Unit 2: Count Nouns and Mass Nouns

UNIT 2: COUNT NOUNS AND MASS NOUNS

Introduction

A Noun or the noun group is another grammatical feature that needs explication as it is a group that occupies an essential slot in most of our utterances. As we have seen, it could be the subject, the object or the complement in a sentence as in:

Subject Object The girl throws the rubbish into the bin.

Complement He was a student leader when he was in the university.

As mentioned in the Text, the traditional definitions, while useful, may not capture the full essence of the meaning in use; however, we still need the basics before progressing to the functional analysis.

Differences between Count Nouns and Mass Nouns

Count Nouns

We can represent count nouns as discrete entities. They have singular or plural forms. e.g. cup - cups , magazine - magazines , fan - fans , computer - computers.

Count Nouns with plural forms Some count nouns come in plural forms. e.g. a pair of scissors - two pairs of scissors , a pair of trousers - two pairs of trousers Collective Nouns are count nouns which are usually used in its singular form. e.g. staff, family, committee. We may use the plural verb form even when we are thinking of the individual members in the group as shown in the examples in the Text.( p. 25)

Mass Nouns

They refer to undifferentiated wholes. e.g wealth, intelligence, beauty. Another name often used is abstract nouns.

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Task 1 (10 minutes)

As given in the Text (p. 23), there is a list of words that are often used as count nouns when they are actually mass nouns and therefore do not have plural forms. Look at the list again reproduced below and use them correctly as mass nouns ( once only) for the sentences given below. furnitures luggages traffics informations machineries equipments sceneries punctuations advices homeworks

1. Please arrange the ______in the show house as guest would be arriving soon.

2. The ______in Taman Dayton is so congested that there is no point getting out of the house.

3. You will need to check in your ______at counter 12 in the airport.

4. The new scientific ______for the laboratory was ordered just two months ago. 5. Betty was penalised for her ______in her composition.

6. If you have completed your ______, you may go for a swim.

7. The ______was breath-taking as we drove into the campus.

8. The heavy ______took five hours to be unloaded at the port.

9. Call The British Council for more ______about the studying in the United Kingdom.

10. Mrs Liew always give good ______to her school-leaving students.

Answers

1. furniture 2. traffic 3. luggage 4. equipment 5. punctuation 6. homework 7. scenery 8. machinery 9. information 10. advice

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However, some nouns are both count and mass nouns depending on how they are used to convey meaning .  As shown in Task 2b in the Text ( p. 23) , you may use chocolate as a mass noun or chocolates as a count noun.

Task 2 (15 minutes)

Make five pairs of sentences to show the difference in use for the noun as a mass noun and a count noun. Refer to the chocolate example in Task 2b (p. 23) in the Text. cheese egg noise business life

Suggested Answers

Cheese is made from milk. The most varieties of cheeses are sold in Hankyu Supermarket. _

He got egg all over him because of the protest. There are some eggs in the fridge.

I heard some noises in the empty house. He does not like loud noise when he works.

During the economic crisis, many businesses went bankrupt. Business in Bangsar has never been better.

Life can be stagnant if you don't improve yourself. He is said to have as many lives as a cat. ______

Structure of a noun group In understanding how nouns function, we could examine the constituents in the group. The group may be just one word or several words. The focus in the noun group is the head and a premodifier may precede while a postmodifier may follow the head.

Example premodifier head postmodifier The income of your dreams

As mentioned earlier, the noun group may be the subject, the object or the complement in sentence.

Are you able to recognise a noun group?

 Go through Task 2c (p. 26) in the Text. ( 15 minutes)

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Task 3 (20 minutes)

Underline the noun groups in the following paragraph. Select and label five noun groups according to the components: premodifier, head and post modifier.( You may not find all three in all the same noun group. ) Two attorneys went into a diner and ordered two drinks. Then they produced sandwiches from their briefcases and started to eat. The owner became quite concerned and marched over and told them, "You can't eat your own sandwiches in here!" The attorneys looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and then exchange sandwiches. While they thought they were getting away with it, the owner wrote on the "Specials" blackboard by the cash register: " Today's Special: Tuna sandwich, RM11.95." When it was time to pay, he charged them for the tuna sandwich that was not their own; they had the choice of paying or washing dishes for the rest of the day. They paid.

Answer Two attorneys went into a diner and ordered two drinks. Then they produced sandwiches from their briefcases and started to eat. The owner became quite concerned and marched over and told them, "You can't eat your own sandwiches in here!" The attorneys looked at each other , shrugged their shoulders and then exchanged sandwiches. While they thought they were getting away with it, the owner wrote on the "Specials" blackboard by the cash register: " Today's Special: Tuna sandwich, RM11.95." When it was time to pay, he charged them for the tuna sandwich that was not their own, they had the choice of paying or washing dishes for the rest of the day. They paid.

Premodifier head head post modifier Two attorneys sandwiches from their briefcases

Premodifier head your own sandwiches premodifier head postmodifier the "Specials" blackboard by the cash register premodifier head postmodfier the choice of paying ______

Referrers

Referrers are used together with a head noun in the noun group. The four main kinds of referrers are:  Articles  Demonstratives  Possessives  Inclusives

The first three are dealt with in this unit.

