Singular Plural Nouns Countable Uncountable Nouns

114 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION
SKILL 19: SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS _ _ _ _ _ __

A problem that is common in the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test is
a singular noun used where a plural noun is needed, or a plural noun used where
a singular noun is needed.
He just finished several book*.
She studied each chapters*.
In the first example, several indicates that the plural books is needed. In the second
eY1.mple, each indicates that the singular chapter is needed.
In the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test you should watch very
careful1y for key words such as each, every, a, and single that indicate that a noun
should be singular. You should also watch carefully for key words such as many,
several, and three that indicate that a noun should be plural.
The following chart lists the key words that indicate to you whether a noun
should be singular or plural.
EXERCISE 19: Each of the following sentences contains at least one key word to
tell you if a noun should be singular or plural. Circle the key words. Draw arrows
to the nouns they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incor-
rect (I).
_I_ 1. She talked to ~ple in the room.

_c_
I t
2. There is not (a single)bit of food in the refrigerator.
3. You need two piece of identification to cash a check.
4. Both classes started on time.
5. We took a new routes to the beach house.
6. He gave many different reasons for his actions.
7. You must answer every questions on the test.

WRITTEN EXPRESSION 115
8. She tried several times to call me.
9. He offered me only one glass of water.
10. We had various kind of drinks with the meal.
SKILL 20: COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS _ __

In English, nouns are classified as countable or uncountable. For certain ques-
tions on the TOEFL test, it is necessary to distinguish countable and uncountable
nouns in order to use the correct modifiers with them.
As the name implies, countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. Count-
able nouns can come in quantities of one, or two, or a hundred, etc. The noun
book is countable because you can have one book or several books.
Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, are nouns that cannot be counted
because they come in some indeterminate quantity or mass. A noun such as milk
or happiness cannot be counted; you cannot have one milk or two milks, and you
cannot find one happiness or two happinesses. Uncountable nouns are often liquid
items such as water, oil, or shampoo. Uncountable nouns can also refer to abstract
ideas such as security, friendship, or hope.
It is important for you to recognize the difference between countable and
uncountable nouns when you come across such key words as much and many.
They have taken much* trips recently.
There was not many* water in the pool.
In the first example, much is incorrect because trips is countable. This sentence
should say many trips. In the second example, many is incorrect because water is
uncountable. This sentence should say much water.
The following chart lists the key words that indicate to yqu whether a noun is
countable or uncountable.
EXERCISE 20: Each of the following sentences contains at least one key word to
tell you if a noun is countable or uncountable. Circle the key words. Draw arrows
to the nouns they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incor-
rect (I).
_c_ 1. She will visit in a (fe~)motths.

_I_ 2. (M~ny) ritk are unnecessary.
3. You need to show a little kindness.
4. You have a number of choice.
5. There was a large amount of apples in the bowl.
6. We have fewer opportunities now.
7. How much money is left?
8. He caused less problems this time.
9. They need a little times to finish their work.
10. He visited many exotic places.
EXERCISE (Skills 19-20): Each of the following sentences contains at least one
key word to tell you if a noun is singular, plural, countable, or uncountable. Circle
the key words. Draw arrows to the nouns they describe. Then indicate if the sen-
tences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
1. She enjoys food from many culture.
2. He could not give me much good reasons.
3. Each owner must register his or her car.
4. They came up with a number of ideas.
5. Various new law go into effect on the first of the year.
6. The car now uses less oil.

WRITTEN EXPRESSION 117
7. The meal did not cost a single cents.
8. You need to make fewer mistake.
9. You can take one course or both courses.
10. He only smokes a small amount of cigarettes.
TOEFl. EXERCISE (SJrills 19-20): Choose the letter of the underlined word or
group of words that is not correct.
1. Cone shells live in much different seas and feed mainly on small fish and
T ~ -c-
worms.
D
2. The leaves of the common sunflower are rough to the touch on both side.
A B-C- D
3. Hemoglobin enables the red blood cells to carry oxygen and small numbers
A B -C- D
of carbon dioxide.
4. Those with narcolepsy experience the uncontrollable desire to sleep, perhaps

-A- -B-
several time in one day.
----c- D
5. Another great artists of the time and possibly the most gifted silversmith in
--A-- ~ --c-
the colonies was Paul Revere.
D
6. Alzheimer's disease afflicts two in ten person over the age of seventy in the
A B C D
United States.
7. The red cardinal spends many of its time feeding on the ground.
A~ C D
8. In the 1920s, Tulsa had a higher number of millionaire than any other U.S. city.
A B c-----r>
9. Because Washington is a district and not a state, its residents have less rights
A B c
than other citizens.
D
10. Implosive consonants occur in many different language, but they are
A B C D
particularly common in American Indian and African languages.
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-20): Choose the letter of the word or
group of words that best completes the sentence.
1. _ _ the second most common metal 3. _ _ which climatologists have

in the Earth's crust, and it always determined is the wettest place on
occurs in combination with other Earth not under water is a spot on the
substances. island of Kauai.
(A) Iron (A) The place
(B) Iron is (B) It is the place
(C) With iron (C) The place is
(D) With iron is (D) In the place is
2. In most parts of the globe, the _ _

not exceed roughly 31 degrees
centigrade.
(A) ocean surface
(B) ocean has a surface
(C) ocean surface does
(D) ocean has surfaced
Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.
4. A single protein molecule may being composed of tens of thousands of atoms.

A --rr- C -D-
5. Less plants grow in the poor taiga soils beneath the trees.
p;- ~ ---c D
6. Vast reserves of oil and gas is located in the Gulf of Mexico.
/i B C ----o
7. Helium is a colorless, odorless, taste element often used to inflate balloons.
A I3 ---c D
8. The common was the heart of every New England villages built in the
A --s c ~
eighteenth century.
9. Some of the regulations that bind U.S. institutions allows foreign banks to
T13 c
package loans at hard-to-beat interest rates.
D
10. In angioplasty, a catheter is thread through an artery and guided through the
A B
body to the blocked area.
---c- D

Singular Plural Nouns Countable Uncountable Nouns

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114 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

SKILL 19: SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS _ _ _ _ _ __

_I_ 1. She talked to ~ple in the room.

3. You need two piece of identification to cash a check.

4. Both classes started on time.

5. We took a new routes to the beach house.

6. He gave many different reasons for his actions.

7. You must answer every questions on the test.

8. She tried several times to call me.

9. He offered me only one glass of water.

10. We had various kind of drinks with the meal.

SKILL 20: COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS _ __

_c_ 1. She will visit in a (fe~)motths.

4. You have a number of choice.

5. There was a large amount of apples in the bowl.

6. We have fewer opportunities now.

7. How much money is left?

8. He caused less problems this time.

9. They need a little times to finish their work.

10. He visited many exotic places.

1. She enjoys food from many culture.

2. He could not give me much good reasons.

3. Each owner must register his or her car.

4. They came up with a number of ideas.

5. Various new law go into effect on the first of the year.

6. The car now uses less oil.

7. The meal did not cost a single cents.

8. You need to make fewer mistake.

9. You can take one course or both courses.

10. He only smokes a small amount of cigarettes.

4. Those with narcolepsy experience the uncontrollable desire to sleep, perhaps

1. _ _ the second most common metal 3. _ _ which climatologists have

2. In most parts of the globe, the _ _

4. A single protein molecule may being composed of tens of thousands of atoms.

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