UNIT 3 NOUNS 1.

Nouns can be categorized in different ways and they can have different forms. They might be
proper or common; countable or uncountable.

1. Form
- Nouns can be made up of one part such as window, rain, flower and son.
- Nouns can be made up of two (or more) parts (compound nouns). As there are no definite
rules for the writing of compound nouns, it is best to consult a dictionary.
a) They can be written as one word, especially if two short nouns are joined:
teacup, doorstep, crossword, daybreak, yearbook, wrongdoer;
b) the words can be connected with a hyphen, especially in combinations with self and in
‘verb + particle’ combinations:
self-esteem, take-off, son-in-law;
c) The two words can be separated, especially if the reading causes a problem. There is also a
tendency to avoid hyphens where possible.
car race, sports shoe, family name, prime minister, dead end.
(NOT carrace or sportsshoe)

2. Types of nouns
First of all, nouns can be divided into two groups: proper nouns and common nouns.

Proper nouns

3. Typical proper nouns

Proper nouns are used to express something or somebody who is unique. They are spelt with a
capital letter. For the use of articles, see 1.9, and 2.6. Typical proper nouns are:
a) Personal names and titles, forms of address: Charles Dickens, Mr Bill Gates, President
Clinton, Dad, Uncle Tom;

b) Countries, nationalities and adjectives made from names of cities: Britain, British, Romans,
Parisians;

c) Geographical names and place names: America, New York, Fifth Avenue, Time Square;

d) Days, months, holidays: Sunday, January, Christmas, Easter.

Note: Seasons can be spelt both ways: spring or Spring.

e) Sometimes we need the plural form of proper nouns but we tend not to change the original
spelling.
The Smiths are very kind people.
There are three Jacks and two Harrys in our class.
We’ve had two very cold Februarys in a row.
(NOT We’ve had two very cold Februaries in a row.)

4. Singular or plural verb?

a) Proper nouns can be followed by a singular or plural verb, depending on whether they refer
to one thing or more.
Robinson Crusoe was based on the adventures of a real man.
 The Alps are covered with snow.

b) Yet, some cities and countries ending in -s and other proper nouns with a plural ending (e.g.
organisations and countries starting with ‘the United ...’ and titles with a plural ending or
made up of more parts) take a singular verb when they are considered as units.
The United Nations has made a decision to save the people of Kosovo, which the
United States supports.
Algiers/Athens/Brussels/Marseilles/Naples is a beautiful city.
(NOT Algiers are a beautiful city.)
Wales is a country that dates back to ancient history.
(NOT Wales are a country that date back to ancient history.)
Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite novels, but I think War and Peace is a bit
too long.
(NOT Wuthering Heights are my favourite novel, but I think War and Peace
are a bit too long.)

5. Nationalities
Nationalities are always followed by a plural verb. Normally the adjective is made into a
plural noun, but the adjectives ending in -sh, -ch, -ss and -ese don’t change.
The Iraqis are constantly fighting against the Iranians.
The Spanish love dancing flamenco, don’t they?
(NOT The Spanishes love ... NOR The Spanish loves ...)

Note: Some nationalities ending in -sh have a different form for the whole nation: The Danes,
The Finns, The Poles, The Swedes, The Turks.
The Danes speak a lot of languages.
(NOT The Danish speak a lot of languages.)

Common nouns

Common nouns are used for general names and they can be countable, uncountable or both.

6. Countable nouns
a) A noun is countable if:
we can put the indefinite article (a/an) in front of it: a pen, or it has a plural form: pens,
it answers the question ‘How many?’ and we can use numbers with it: fifteen pens.
Countable nouns are usually concrete, they might be persons, objects, animals, groups, units
of measurement, parts of a mass.
Note: some countable nouns can be abstract: a plan, an offer, an idea, a joke, a surprise etc.
For the use of the suitable quantifiers and determiners, see 5.1, 5.2.

b) Some countable nouns have the same plural and singular form. The most common ones
are: crossroads, headquarters, means, series, species, works (= factory, factories)
This crossroads is really dangerous for cyclists. OR
The crossroads of Budapest are always busy.
This means of communication is expensive. OR
These means of communication are expensive.
There is a new Brazilian series on TV. OR
There are new series every day.
c) However, certain countable abstract nouns are used uncountably after determiners such as
any, little, much. The most typical examples are as follows: chance, change, difference,
difficulty, idea, point, question, reason.
Do we have any chance of meeting her?
Unfortunately, there is little change in his behaviour.
There isn’t much difference between the city and the country as regards shopping.

7. Countable nouns with different singular and plural meanings

Some countable nouns have different meanings in the singular and plural.

