Search results for 'tag:Countable nouns tag:Possessives' matching tags 'Countable nouns' and 'Possessives'

Re: "Travels"

Mister Micawber — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 02:30:38 GMT

Travel is the (usually) uncountable noun for the general experience of moving around; trip is a particular countable instance of travel: I love travel-- my next trip is to Botswana.

A sightseeing tour can be done alone or with friends or on a package tour, which is an arranged group tour including transportation and accommodation and some meals (the 'package').

The hotels' prices or the hotel prices. The first is plural possessive and the latter is the noun as adjective. Since hotels are not sentient, I recommend the hotel prices.

Re: more examples please

CalifJim — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:42:07 GMT

Thank you, CalifJim. I am going to give you four sentences that have a preposition followed by what looks to be a noun equivalent. Can you please tell me if these are illustrations of your points that you made above? Are they all correct noun equivalents?

1.He is displeased with filling of his pail. -- general abstract reference (used as an uncountable noun)

2. He is displeased with the filling of his pail. -- specific reference (used as a countable noun)

3. He is displeased with a filling of his pail. -- an instance of 'filling' (also used in a countable sense)

4. He is displeased with his filling of his pail. -- could be both abstract and specific but in the possessive 'his'

The gerund filling is the object of the preposition with in each case, so yes, they are all noun equivalents.

The descriptions you give show a connection with the points I made above. Yes.
However, filling a pail is difficult to conceive of as an abstraction, so the resulting sentences aren't particularly natural sounding.

CJ

Re: more examples please

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:58:18 GMT

CalifJim wrote:
Gerunds can be treated as countable or non-countable, the same as other nouns. It seems to me that as non-countables they are generally taken more abstractly.

Thank you, CalifJim. I am going to give you four sentences that have a preposition followed by what looks to be a noun equivalent. Can you please tell me if these are illustrations of your points that you made above? Are they all correct noun equivalents?

1.He is displeased with filling of his pail. -- general abstract reference (used as an uncountable noun)

2. He is displeased with the filling of his pail. -- specific reference (used as a countable noun)

3. He is displeased with a filling of his pail. -- an instance of 'filling' (also used in a countable sense)

4. He is displeased with his filling of his pail. -- could be both abstract and specific but in the possessive 'his'

Thank you.

As with other nouns, a/an can mean an instance of when placed before a gerund.

a shaking of the ground = an instance of ground-shaking = an occasion in which (the) ground shakes / shook
a mixing of the ingredients = an instance of ingredient-mixing = an occasion in which (the) ingredients are / were mixed

CJ

Re: software name?

Clive — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:50:05 GMT

Hi,

1. How do you decide on how to put English articles in front of (software game??) names like Playstation 3? Do you have to make a decision as to whether it is used as a software or used a game first? Maybe, the rule is if used as a game, put the article in; whereas, if it is used as a sacred name of a particular type of software that is being enjoyed by youngster all over the world? Can you make some sort of connection to the rules that apply to some proper names?

as fun as the Playstation 3

I think that Playstation 3 is actually a piece of equipment that you buy with some software already installed. Isn't that true? So, it's a thing.

If I am speaking generally of the product, I would say 'Sony had great success last year with Playstation 3'. But if I am speaking individually, I'd say 'Today I bought a Playstation 3 for my son'.

Please note also that software is not a countable noun. You say things like 'I bought some software'. If you want to talk about some particular kind of software, you would typically say something like 'I bought a piece of software' or 'I bought a software package'.

2. When you have a possessive placed in front of a noun, does that 'possessiveness' overrides all determiners including determiners for superatives?

She is Korea's most beautiful woman.

Normally, you would write like this if the underlined possessive is not used:

She is the most beatitul woman in Korea.

So, an argument can be made that these sorts of possessives can override all determiners. Can it? I think so, although I don't like to make very general statements. I don't see it as just related to superlatives. eg

Seoul is the capital of South Korea. Seoul is South Korea's capital.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Correct term for singular possessive as stand-in for a group

Maripinky — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:21:32 GMT

I think the grammatical term could be generic noun phrases. When a noun is mentioned as a symbol, example, or representative of all members of a group (almost the same as all + plural or noncount nouns or any + a singular noun) we refer to it as having "generic" reference.

