English conversation | QUIZ: 10 nouns you're probably using incorrectly!

Can we say advices?

Feedbacks?

Softwares?

The answer may surprise you.

By the end of the lesson, you will have learned how to use common words, like these, correctly.

Hello and welcome everyone, this is Minoo at Anglo-Link.

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Okay! Let's start by reminding ourselves what the difference is between

a countable noun and an uncountable noun.

A countable noun is, believe it or not,

a noun you can count.

For example, take the word 'fact'.

You can say:

A fact.

And: two facts.

So, obviously, an uncountable noun is a noun you cannot count.

For example, take the word 'information'.

It is similar to fact,

but for some reason, 'information' is uncountable.

Don't ask me why. English is not a logical language.

So, you cannot say:

An information.

Or:

Two informations.

If you want to count these words, you have to pair  them with a countable noun.

A very common word is 'piece'.

For example, you can say:

A piece of information.

Or:

Two pieces of information.

Unfortunately, there is no logic or rule that  can help you to know if a word is countable or uncountable.

The only way to learn these is practice.

So, I've put a little quiz together to help you practice some of these words.

I've chosen 10 words, and I'm going to give you three seconds to decide whether each word is countable or uncountable.

So, when you're ready, let's begin our quiz with the first word which is...

Suggestion!

Is that countable or uncountable?

It's countable!

So, you can say:

A suggestion.

And you can say:

Suggestions.

For example:

That's a great suggestion.

Or:

Can I make a few suggestions?

The next word is 'advice'.

Is it countable or uncountable?

Advice is...

Uncountable.

Therefore, you cannot say:

An advice.

Or:

Advices.

You have to use it as a collective noun.

For example:

She needed some advice.

Now, if you want to count advice, you need to pair it with a word that is countable.

A very common word in this situation is 'piece'.

For example, you can say:

He gave me a good piece of advice.

Or:

I have two pieces of advice for you.

Okay! The next word is 'feedback'.

Is it countable or uncountable?

What do you think?

It is uncountable.

Many of you think that 'feedback' is countable. But, it isn't.

Be careful!

You cannot say:

A feedback.

Or:

Feedbacks.

We always use this as a collective noun.

And we don't even have another word, a countable  word that can pair up with it.

So, just use it on its own. You can say:

Let me give you some feedback.

Or:

Thank you for your valuable feedback.

Okay! The next word is 'news'.

Is it countable or uncountable?

'News' is...

Uncountable!

You cannot say:

A news.

So, don't say:

That's a great news.

Just say:

That's great news.

You can pair news up with piece.

You can say:

That's a great piece of news.

Now, be careful that when we talk about news on  the media, like on television or in the newspaper,

we don't say 'piece' we use the word 'item'.

An item of news. Or a news item.

The next word is...

'series'.

That's a tricky one.

Do you think it's countable or uncountable?

It's actually both.

You can put 'a' with it. Say:

A series.

But, you can't make it plural. You can't say: serieses.

So, the word 'series' is both singular and plural.

You can say:

This is an interesting series.

Or:

There are very few good series on television.

Okay! Let's look at coffee and tea.

Are they countable or uncountable?

They're both as well.

Let's look at them in their uncountable form.

In general, you would say:

I like black coffee.

Or:

Green tea is my favourite drink.

But, they can also be countable when you go to order some.

Most people, instead of saying:

I'd like a cup of black coffee please.

Just say:

I'd like a black coffee please.

Or instead of saying:

Could we have two cups of green tea please.

They just say:

We'll have two green teas please.

So, they can be countable or uncountable.

Right! Let's look at 'software' and 'hardware'.

What do you think? Are they countable or uncountable?

They're definitely uncountable.

Avoid saying:

A software.

Or:

Softwares.

You may hear that, but it's not correct.

Use them as collective nouns. For example:

We need new software.

Or, you can  pair them up with countable words like:

We need a new software package.

Or, use the word piece again.

You can pair these two words up with peace.  For example:

These are great pieces of hardware.

Okay! Number 8 is...

'equipment'.

Countable or uncountable?

Equipment is also uncountable.

So, avoid saying:

An equipment. Or: Equipments.

Use it in general:

This is very old equipment.

Or, pair it up with 'piece'.

For example:

This printer is a very old piece of equipment.

Right! The next word is...

'research'.

Countable or uncountable?

It can be both.

In British English, interestingly, it can be countable:

Researches.

But, it sounds so much like 'researchers' which, is the people who do research,

that I would recommend you avoid using it as a countable noun.

Use it as an uncountable noun.

You can pair it up with 'piece':

A piece of research.

Or, you can say:

A research paper.

Or, you use the synonym:

A study.

And finally, our last word is...

'knowledge'.

Is it countable or uncountable?

That's a tricky one as well.

It can be both.

It can be countable or uncountable.

Now, generally we never say:

A knowledge.

Or: Knowledges.

So, we use the expression, for example:

To my knowledge.

But, with an adjective, it suddenly becomes countable.

So, you would say:

 I have a basic knowledge of german.

Or:

She has a good knowledge of history.

Right! That's all for today.

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Thanks a lot for joining me today, and I'll see you again very soon.

Goodbye for now.