Uncountable Nouns - English Grammar Lesson

英语语法 - 不可数名词

Hi, I’m Martin.

嗨，我是Martin。欢迎来到Oxford Online English!在本节课中，您可以学习

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

In this lesson, you can learn about countable and uncountable nouns in English.

英语的可数名词和不可数名词。

What’s the difference between paper and a paper?

paper和a paper之间的区别是什么? 为什么我们说 trousers are… 但是

Why do we say trousers are… but news is…?

说news is…？为什么您不能说， 您能给我一个建议吗？

Why can’t you say, Can you give me an advice?

You’ll learn the answers to all these questions in this lesson.

在本节课里，您会学到这些 问题的答案。

Where shall we start?

我们要从哪开始？

Some nouns are countable.

一些名词是可数的。您可以给它们计数。 例如，钢笔是可数的。

You can count them.

For example, pens are countable.

You can count them.

您能可以给它们计数。

One pen, two pens, three pens, and so on.

One pen、two pens、three pens，诸如此类。

Some nouns are uncountable.

一些名词是不可数的。您不能 给它们计数，例如，水是不可数的。

You can’t count them.

For example, water is uncountable.

One water, two waters…?

One water, two waters…? 不是， 不是这样的。您不能给水计数。

No, that doesn’t work.

You can’t count water.

Do you know any other uncountable nouns?

您知道任何其他的不可数名词吗？

You’ll see more examples in the next section, but here are three: money, rice and knowledge

您会在下一个单元看到更多的例子，但是， 这有三个：money、rice和knowledge

are all uncountable nouns.

都是不可数名词。

Countable and uncountable nouns behave differently.

可数名词和不可数名词使用是 不同的。它们追随不同的规则。

They follow different rules.

First, uncountable nouns can’t be plural.

首先，不可数名词不能是复数。 那意思是您不能说moneys、rices或

That means you can’t say moneys, rices or knowledges.

knowledges。这些形式不存在。

These forms don’t exist.

Secondly, you need to use a singular verb with uncountable nouns.

其次，您必须用一个单数形式的 动词搭配不可数名词。例如：

For example:

This rice doesn’t taste right.

This rice doesn’t taste right. Your money is on the table.

Your money is on the table.

His knowledge of this subject has improved significantly.

His knowledge of this subject has improved significantly.

Next, you can’t use a or an with an uncountable noun.

接下来，您不能使用a或an搭配一个不可数名词。 您不能说a rice、a money或a

You can’t say a rice, a money or a knowledge.

knowledge。然而，您可以 使用some或any。例如：

However, you can use some or any.

For example:

Is there any rice left?

Is there any rice left? You’ll need some money for the bus.

You’ll need some money for the bus.

Finally, we use different words to talk about quantities with countable and uncountable

最后，我们用不同的单词来谈论 可数名词和不可数

nouns.

名词的数量。

With countable nouns, we use many to talk about large quantities, and few to talk about

可数名词，我们使用many来 谈论大量，使用few来

small quantities.

谈论少量。

With uncountable nouns, we use much and little.

不可数名词，我们使用much和little。

You can use a lot of or lots of with both countable and uncountable nouns.

您可以使用a lot of或lots of 搭配 可数名词和不可数名词。

For example:

例如：

There isn’t much rice left, but There aren’t many potatoes left.

There isn’t much rice left, but There aren’t many potatoes left.

There’s a little money in my pocket, but There are a few coins in that small box.

There’s a little money in my pocket, but There are a few coins in that small box.

Okay, so now you know the basics about uncountable nouns and how to use them.

好，那么现在您了解了不可数名词的 基本知识以及如何使用它们。

Next, an important question:

接下来，一个重要的问题：

Many uncountable nouns are words for food and drink, such as pasta, meat, fruit, coffee,

很多不可数名词是与吃和喝有关的 单词，像是pasta、meat、fruit、coffee、

beer or milk.

beer或milk。

Be careful, because fruit is uncountable, but vegetables are countable.

请留意，因为水果是不可数的， 但是蔬菜是可数的。

Many collective nouns are uncountable.

很多集合名词是不可数的。

Collective nouns are nouns which describe a group of objects all together.

集合名词是描述一个所有对象 集中在一起的名词。例如，

For example, furniture, equipment, luggage or traffic.

furniture、equipment、luggage或traffic。

Finally, abstract nouns are often uncountable.

最后，抽象名词通常是不可数的。 例如：knowledge、information、advice

For example: knowledge, information, advice or progress.

