Count & Non-count Nouns

English check or copy-editing professionals often notice errors arising out of the confusion between the count and non-count nouns.

The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines count noun as “a noun that can be used in the singular and the plural.” Count nouns can come with numbers (e.g., as one pen, two pens), or when used in singular forms, with an article (a, an, the) or words like any, each, every, which, my, the priest’s and John’s.

Non-count nouns are those which can not be counted. They do not have singular or plural. But, you treat them like singular nouns for the limited purpose of deciding the verb form. They may have words like a lot of, a little, much, some and the, preceding them.

Though you think you know the difference, you notice errors of this type when you do a proofreading or an English check.

This is because you are unable to decide whether a noun is a countable noun or not based solely on its meaning. In your native language you use the same type words to precede both the nouns (e.g., we didn’t have many snow this year).

Professional proofreading or copy-editing experts can help you do the English check to avoid such errors.

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