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Nouns: Nouns #10: Uncountable Nouns (Quantifiers #3)

Dennis Oliver

Nouns #10:
Uncountable Nouns (Quantifiers #3)

	Because uncountable nouns in English do not have plurals and cannot be counted in the normal way, quantifiers are often used as a way of "measuring" them. Quantifiers like some, any, a little, a lot of, and names of the containers in which items are sold are commonly used with uncountable nouns, as are quantifiers which show measurements of weight, volume, etc.:

	measurement		uncountable nouns
	a fifth of _____		whiskey, scotch, rum, other alcoholic beverages (but not wine)
	a gallon of _____		gasoline, milk, juice, ice cream
	a half gallon of _____		milk, ice cream
	a quart of _____		milk, juice, ice cream, motor oil
	a pint of _____		milk, juice, ice cream, motor oil, whiskey
	an ounce of _____		perfume
	a pound of _____		flour, sugar, coffee, beef, hamburger, other meat, butter, corn meal, cheese
	a tank of _____		gasoline
	a ton of _____		coal

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Special Notes:

Quantifiers showing measurements may also be
used with countable nouns:

a pound of potatoes, tomatoes, other vegetables

Numbers and containers may also be combined
with measurements which are used as quantifiers:

a three-pound can of coffee

a five-pound bag of flour / sugar / potatoes

a 10-gallon tank of gas (gas tank)

Note that the number and measurement are
hyphenated ( __ - __ ) and that the measurement
is singular, not plural.