GRAMMAR REVIEW: NOUNS BUILDING SUPPORTING SKILLS CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST

 

CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST BUILDING SUPPORTING SKILLS GRAMMAR REVIEW: NOUNS

 

Count and noncount nouns Nouns can be count or noncount. Count nouns refer to people or things that can be counted. You can put a number before this kind of noun. If the noun refers to one person or thing, it needs to be in the singular form. If the noun refers to more than one person or thing, it needs to be in the plural form: Nouncount nouns refer to general things such as qualities, substances, or topics. Noncount nouns cannot be counted and have only one singular form: Some noncount nouns can become count nouns when they are used to indicate types:   Quantifiers Quantifiers are words that indicate an amount or a quantity of a noun. Some quantifiers are used with both plural count nouns and noncount nouns. Some quantifiers are used only with noncount nouns: Some quantifiers are used only with plural count nouns: Some quantifiers are used only with singular count nouns:   Singular and plural nouns Most count nouns have a singular form and a plural form. The plural form for most nouns has an –s or –es ending. However, there are other singular and plural patterns Some nouns form their plurals with a vowel change or an ending change: Some nouns form their plural by changing a consonant before adding –s or –es: Some nouns form their plurals by adding an ending: Some nouns have the same plural and singular form. These nouns frequently refer to animals or fish. However, there are exceptions: When a noun is used as an adjective, it takes a singular form: Collective nouns refer to an entire group. When a collective noun indicates a period of time, a sum of money, or a measurement, it takes a singular verb: Some nouns end in –s but are actually singular and singular verbs. These include academic subjects (mathematics, politics, physics, economics, civics, statistics) and diseases (measles, mumps, rabies):   EXERCISE G21 Use exercise G21 to practice your skills in using correct noun forms. EXERCISE G21 Checking noun forms In each sentence, one of the underlined nouns is incorrect. Circle the incorrect noun and write the correct form in the blank. 1 A goal of the Young Politicians of America is to provide young citizen with the opportunity to participate in government. 2 Many highly paid executives owe their success to motivations  rather than to brilliance.

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