Uncountable nouns

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sondra

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Hello,

When is it possible to use an indefinite article before uncountable nouns? Only when they are defined in some way?
Music, art, love, happiness
advice, information, news(It was a good advice/information/news)
furniture, luggage(an old furniture, a heavy luggage)
rice, sugar, butter, water( a/one rice on my plate,)
electricity, gas, power( a dangerous gas)
money, currency

Thanks
 

5jj

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You cannot normally have an indefinite article before these words: advice, information, news, furniture, luggage, money. You need to have a piece/bit of advice, etc, an item of furniture.

If you have an indefinite article before these nouns, you normally mean a type/variety/brand/serving of:
rice, sugar, butter, water; music, art, happiness, electricity, love.

gas, power
and currency are frequently used countably.
 

White Hat

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Well, the noun "love" can be both: "love" can be countable if you mean your lover.

Usually, a good dictionary will specify whether a noun is countable or uncountable.
 

5jj

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Well, the noun "love" can be both: "love" can be countable if you mean your lover.
Usually, a good dictionary will specify whether a noun is countable or uncountable.
:up: Indeed. My response was rather superficial.
 

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White Hat

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This has been an area I've been struggling with myself. I was wondering whether there is a comprehensive online source that gives us ALL of the nouns that can be both countable and uncountable. I'd greatly appreciate your help.
 

sondra

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'gas, power and currency are frequently used countably.'

But if they are uncountable why are they used countably?

 

sondra

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'Apple can be used uncountably, and water can be used countably.' Could you provide an example, please?
 

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'gas, power and currency are frequently used countably.'

But if they are uncountable why are they used countably?


Because they can mean things that are countable:

gas as gasoline and helium as a gas;
power as control and power as a mathematical term;
currency as the state of being current and currency as dollars
 

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'Apple can be used uncountably, and water can be used countably.' Could you provide an example, please?

"water" can be used countably:

I'm going to get a slice of pizza and a water (meaning "one bottle of water").
 

5jj

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'gas, power and currency are frequently used countably.'

But if they are uncountable why are they used countably?
There is no such thing as a countable or uncountable noun. The words 'countable' and 'uncountable' are used by writers on English as a useful shorthand to help learners understand when they can, for example, use or not use the indefinite article in certain contexts.
 

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'Apple can be used uncountably, and water can be used countably.' Could you provide an example, please?

The only context in which I can think of "apple" being used uncountably is where we're talking of the wood of an apple tree.

It's made of oak.
It's made of apple.
 

sondra

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I was confused, because my dictionary says that gas is uncountable/uncountable, helium is uncountable, power-sometimes countanble and sometimes uncountable and currency can be countable and can be uncountable, power-countable/uncountable.
 

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I was confused, because my dictionary says that gas is uncountable/uncountable, helium is uncountable, power-sometimes countanble and sometimes uncountable and currency can be countable and can be uncountable, power-countable/uncountable.

As you can see, English is a VERY complex language. When it comes to countable/uncountable nouns, you're better off consulting a very good dictionary that has this issue covered comprehensively.
 
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Chicken Sandwich

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I was confused, because my dictionary says that gas is uncountable/uncountable, helium is uncountable, power-sometimes countanble and sometimes uncountable and currency can be countable and can be uncountable, power-countable/uncountable.

Think about it, does "heliums" make sense? Hydrogens? What would "heliums" be?
 

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The only context in which I can think of "apple" being used uncountably is where we're talking of the wood of an apple tree.
For pudding today we have stewed fruit and custard. Would you like blackberry or apple or both?
 

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For pudding today we have stewed fruit and custard. Would you like blackberry or apple or both?
Got it!
 

Chicken Sandwich

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I know it's a stretch, but how about using "dog" as an uncountable noun? 'I like dog' meaning 'I like dog meat.' I know that it sounds rather cruel and it's not something you'd hear very often, but it seems possible to me, even though a dictionary would not include this usage.
 

5jj

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I know it's a stretch, but how about using "dog" as an uncountable noun? 'I like dog' meaning 'I like dog meat.' I know that it sounds rather cruel and it's not something you'd hear very often, but it seems possible to me, even though a dictionary would not include this usage.
When I lived in China, I used 'dog' as an uncountable noun for a type of meat. In other countries in which I have worked, I have used 'horse', 'camel and 'goat' uncountably.

See post #12 for my views on 'countable' and 'uncountable' nouns.
 
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