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I really have a problem using such as these following nouns , disagreement, balance and alteration...etc . Because sometimes they can be considered countable and othertime uncountable. So how can i know if I should use it as countable or uncountable?... please help me !

Bavyan Yaldo
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  • Use a dictionary? – Laurel Jun 16 '17 at 22:16
  • A dictionary wouldn't help me enough cuz when i write about something how would i know if i should usethe word in a uncountable form or countable ? @laurel – Bavyan Yaldo Jun 16 '17 at 22:21
  • Context is the guide for native speakers. Use the [edit] link to add an example in which you are confused about whether to treat a word as countable or uncountable; then we may be able to help. ("cuz", "wanna", "gotta", etc. are useful in text messaging, or among friends, but they may not be appropriate elsewhere.) – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica Jun 16 '17 at 22:25
  • Thank u for ur reply and this good note, what kind of books do you highly recommend to improve my language ? – Bavyan Yaldo Jun 16 '17 at 22:31
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    Please add an example to your question; it may be closed unless you provide an example, and tell us what research you have done on your own. ("Because sometimes can be considered countable and othertime uncountable..." is a clause without a subject; that is why it was edited to say "Because sometimes they can be considered countable and other time uncountable." Also, we end English sentences with a period, not with a comma.) – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica Jun 16 '17 at 22:32
  • You are totally right but before ( so ) i put a comma because it is a cordinating conjunction and i should put a comma before. – Bavyan Yaldo Jun 16 '17 at 22:38
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    As already commented, you need to add some example sentences using the words in question. Then you can consider the countability. – user3169 Jun 16 '17 at 23:27
  • The acid test is whether it can combine with the cardinal numbers, "one, two, three, etc.," If it can't in the NP in which it occurs, then it's not a count noun in that particular NP. – BillJ Jun 17 '17 at 09:41

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You might helpful my answer to this previous question: Why do we say "I love cake" but "I love cars"?

English speakers tend to use the uncountable form to refer to the generic or conceptual noun, and the countable to refer to specific, quantifiable instances:

I would prefer to avoid disagreement.

The two countries have had many disagreements over the years, but never an open war.

As others have pointed out, this varies with context and idiom, and it would be impossible to list all the variations. A good example is "love", which is mostly used as a generic noun:

She has never known love.

But it can be countable when talking about a specific instance (or set of instances).

She was the love of his life.

However, this can get confusing when mixing countable instances with the generic concept:

In his old age he loved to talk about the many women with whom he found love.

Andrew
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