The use of a referrer is dependent on the type of head noun and whether the reference is generic, definite, or indefinite.

Generic referencing which refers to the whole may be definite or indefinite. Look at examples 12 to 14 in the Text (p. 28)

More examples:

 Parents are expected to turn up today. (generic and definite reference , zero article)

 A parent complained about the hostel facilities. ( indefinite reference)

 The parent also complained about the hostel food. ( definite reference) In describing referencing, we may say that the reference has the following functions :

They refer to:  a previous noun group or to a larger portion of text  a forward point in the text  a point beyond a text

The use of definite reference involves: 1. backward-pointing principle reference 2. forward -pointing reference 3. outward-pointing reference

Examine the text below and see how the arrows indicate the referencing made. e-Cosway is launching a new global opportunity that merges the powers of e-commerce and network marketing. The opportunity provides a worldwide online shopping mall featuring thousands of exciting products sourced both locally and internationally. All browsing, ordering, payment and delivery are handled through the Internet.

As you can see, the opportunity refers to a new global opportunity. ( definite, backward- pointing referencing). A new opportunity is the indefinite reference. The powers of e-commerce is referring to an idea developed later in the text. (definite, forward-pointing referencing)

The Internet is external to the text.( definite, outward-pointing referencing)

When definite reference is used, it is clear that there is shared knowledge between the reader and the writer.

Referrer Problems for ESL Learners

Basically, the ESL learner has problems with the following:

 Use of count nouns as uncountable nouns.

Examples * Table is used for writing.  Telephone is a machine.

 There is a lack of distinction between definite and indefinite reference.

Examples  A poor digestion causes painful discomforts. * We use an Internet to source for information.

 There is confusion in the forms of the demonstratives

Examples * This bags are sold in the Kinta supermarket. * That bags are sewn by my aunt.

 Use of dependent possessives her , our to replace independent forms, hers and ours.

Examples * Don’t take the book. It is her. * If you find the poster, please return it to us; it is our. ______

Task 4 (15 minutes)

A. Read the passage below and correct all errors in the use of referrers.

Sungai Buluh Leprosy Centre is well known as a place where a government had isolated all these suffering from the Hansen's Disease, which is more commonly known as the leprosy.

In 1956, in order to ease the inmates' boredom, the special programme was introduced to them by Dr Reddy, a doctor who was in charge of the centre then. Inmates with able hands were taught gardening, carpentry, and ironwork which also allowed them to earn some money.

The inmates started with a few easy -to-grow cut-plants such as the roses, and orchids and in time, went on to include all the kinds of garden plants. The beauty of garden at the centre soon began to receive the attention from the public. In fact, if you are looking for a particularly rare plant you might find it in the centre. The special programme also helped to stop a myth about leprosy, which kept many from visiting the centre. The inmates are glad that they now have a place that they can call truly " ours homes". Answer

The Sungai Buluh Leprosy Centre is well known as the place where the government had isolated all those suffering from Hansen's Disease, which is more commonly known as leprosy.

In 1956, in order to ease the inmates' boredom, a special programme was introduced to them by Dr Reddy, the doctor who was in charge of the centre then. The inmates with able hands were taught gardening, carpentry, and ironwork which also allowed them to earn some money.

The inmates started with a few easy -to-grow cut-plants such as roses, and orchids and in time, went on to include all kinds of garden plants. The beauty of the garden at the centre soon began to receive attention from the public. In fact, if you are looking for a particularly rare plant you might find it in the centre. The special programme also helped to stop the myth about leprosy, which kept many from visiting the centre. The inmates are glad that they now have a place that they can call truly " our home".

B. From the answer provided for Task 4A identify three examples of the following:

Generic reference Definite reference Indefinite reference Suggested Answers:

Generic The Sungai Buluh Leprosy Centre The government Hansen's Disease Definite Those ( suffering from) The inmates' boredom The myth

Indefinite A special programme A particularly rare plant (zero article) roses

C. Distinguish between the various kinds of referencing : generic, the definite forms which operate on a backward pointing principle, and the indefinite forms ( other than the generic) in the following sentences.

1. An amphibian can live on land and water. 2. He saw a car which he liked very much. The car costs RM100 000. 3. The Niagara Falls attracts many visitors throughout the year. 4. She very upset at her brother's behaviour. His behaviour is truly out of place. 5. Health is something we must treasure; money cannot buy it. 6. I always look forward to a restful weekend away from the maddening crowd. 7. It is interesting to study grammar if we want to know how language works. 8. The sun sets very late these days. 9. The computer that I use at home has just been repaired. 10. She sent postcards to her foster parent in Canada regularly. 11. He won a prize for his singing last night Answers Generic An amphibian, land, water, the Niagara Falls, visitors, the year, health, money, a restful weekend the maddening crowd , grammar, language, the sun,

Definite reference ( backward-pointing) The car, his behaviour, the computer

Other indefinite forms a car, postcards

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Summary

The noun group is an essential element in sentence structure. Without it, it would be difficult to form most sentences. The main problem that ESL learners face is the distinction between count and mass nouns which is also connected to the concept of referencing as in. generic, definite and indefinite referencing. More referrers and their description are explained in the unit that follows.