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Mass Nouns
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What Are Mass Nouns? (with Examples)
A mass noun (or non-countable noun or noncount noun as it's also known) is a noun without a plural form.A mass noun is one that cannot be counted. For example:
Got it? Take a quick test.Examples of Mass Nouns
Here are some examples of mass nouns:| Mass Noun | Attempt At Making It Plural |
|---|---|
| petrol | four petrols  |
| furniture | four furnitures |
| lumber | four lumbers |
| gold | four golds |
Mass nouns are singular.
More Examples of Mass Nouns
Non-countable nouns usually fall into one of the following categories:| Category | Example |
|---|---|
| Concept | gallantry, morality, information, aptitude, patience |
| Activity | homework, singing, reading, fishing |
| Food | bread, butter, cheese, fish, milk |
| Gas | air, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, smoke |
| Liquid | beer, coffee, petrol, water, wine |
| Material | cloth, concrete, lumber, wood, metal |
| Item Category | clothing, furniture, luggage, money |
| Natural Phenomenon | gravity, heat, humidity, rain, snow, sunshine, thunder |
| Particles | flour, grit, salt, sugar |
Mass Nouns Contrast with Countable Nouns
Mass nouns contrast with countable nouns, which can be pluralized. Here are some examples of countable nouns:- ant, beaver, cat, dodo, earwig, fence, gannet, horse, inkwell (Note that these all have plural forms, e.g., "ants," "beavers," "cats.")
Read more about the term "plural" and forming plurals.
Some Nouns Can Be Countable or Non-countable
As a general rule, mass nouns cannot be pluralized. However, some can be pluralized when talking about categories of that noun (e.g., varieties or measures of the noun). This is most common with mass nouns in the food and liquid categories. For example:- Israel is famous for its baby cheeses. (Varieties of cheese)
- Chile is well known for its many fine wines. (Varieties of wine)
- Can I have four coffees? (Measures of coffee)
Why Should I Care about Mass Nouns?
Here are two noteworthy points related to mass nouns.(Point 1) Making Mass Nouns Plural
Here are two methods to pluralize a concept expressed by a mass noun:Method 1: Precede it with a [countable noun] + "of."
For example:
- three loaves of bread ("Loaves" is the countable noun.)
- six pieces of gold ("Pieces" is the countable noun.)
For example:
- three bread loaves
- six gold pieces
(Issue 2) Using the Right Quantifier with a Mass Noun
Use "amount of" with a mass noun. The terms "quantity of" and "number of" are used with countable nouns. For example:- Amount of patience
- Quantity of lumber
Read more about countable nouns.
Key Point
- Using a mass noun? Use "amount of."
Ready for the Test?
Here is a confirmatory test for this lesson.This test can also be:
- Edited (i.e., you can delete questions and play with the order of the questions).
- Printed to create a handout.
- Sent electronically to friends or students.
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?