count nouns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "count nouns" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing grammatical categories that refer to nouns that can be counted. An example is: "Apples and oranges are both count nouns." Alternative expressions include "countable nouns" and "discrete nouns."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Appendix IV: The gradual transition from count nouns to pure non-count nouns.

Stanford University

Nouns that can form plurals are called "count nouns".

The New York Times

This dichotomy was presumably inspired by a linguistic distinction, analogous to that between English count nouns, such as "apple," and mass nouns, such as "water".

Encyclopedia Britannica

In virtue of its treatment of individuals and count nouns, the formalism offers a solution to certain puzzles of identity, which arise when individuals are described in different ways.

Artificial Intelligence

English speakers can conceptualise aggregates as discrete things, which are expressed as plural count nouns, such as "pebbles" or as continuous substances, which are expressed as mass nouns, such as "gravel".

The Guardian - Books

Count nouns include horse, futon, army, codicil, proposition, and galaxy.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Phenomena is a plural count noun —  not a mass noun.

Independent

Data is a plural count noun not, standardly speaking, a mass noun.

Independent

It is usual to mark the part of speech, but not the categories of mass noun and count noun.

Britannica

"Less" is perfectly natural with a singular count noun, as in "one less car" and "one less thing to worry about".

The Guardian - Books

General Sherman used war as a mass noun when he said, "War is hell," while Benjamin Franklin used it as a count noun when he said, "All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing grammar, use "count nouns" to specifically refer to nouns that can be pluralized and quantified, distinguishing them from mass nouns.

Common error

Avoid using quantifiers like "much" or "little" with "count nouns"; instead, use "many" or "few". For example, say "many apples" instead of "much apples".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "count nouns" primarily functions as a grammatical term to categorize nouns that can be quantified and pluralized. Ludwig examples show its use in linguistic discussions and analyses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "count nouns" are nouns that can be quantified and pluralized, as opposed to mass nouns. Ludwig AI identifies the grammatical status as correct and the frequency as common. The phrase is mainly found in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. To ensure clarity in writing, avoid common errors such as using incorrect quantifiers. Use "many" instead of "much" with "count nouns". Related terms include "countable nouns" and "discrete nouns". The most authoritative sources using this term are the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Encyclopedia Britannica.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

countable nouns

This alternative uses a slightly different adjective to describe the same category of nouns.

countable common nouns

This alternative adds "common" to specify that these nouns are not proper nouns.

nouns that can be counted

This alternative expresses the concept using a descriptive phrase rather than a specific term.

discrete nouns

This alternative highlights the distinct and separable nature of these nouns.

nouns allowing pluralization

This alternative focuses on the grammatical feature of pluralization associated with count nouns.

nouns that form plurals

This alternative emphasizes the formation of plurals as a characteristic of count nouns.

individuable nouns

This alternative stresses the ability to treat these nouns as individual items.

unit nouns

This alternative presents count nouns as representing individual units.

nouns with quantity

This alternative highlights that the nouns can represent some quantity

nouns that can be enumerated

This alternative emphasizes the ability to enumerate these nouns.

FAQs

What are some examples of "count nouns"?

Examples of "count nouns" include "apple", "chair", "book", "dog", and "planet". These nouns can be singular or plural.

What is the difference between "count nouns" and mass nouns?

"Count nouns" can be counted and have plural forms, while mass nouns (like "water" or "furniture") cannot be counted directly and typically do not have plural forms. See also "mass nouns".

How do I identify "count nouns" in a sentence?

You can identify "count nouns" by checking if they can be made plural (e.g., "one dog", "two dogs") and if they can be used with numbers and the articles "a" or "an".

Can a mass noun ever be used as a "count noun"?

Yes, sometimes mass nouns can be used as "count nouns" to refer to a specific instance or serving. For example, "Can I get a coffee?" uses "coffee" as a "count noun" to mean "a cup of coffee".