countable or uncountable?

[cecil]

Hello everyone!!!

Today I have some questions about countable and uncountable nouns.

1) Must chips always be used in the plural form? Is it countable or uncountable? Can we say: "can you give me a chip, please?" (meaning one of your chips)?

2) Can we use the word peas in the singular form? I mean, for instance: there is a pea on the floor.

3) What about the word cheese? Can we use it as if it was a countable noun, e.g. I bought a cheese ( meaning a whole cheese, not just a piece of cheese)?

4) And with the word coffee? Is it correct to say: I found a coffee bean on the table?


Thanks a lot!!!

[Rusty]

Hello everyone!!!

Today I have some questions about countable and uncountable nouns.

1) Must chips always be used in the plural form? Is it countable or uncountable? Can we say: "can you give me a chip, please?" (meaning one of your chips)?

2) Can we use the word peas in the singular form? I mean, for instance: there is a pea on the floor.

3) What about the word cheese? Can we use it as if it was a countable noun, e.g. I bought a cheese ( meaning a whole cheese, not just a piece of cheese)?

4) And with the word coffee? Is it correct to say: I found a coffee bean on the table?


Thanks a lot!!!
Your suggestions are all OK.

[Bridget]

I agree with Rusty.

[Marius Hancu]

>Can we use it as if it was a countable noun, e.g. I bought a cheese ( meaning a whole cheese, not just a piece of cheese)?

Yes. In published books:

296 on "bought a cheese".
http://books.google.com/books?q=%22bought+a++cheese%22&btnG=Search+Books

though you'll hear/see much more frequently expressions of quantity:

336 on "bought * pounds of cheese
http://books.google.com/books?q=%22bought+*+pounds+of+cheese%22&btnG=Search+Books

[OddThomas]

I think the man is speaking English! :cool:

[MrPedantic]

4) And with the word coffee? Is it correct to say: I found a coffee bean on the table?




Your 4th example is a little different from the others: here "coffee" is used adjectivally, to qualify "bean".

Uncountable "coffee" is the substance; countable "a coffee" is understood as "a cup/mug of coffee".

MrP