Count vs Mass Nouns Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the plural ending for nouns that end with -y, but are preceded by a vowel in their singular form?

unchanged

What is the plural ending for nouns that end with a sibilant in their singular form?

-es

What is the plural form of the noun 'knife'?

knives

What are 'mutation plurals'?

<p>nouns that undergo a change of vowel sound and spelling in their plural form</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'child'?

<p>children</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are mass nouns?

<p>nouns that refer to things viewed as a mass or with no precise shape or boundary</p> Signup and view all the answers

Can mass nouns be made plural?

<p>No, they cannot usually be made plural</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is number as a grammatical category?

<p>It encodes quantification over entities denoted usually by nouns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is required for every noun to participate in subject-verb concord and pronominal reference?

<p>Every noun should be understood either as 'singular' or 'plural'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the ability to perceive and differentiate between one and more than one referents derive from?

<p>It derives from the ability to perceive and differentiate between one and more than one referents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is number not only a morphological modification of the noun, but also a morphosyntactic category?

<p>Because it requires every noun to participate in subject-verb concord and pronominal reference.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the general rule for regular nouns to become plural in English?

<p>Regular nouns become plural by adding -s or -es to the end of the word.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are irregular plural nouns?

<p>They are few hundred nouns with an irregular plural form.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What will be the focus of the following essay?

<p>Rules and patterns of expressing amounts in English.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do cardinal numerals express?

<p>Cardinal numerals express quantity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do ordinal numerals express?

<p>Ordinal numerals express sequence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a quantifier used with plural, count nouns.

<p>Many is used with plural, count nouns (She has many friends).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are quantifiers used with?

<p>Quantifiers are used with count nouns, mass nouns, or both.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is much used with?

<p>Much is used with mass nouns (He spent too much money).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is little used with?

<p>Little is used with mass nouns (She had little choice).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is few used with?

<p>Few is used with plural, count nouns (There are few tourists at this time of year).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does few mean?

<p>Few means 'not as much' or 'not as many'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Can quantifiers be used interchangeably between count and mass nouns?

<p>No, some quantifiers are used with count nouns, some with mass nouns, and some with both.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between count and mass nouns?

<p>Count nouns refer to things that can be counted and have a singular and plural form, while mass nouns refer to things that cannot be counted and only have a singular form.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are singularia tantum?

<p>Singularia tantum are nouns that only have a singular form and cannot be pluralized, such as measles and linguistics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are pluralia tantum?

<p>Pluralia tantum are nouns that only have a plural form and cannot be singular, such as binoculars and scissors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do compound nouns form their plurals?

<p>Compound nouns usually form their plurals by adding -s to the most essential word, even if it is not the last word or if it is hyphenated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are quantifiers?

<p>Quantifiers are determiners that express quantity and provide information about the quantity of another word or phrase, such as much, many, both, or all.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of multipliers?

<p>Twice is an example of a multiplier, indicating that something happens two times.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Are numerals considered a subcategory of quantifiers?

<p>Yes, some grammars consider numerals as a subcategory of quantifiers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'echo'?

<p>echoes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a mutation plural?

<p>feet</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'child'?

<p>children</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a mass noun?

<p>spaghetti</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'ox'?

<p>oxen</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a regular plural noun?

<p>book</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'phenomenon'?

<p>phenomena</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between cardinal and ordinal numerals?

<p>Cardinal numerals express quantity, while ordinal numerals express sequence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which quantifier is used with mass nouns to mean 'not as much'?

<p>Little</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which quantifier is used with plural, count nouns to mean 'not as many'?

<p>Few</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a quantifier used with both count and mass nouns?

<p>All</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following quantifiers is used with plural, count nouns?

<p>Many</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following quantifiers is used with mass nouns?

<p>Few</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an ordinal numeral?

<p>First</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a quantifier used with plural, count nouns?

<p>Few</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a quantifier used with mass nouns?

<p>Little</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'mirage'?

<p>mirages</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'day'?

<p>days</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a sibilant that triggers the addition of /iz/ in the plural form of regular nouns?

<p>fricative consonant</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an irregular plural noun?

<p>mice</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of number as a grammatical category?

<p>to encode quantification over entities denoted by nouns</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a regular and predictable way of forming the plural of English nouns?

<p>adding -s or -es to the end of the singular form</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a voiced consonant other than a sibilant that triggers the addition of /z/ in the plural form of regular nouns?

<p>/b/</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'data'?

<p>data</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a compound noun that inflects both elements when the first noun is 'man' or 'woman'?

<p>woman-doctor</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a pluralia tantum noun?

<p>cheese</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the noun 'scissors'?

<p>scissors</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a noncount noun that ends with '-s' but is treated as singular?

<p>news</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common way to form the plural of a compound noun?

<p>Add '-s' to the end of the last word</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between singularia tantum and pluralia tantum nouns?

<p>Singularia tantum nouns have no plural form, while pluralia tantum nouns have no singular form</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plural Nouns

  • Nouns ending in -y preceded by a vowel form plurals by adding -s (e.g., key → keys).
  • Nouns ending in a sibilant (e.g., s, z, sh, ch) form plurals by adding -es (e.g., bus → buses).
  • The plural of "knife" is "knives."
  • "Child" pluralizes to "children."
  • "Ox" pluralizes to "oxen."
  • "Phenomenon" pluralizes to "phenomena."
  • "Echo" pluralizes to "echoes."
  • "Data" retains the same form in plural (data).
  • "Scissors" is treated as plural, despite being a compound noun.

Special Plurals

  • Mutation plurals are formed through internal vowel changes (e.g., man → men).
  • Singularia tantum refers to nouns that exist only in singular form (e.g., information).
  • Pluralia tantum refers to nouns that exist only in plural form (e.g., scissors).
  • The plural form of "mirage" is "mirages."
  • Compound nouns often pluralize by modifying the main noun (e.g., "man" in "man-made" becomes "men-made").

Noun Types

  • Mass nouns cannot be typically counted and do not have a plural form (e.g., water).
  • Mass nouns can be quantified (e.g., some water).
  • Count nouns can be counted and have distinct plural forms.

Numerals and Quantifiers

  • Cardinal numerals express quantity (e.g., one, two).
  • Ordinal numerals express order (e.g., first, second).
  • Quantifiers modify nouns; examples include "some," "few," and "much."
  • "Few" indicates a small number.
  • "Much" is primarily used with mass nouns, while "few" is used with count nouns.
  • Quantifiers can differ for count versus mass nouns (e.g., "many" for count and "much" for mass).

Grammar and Syntax

  • Number as a grammatical category indicates singular or plural status.
  • Each noun must agree in number for subject-verb concord and pronominal reference.
  • Understanding number facilitates differentiation between one and more than one referent.

Examples and Observations

  • Regular nouns typically form plurals by adding -s or -es.
  • Irregular plural nouns do not follow standard pluralization rules (e.g., mouse → mice).
  • Numerical expressions often have distinct quantifying roles in grammar.

Miscellaneous

  • Multipliers are quantifiers that express a repetitive quantity (e.g., double, triple).
  • Not all nouns can interchangeably use quantifiers; context will dictate the appropriate usage.
  • A compound noun can sometimes inflect both parts when forming plurals.

Conclusion

  • Understanding noun plurality, quantifiers, and numerals is vital for mastering English grammar and syntax rules.

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Test your knowledge on count and mass nouns with this quiz! Learn about partitive expressions and singularia tantum while discovering the subtle differences between count and mass nouns in English.

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