with other societies."

Why not "Government does many things; it organizes the society to carry on conflict with other societies."?

Then, what about "what is political reality". Why not "What is a political reality"

1. They're writing about what governments do in general. Tdol would concede that at any one time there is a Federal goverment, a State government, possibly a local government and a city government (a council). There are also governments in other countries (more than 200 of them). Governments could also be used in a historical sense, so even if only one existed at a time, the plural is relevant over a certain time period. (But who told you that government was a non-count noun?)

2. What is political reality? Reality as if relates to politics - the reality of politics.
What is a political reality? Any instance of political reality. If you elect a belligerent President, you can expect a war. That is a real fact of politics, so it's a political reality, and also part of the reality of politics.

[kooiu]

Thank you Tdol and R.

My main challenge right is now is knowing the difference between (1) "Governments do many things; they organize society to carry on conflict with other societies"; and (2) "Over the years as more and more Americans turn to government to resolve society's problems, government grew in size".

It seems to me that government in (1) is a count noun and government in (2) is a noncount noun???

Please correct me with the guiding principles. Thank you.

[Raymott]

Thank you Tdol and R.

My main challenge right is now is knowing the difference between (1) "Governments do many things; they organize society to carry on conflict with other societies"; and (2) "Over the years as more and more Americans turn to government to resolve society's problems, government grew in size".

It seems to me that government in (1) is a count noun and government in (2) is a noncount noun???

Please correct me with the guiding principles. Thank you.

That's right.
1. Which mineral waters do you like? (water as a count noun)
2. This company bottles mineral water. (water as a non-count noun).
You can do that with a lot of nouns. The grammar's there to help you use the language, not to hinder you.

[kooiu]

Raymoth,
Thank you for your help.