T9 S/P Countable Nouns

 Topic 9     S/ P Countable Nouns  (Common Nouns)

 A countable noun refer the general names of people, animals, things, places / events.  They are tangible as you can see / touch them.

     *  countable 

     * singular / plural in form

     *  with ‘a / an / the’ / P2 before a singular noun

     *  with /without ‘the / these / those/ P2’ before plural nouns

     *  with / without other determiners

       

Generally

       *singular in form --- singular in meaning       

      *  plural in form  --- plural in meaning

Singular and Plural Noun

A singular noun means ‘one’ in number.

A plural noun means ‘more than one’ in number.

For details of Singular and Plural Nouns in form, please refer to Gear 1.

General Vs Specific

1.  [Children] are vulnerable to (disease).

     [The children in Sibu] are especially prone to (the Hand, foot and

     mouth disease).

2.  Lawrence speaks (Chinese) very well.  Thomas and Ho Ching are  

     Chinese. 

     Ho Ching is a Malaysian Chinese and Thomas is a Singaporean Chinese.

3.  [English] is considered a world language.  It is widely spoken and has

     become localised and adapted to the particular culture of the country. 

     It is not at all surprising to see the variations of  (English) spoken in

     different countries such as India, Hong kong, Taiwan, Korea, Australia,

     New Zealand, America, Canada and so on. 

     In Malaysia, [the English language] is also localised and adapted to a

     certain extent though we try to follow (the British English) as closely as

     possible. 

Though there are (so said) different versions of  Englishes spoken, to  

me, the basic rules guarding the written communication still remain

more or less the same.   

Hence, we should not have any problems communicating with one

another  whatever version of English you use.

4.  There are [chickens] in the coop.  [The chickens with white feathers]  

     are called (‘meat / European chickens’).  They tend to grow faster than

     other species of chicken.  They usually eat faster and more. 

      The other types of chicken that I know are ‘colourful chickens,

      Japanese chickens, Taiwanese chickens, Chinese chickens and

      Kampung chickens (Iban / local  chickens)’

       I like to eat (chicken) very much.    (material noun – singular and

       uncountable)

        

Note:  S/P Countable Nouns = Singular / Plural countable Nouns