Grammatical features of countability
Although individuation by cardinal numerals is a useful guide to countability, to get a more accurate description we have to consider the range of determiners that a noun admits.
Grammatical features of count nouns
• the cardinal numerals one, two, three, etc. (four miles)
• other quantifiers which imply numerals: both, a dozen, etc. (both hands, a dozen eggs)
• the article a(n) taking a singular form:
I’m looking for a new job.
• the determiners each, every, either, neither, which precede singular heads.
Each day is different. We go there every year.
• the plural (including ‘zero’) form of the noun preceded by a plural determiner: many, several, few, these, those.
cats and dogs; many choices, few opportunities; these aircraft, those sheep, several series.
• the plural with number contrast marked on the noun: lion/lions; child/children; mouse/mice; stimulus/stimuli.
plural number concord with verb or pronoun.
• People want to be happy, don’t they?
Grammatical features of non-count (mass) nouns
• the singular form of the noun with zero determiner:
Water is necessary for animal and plant life.
• the singular form of the noun preceded by all:
I say this in all sincerity. All equipment must be regularly inspected.
• the singular form of the noun, quantified by much, little, a little:
There isn’t much room in our apartment so we have little furniture.
Nominal Groups that are not marked for countability
The determiners the, this, that, my, your, his, her, its, our, their are neutral to the mass-count distinction and can be used with both types of reference: this house, this bread; our friend, our friendship.