或progress。

Okay, I have a challenge for you.

好，我为您准备了一个挑战。

You have three groups of nouns here: food & drink, collective nouns, and abstract nouns.

这儿，您有三组名词： 食物和饮品、集合名词和抽象名词。

I want you to pause the video and find one more uncountable noun to add to each group.

我希望您暂停视屏并多找一个 不可数名词加到每组里。

That means you need to find one uncountable food or drink noun, one uncountable collective

那是说，您要找一个不可数的食物和 饮品名词，一个不可数的集合

noun, and one uncountable abstract noun.

名词以及一个不可数的抽象 名词。写下您的答案。

Write down your answers.

Why are you still here?

为什么您还在这？暂停视屏 并找出您的答案！

Pause the video and find your answers!

Okay, finished?

好的，完成了吗？

But, there’s a problem.

但是，有一个问题。

There are many possible answers you could have here.

在这，您可以有很多可能的答案。 您可以检查一下吗？

How can you check?

Easy: find a dictionary.

简单：找一本字典。您可以用在线字典，像是 Longman或是一个纸本的字典，

You can use an online dictionary such as Longman, or a paper dictionary if you’re feeling

如果您觉得一点老派做法的话。

a bit old school.

Look up the words you wrote down.

看一下您写下的单词。在字典里， 它会告诉您单词是可数的

In the dictionary, it should tell you if they’re countable or uncountable.

或不可数的。

Some dictionaries do this by adding a ‘u’ for uncountable or a ‘c’ for countable

一些字典通过在不可数名词之后增加一个 “u”或在可数名词之后增加一个“c”来标注。

after the noun.

不同的字典有不同的方式。

Different dictionaries have different styles.

So now you can check your answers.

那么现在您可以检查您的 答案。您对了吗？

Were you correct?

Now, things get more complicated.

现在，事情更复杂了。

Why?

为什么？

If nouns could only be countable or uncountable, this topic would be very simple.

如果名词能仅是可数或不可数， 这个话题就会很简单。

However, many nouns can be both countable and uncountable, with different meanings.

然而，很多名词根据不同的含义， 可以是可数和不可数。

For example, paper can be countable or uncountable.

例如，paper可以是可数的或不可数的。

Do you know the difference?

您知道区别吗？ paper和 a paper有什么区别？

What’s the difference between paper and a paper?

Paper is the material: what you write on.

Paper是材料：您写字在上面的。

A paper is another way to say a newspaper

A paper是讲报纸的另一种方式。

Let’s look at some more examples like this.

我们来看看像这样的更多例子。 考虑它： 单词之间的区别：

Think about it: what’s the difference between:

Fish and a fish?

Fish和a fish？ Glass和a glass?

Glass and a glass?

Time and a time?

Time和a time?

Ready?

准备好了吗？我们看看答案：

Let’s look at the answers:

Fish (uncountable) means the food.

Fish（不可数）意思是 食物。您吃fish.

You eat fish.

A fish (countable) means one whole animal, either living or dead.

A fish （可数）意思是一个完整的动物， 无论是活的或是死的。比较：

Compare:

We eat a lot of fish.

We eat a lot of fish. --> We eat a lot of fish in general.

--> We eat a lot of fish in general.

There’s a fish in the toilet!

There’s a fish in the toilet! --> One living fish.

--> One living fish.

He ate three whole fish.

He ate three whole fish. --> Three whole animals.

--> Three whole animals.

What about glass and a glass?

那glass和a glass呢？

Glass is a material.

Glass是一种材料。A glass是 某些您喝的。例如：

A glass is something you drink out of.

For example:

The sculpture was made of glass.

雕塑是玻璃做的。 您想要一杯水吗？

Would you like a glass of water?

Finally, how about time and a time?

最后， time和a time怎么样？

Time is the general meaning of time.

Time是时间的泛指意思。那像是 一个我不能用更简单的

It’s such a basic idea that I can’t really explain it in more simple terms!

术语再解释的基本概念！

A time has a similar meaning to an occasion or a period.

A time有一个与an occasion或 a period类似的意思。

Look at some examples:

看一些例子：

I don’t have much free time.

我没有太多空闲时间。您需要 多少时间去完成这个？

How much time will you need to finish this?

There have been many times when I wanted to give up.

有很多次我想放弃。

We had a good time at their barbecue.

我们在他们的烤肉聚会上度过 了一个美好的时刻。

Can you see the difference now?