A few generic countable nouns look like definite nouns (they follow the), even though they do not refer to specific, unique things! (they are NOT definite)

The and a singular count noun can refer to a whole group (not just one specific member). This occurs often in formal writing, and with inventions, musical instruments, parts of the body.

The lion is endangered
The heart is like a pump
When was the radio invented?
She plays the piano.
The inexperienced student may need help.

(which lion? not just one lion, but all lions)
(which heart? all hearts)
(which radio? not the radio in my apartment, but the idea)
(which piano? She has this general ability.)
(which student? Any inexperienced student.)

The and a plural count noun can occasionally refer to all members of a human group in general .. not just particular people konwn to the speaker/writer and listener/reader. This is the least common kind of generic nouns, usually referring to a religiously, politically, or professionally-based group of people.
The Germans are known for their beer.
The Republicans will meet in Philadelphia (which Germans? all of them)
(which Republicans? representatives of all of them)
The can also be followed by an adjective (with no noun) to refer to a whole class (usually of people):
The blind leading the blind
The rich and the poor (which blind what? all blind people)
(which rich/poor what? all rich/poor people)

Re: I have a question about articles

CalifJim — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 04:52:18 GMT

Good answer!

(1) Yes, uncountable nouns can be tricky! There are many cases where the same noun is countable in one context and uncountable in another.
(2) You do have to remember that certain words like the demonstrative and possessive adjectives act as determiners, making articles (also determiners) forbidden. That shouldn't be quite so tricky though. Is it?

CJ

Re: it and never they

Clive — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:04:41 GMT

Hi guys,

I have three uncountables with possessives or "look-to-be" quantifiers. Should they all be referred with the pronoun "it"?

1) their furniture

'Furniture' is not a countable noun. Say 'Your furniture is very nice. I like it'. It's the same, for example, as talking about 'their money'.

Individually, we often speak of 'a piece of furniture' or 'an item of furniture'.

Best wishes, Clive

both an uncountable and a countable taking possessive adjectives

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 05:24:59 GMT

Hi,

Can both uncountable nouns and countable nouns take "my", "his", etc.?

Re: do you have a jacket?/do you have jacket?

Mister Micawber — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 13:55:48 GMT

Normally, you would be asking if Jack has any jackets at all (i.e. does he have protection from the cold?). For singular countable nouns, an article (a/an/the jacket) is always needed, unless it is replaced by a demonstrative (this jacket) or a possessive (your jacket). Generalization has nothing to do with it.

Jack, do you have a jacket at home?

Do you have (any/some) jackets is possible, but only if you are enquiring about the extent of Jack's wardrobe: Do you have (any/some) sweaters? Do you have (any/some) anoraks? Notice that natural English usually includes the determiners some or any.

Re your second question, both are OK. Who can be singular or plural, depending on context:

I love my wife, who is standing next to me.
I love my children, who are at day camp.

In your case, the plural igloos recommends the plural verb:

Who live in igloos?
Who lives in an igloo?

Re: Grammatical questions

MrPedantic — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:12:45 GMT

Hello Guest

Since this is for an exam, I don't feel I should give detailed replies. But you may wish to consider:

1. Why the following sentences are ungrammatical:

a) Never watch I television.
b) Which programmes watched you?

Look up Inversion in your grammar book.

a) Would you like an information?
b) He hasn't read much book.

Look up Count Nouns and Uncountable Nouns.

2. What is the grammatical difference between forms such as "my" and "mine", or "their" and "theirs"?

Look up Possessive Determiners and Possessive Pronouns.

3. How might the following contrast be accounted for?
a) They have referred to the book. c) He went to the station.
b) The book has been referred to. d) The station was gone to.

Look up Present Perfect Tense, Past Perfect Tense.

4. How can the contrast between c) and f) be explained?
a) She spoke to the manager. d) She put on a coat.
b) Who did she speak to? e) What did she put on?
c) To whom did she speak? f) On what did she put?

Look up Interrogative Pronouns.

Why not work on these ones first, and post your suggestions, after looking up the relevant sections? If you're still having trouble, we'll then give you more help, and go on to your other questions.

MrP