Singular
They bought cheese with a lower
fat content. (‘tartalom’)
It was a custom among Victorian ladies
to wear a corset. (‘szokás’)
He broke a glass at the party. (‘pohár’)
Have a look at the back of this book.
(‘tekintet, pillantás’)
They lived on a very modest scale.
(‘szerény mértékben’)
The sunset was a marvellous spectacle.
(‘látvány’)
This is a step in the right direction.
(‘lépés’)
Plural
You can find the list of contents on the fifth
page. (‘tartalomjegyzék’)
The customs officer asked him to open his bag.
(‘vám’)
He bought a pair of dark glasses. (‘szemüveg’)
Daryl Hannah is unhappy with her looks.
(‘kinézet’)
The trouble with bathroom scales is that they lie.
(‘mérleg’)
I was watching him from behind thick spectacles.
(‘szemüveg’)
She sat down on the steps and waited.
(‘lépcső’)

To complicate things a bit further, the above-mentioned singular nouns can also have a plural
form, which should not be confused with the other plural form.
He threw the contents of the bag onto the bag. (‘belevalók’)
He wrote a book on American funeral customs. (‘szokások’)
The hotel is only steps away from the main railway station. (‘lépések’)

8. Uncountable nouns
A noun is uncountable if:
there is no indefinite article (a/an) in front of it, no plural form, it answers the question ‘How
much?’ and we cannot use numbers in front of the noun.
For the use of the suitable quantifiers and determiners, see 5.8, 5.9, 5.10.

Uncountable nouns are usually:

a) abstract nouns: anger, applause, behaviour, chaos, courage, fun, happiness, health,
knowledge, luck, nonsense, safety, violence, wealth etc.
b) activities: camping, cooking, dancing, shopping, training, writing (ending in -ing) etc.
c) weather words: lightning, rain, snow, sunshine, thunder, weather, wind etc.
d) liquids, powders and gases: air, dirt, mud, sand, smoke, water etc.
e) food and drink words: food, fruit, milk, pasta, rice etc.
f) languages: English, French etc.
g) materials: gold, oil, plastic, silver, wood etc.
h) illnesses: flu, measles (despite the plural ending) backache, earache, toothache (the
exceptions are: a cold, a headache, a sore throat)
i) collective words: cutlery, cookery, jewellery, machinery, vocabulary (nouns ending in -ery,
-ary), baggage, luggage, damage, garbage (nouns ending in -age) etc.
j) extra (seemingly countable, but NOT): accommodation, advice, assistance, cash,
equipment, evidence, help, information, money, music, news, permission, progress,
research, traffic, transport, travel, stuff, work etc.

Note: In some cases there is a countable noun (sometimes with a slightly different meaning)
which can be used instead of an uncountable one:
Uncountable Countable
bread a loaf
laughter a laugh
luggage, baggage a suitcase, a bag
permission a permit
poetry a poem
publicity an advertisement
money, cash a coin, a note
work a job

Exercises

1. Below you find sentence pairs. Please, write A if only sentence A is correct; B if only
sentence B; C if both and D if neither of the two sentences are correct.

1. A) Turkish people love bargaining.

B) The Turkish love bargaining.

2. A) The Australian have a relatively short history compared to the Chinese.

B) It is the British who is keen on drinking tea.

3. A) Crime and Punishment is an excellent work of art.

B) Crime and Punishment are excellent works of art.

4. A) All the news that I’ve heard on television this morning were bad again.
B) I’ve got some great news I must tell you about right away!

5. A) What we need is a cheap accommodation somewhere near the city centre.

B) What we need is some cheap accommodation somewhere near the city centre.

6. A) Shall we go camping or would you rather stay in a hotel?

B) Shall we go to a camping or would you like to stay in a hotel?

7. A) The Netherlands have the greatest number of dancers in Europe.

B) Are Athens or Algiers the oldest city that you have visited?

8. A) There is more and more advertisement between films on TV.

B) There are more and more publicities between films on TV.

9. A) Researchers have reported the discovery of a new species of bird.

B) In most species of bird both sexes are monogamous.

10. A) There isn’t much difference between these houses.

B) Luckily, we didn’t have any difficulty getting here.
2. In the following sentences out of the four alternatives ONE is INCORRECT. Your task is
to find this incorrect answer.

1. Have they bought the new ... yet?

A) equipments C) machine
B) machinery D) machines

2. When I needed ..., I could always turn to him.

A) some advice C) a good piece of advice
B) a good advice D) a piece of good advice

3. We won’t be allowed to travel through the country without ... .

A) a permit C) permission
B) a permission D) authorization

4. How ... have you got to check in?

A) much luggage C) many bags
B) many piece of luggage D) much of your baggage

5. It must be really difficult for actors to pretend ... .

A) a laughter C) to laugh
B) a laugh D) laughter

3. Choose the answer that best completes each sentence.

1. Why don’t you come with us to the party? You’ll surely enjoy yourself. Alain … .
A) is a great fun to be with C) is a real laugh
B) can give you a laugh D) speaks with funny accent

2. I love listening to …, especially when I am nervous because it calms me down.

A) some good musics C) a piece of good music
B) many kind of music D) some good piece of music

3. When I saw her new hair-do, I couldn’t say anything, ... .

A) it came as a surprise C) it was an astonishment for me
B) it took me by a surprise D) it was shock for me

4. Old people are usually prescribed several … .

A) vitamin pill C) medicine
B) vitamins D) kind of medicines

5. Attending university at Cambridge meant that I had … .

A) more opportunity than other people C) an experience in finding a good job
B) strong position anywhere I applied D) several possibilities for finding a good job