现在您可以看出区别了吗？

So, there are many nouns which can be both countable and uncountable, often with different

那么，有很多名词通常有不同含义 时，可以是可数的

meanings.

和不可数的。

There are too many examples to explain them all here, but I will give you one general

这有太多例子来解释他们， 但是我给你们一个可能

idea which might be helpful.

有用的一般概念。

Often, when a noun can be countable or uncountable, the uncountable noun has a general or collective

通常，在一个名词可以是可数或不可数时， 不可数名词有一个泛指或集合意思。

meaning.

可数名词有一个特定的意思。

The countable noun has a specific meaning.

For example, think about the word hair.

例如，考虑单词hair。它 可以是可数的或不可数的。

It can be countable or uncountable.

Hair (uncountable) has a general meaning.

Hair（不可数）有一个泛指 意思。它意思是，例如

It means, for example, the stuff that grows on your head.

长在您头上的东西。

Hair (countable) has a more specific meaning.

Hair (可数)有一个更特定的意思。

Have you ever made the mistake in English where you say something like:

您曾经在用英语说某些 事情上犯错吗？像是：

My friend Jacob has a long hair.

My friend Jacob has a long hair.

If you say this, you mean that your friend has one long hair.

如果您这样说，您意思是您的 朋友有一根长头发。那

That’s probably not what you wanted to say, right?

可能不是您想要表达的意思，对吗？

Instead, say:

取代的，说：

My friend Jacob has long hair.

My friend Jacob has long hair.

To really understand countable and uncountable nouns, you’ll have to remember a lot of

要真正地理解可数和不可数名词， 您不得不记住大量的

information.

信息。然而，这基本的概念可以帮您： 不可数名词是更泛指的和

However, this basic idea can help you: uncountable nouns are more general and abstract; countable

更抽象的；可数名词是更特定的。

nouns are more specific.

In this lesson, we’ve talked about countable nouns, uncountable nouns, and nouns which

在本节课，我们谈论了可数名词、 不可数名词以及

can be both.

可以二者皆是的名词。

There are a few strange nouns, which don’t fit cleanly into any of these categories.

有一些奇怪的名词，不完全属于 这些类别里的任何一种。

For example, we said at the beginning that uncountable nouns can’t be plural.

例如，我们在开始时说不可数名词 不能是复数。您不会

You can’t say rices or knowledges.

说rices或knowledges。

That’s generally true, but there are some uncountable nouns which can only be plural.

那一般来说是真的，但是有一些可以 是复数的不可数名词。

They are:

它们是：

police clothes

police clothes

trousers scissors

trousers scissors

You can’t make these nouns singular.

您不能造这些单词的单数。 您不能说one police或one trouser。

You can’t say one police or one trouser.

Remember to use a plural verb with these nouns.

记得使用一个动词的复数形式 来搭配这些名词。例如：

For example:

The police have interviewed all the witnesses.

警察询问了所有的证人。 这些裤子不是很合适。

These trousers don’t fit well.

Careful with the scissors—they’re sharp.

小心剪刀 —— 它们很锋利。

Another strange word is news.

另一个奇怪的单词是news。它是不可数和 单数的，甚至尽管它以“s”结尾。

It’s uncountable and singular, even though it ends with ‘s’.

So, don’t say:

所以，不要说:

The news are depressing at the moment.

The news are depressing at the moment.

Instead, say:

取代的，说：

The news is depressing at the moment.

The news is depressing at the moment.

Finally, there are some collective nouns like staff, team or crew.

最后，有一些集合名词像是staff、team 或crew。其中的一些是不可数的

Some of these are uncountable (like staff), and others can be countable, like team or

(像是staff)，其他的可以是可数的， 像是team或crew。

crew.

These nouns are generally made plural in British English.

这些名词在英国英语一般是 复数。在英国，我们说：

In the UK, we say:

The staff aren’t happy with the new uniform.

The staff aren’t happy with the new uniform. The team are playing well at the moment.

The team are playing well at the moment.

However, in the US, these collective nouns are often singular.

然而，在美国，这些集合名词通常 是单数。在美国，您也许听到：

In the US, you might hear:

The staff isn’t happy with the new uniform.

The staff isn’t happy with the new uniform. The team is playing well at the moment.

The team is playing well at the moment.

Both are possible, but try to be consistent.

二者皆有可能，但是要试着是一致的。 如果您让这些名词是复数，那么它们

If you make these nouns plural, then they should always be plural.

