NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What type of noun cannot be counted and does not have a plural form?

1. Collective noun

2. Concrete noun

3. Noncount noun

4. Abstract noun

The correct answer is: Noncount noun

Noncount nouns, also known as mass nouns, refer to items or concepts that cannot be counted individually and do not have a plural form. These nouns typically represent substances, qualities, or concepts that are viewed as wholes rather than as separate elements. For instance, words like "water," "information," or "happiness" are classified as noncount nouns because they cannot be quantified using numbers and do not have a plural version; you wouldn’t say "waters" or "informations." Understanding this distinction is crucial for using nouns appropriately in both written and spoken language. Noncount nouns require different grammatical treatment compared to count nouns, such as the necessity to use singular verbs and quantifiers (like "some" or "much") rather than numbers directly. This differentiates them from other types of nouns, such as collective nouns, which refer to groups (like "team" or "flock") that can still be treated as singular or plural based on context, and concrete or abstract nouns, which can be either count or noncount depending on their use and meaning.