7/29/2019 Gramatica-engleza 72.pdf

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142 types of nounNouns that have both countable and uncountable usesMost nouns are either countable nouns or uncountable nouns, asexplained on p. t38. Some nouns, however, behave like countablenouns in some sentences and uncountable nouns in other sentences'They usually have different meanings depending on how they are used.For example time,light, history, space,laugh, and groceryhave more thanone meaning.

Time passed slowly.She did itfourtimes.Lighttravels faster than sound.Thelights inthis room aretoo bright.The rocketwas lounched into space.There are plenty of empty spaces on the shelves.

Some nouns that are countable nouns in other languages are usedon ly as u ncountable nouns in English, e.g. information, advice'

He received all the necessary information .I don'tneedYourhelP.

Some nouns are used only in the pluralform, even when we are talkingabout one item, e.g. trousers, clothes,ieons. We can use a partitive nounwith ofwhen referring to a single item.

These trousers need cleaning.Put the scisso rs backwhen you have finished with them.t needaPair of Pliers.Lizgathered upa bundle of clothes.

genderofnouns u3Gender of nounsIn some languages, nouns have gender. This means that a noun causesotherwords such as adjectives to change theirspelling according tocertain rules. Crammatical gender has little to do with biologicalgender. English does not have grammatical gender for nouns.On the other hand, the biological gender of the thing or personreferred to does affect a few areas of English grammar^

a cow^. she or ita girl... she

a bull... he or ita boy,. he

Gender distinctions are relevant where personal pronouns (p. zo:)and possessive determiners (p. r6o) have to be decided on. Thesedistinctions are only noticeable in singular nouns.

Hefound his book.He had been looking for it.Shefound her book.She had been looking for it.

There are also special cases, such as the association of neuter genderwith babies and small animals, orfeminine gender with a vehicle.I just saw a mouse. lt was running across the room.The spider was spinning its web.The beetle crawled into its hole.The boby threw down its rattle.I've got a new boat; she's a reol beauty.

Nouns denoting male persons and animals are masculine in that theyare used with the pronouns and possessive determiners he, him, his.Nouns denoting female persons and animals are feminine in that theyare used with the pronouns and possessive determiners she, her, hers.