必须一直是复数。如果您让它们为单数， 您必须总是让它们是单数。

If you make them singular, you should always make them singular.

That said, native speakers aren’t always consistent.

那就是说，母语人士不是总是一致的。 不用担心这个太多，

Don’t worry about it too much, and don’t be surprised if you hear both forms.

如果您听到两种形式 也不要吃惊。

Okay, we have one more thing to do.

好，我们还有一件事要做。

The point of uncountable nouns is that you can’t count them.

不可数名词的要点是 您不能给它们计数。

But sometimes you need to.

但是有时您需要做。

What can you do?

您能做什么？

Take an uncountable noun you saw earlier: rice.

拿一个您之前看到过的 不可数名词：rice。

There’s no way to count rice directly.

没有办法直接去给米点数。米是永远 不能数的。您从来不会说

Rice can never be countable.

You can never say three rices.

three rices.

But, sometimes you need to count things, even if they’re uncountable.

但是，有时您需要给某事计数，甚至 是如果他们是不可数的。您

How can you count rice?

怎么给米计数呢？

Actually, there are many ways to do it.

实际上，有很多方式做这个。

Rice is made up of single grains of rice.

Rice是由单粒的米粒组成的。 这是一粒米。

Here is one grain of rice.

You can also have a bag of rice, a packet of rice, or a portion of rice.

您能也有一包米、一袋米 或一份米饭。

By adding a noun + of, you can make an uncountable noun countable.

通过添加一个名词 + of，您可以让 一个不可数的名词变可数。

Let’s see how this works in some example sentences:

我们来看看在一些例句里 这是怎样用的：

There was a single grain of rice left at the bottom of his bowl.

There was a single grain of rice left at the bottom of his bowl.

Can you get two of those big bags of rice?

Can you get two of those big bags of rice? We’d like three portions of rice, please.

We’d like three portions of rice, please.

Like with rice, there are often many different nouns you can add to make an uncountable noun

像是搭配rice，通常有很多不同的 名词您可以添加来让

countable.

一个不可数名词变可数。

That’s the good news.

那还是一个好消息。糟糕的消息是 您要根据您在使用的不可数

The bad news is that you need to add different nouns depending on the uncountable noun you’re

名词来增加不同的名词。

using.

Let’s practice this so you can see what I mean.

我们来练习这个，这样您 可以看我的意思是什么。

Here are five uncountable nouns.

这有五个不可数名词。您 怎么能让他们变可数？

How could you make them countable?

advice bread

advice bread

money furniture

money furniture

coffee

coffee

Think about your answers.

考虑您的答案。

Ready?

准备好了吗？我们一起看看。

Let’s look together.

You can give someone a piece of advice, or two pieces of advice if you’re feeling generous.

You can give someone a piece of advice, or two pieces of advice if you’re feeling generous.

Add a piece of to make advice countable.

加一个piece of来让advice变可数。

A piece of is very useful, because you can use it to make many uncountable nouns countable.

A piece of是很有用的，因为您可以用 它来让很多不可数名词变可数。

You can also have a piece of bread.

您也可以有a piece of bread。搭配bread，您 有其他的可能性：a loaf of bread

With bread you have other possibilities: a loaf of bread or a slice of bread.

或a slice of bread。

What about money?

那钱呢？您可以有a sum of money 或an amount of money。例如，您可以

You can have a sum of money or an amount of money.

For example, you could say:

He lost a large amount of money trying to play the stock market.

说：

He lost a large amount of money trying to play the stock market.

For furniture, you could say a piece of furniture or possibly an item of furniture, although

对于家具，您可以说a piece of furniture 或有可能是an item of furniture，尽管

this is very formal, and not common.

这是很正式的，不常用。

Finally, what about coffee?

最后，coffee呢？您可以有 a cup of coffee、a packet of coffee、a spoonful

You can have a cup of coffee, a packet of coffee, a spoonful of coffee, or a pot of

of coffee或a pot of coffee。

coffee.

In all of these cases, there are other possible answers.

在所有这些事例里，有其他 可能的答案。然而，有几个

However, these are the most common ones.

更常用的。

So, that’s it for this class.

那么，本节课就到这了。在我们的网站上 观看本节课的完整版本：

Check out the full version of this lesson on our website: Oxford Online English dot

Oxford Online English dot com. 您可以读文字 并搭配我们的随堂测验练习。

com.

You can read the text and practise with our quiz.

Thanks for watching and see you next time!

感谢观看，下次见！