This document discusses different types of nouns in English: mass nouns that are always singular, mass nouns that can become count nouns when referring to a type or unit, count nouns that can be singular or plural, and collective nouns that can take singular or plural verbs. It provides examples of each noun type and exercises classifying nouns and completing phrases using collective nouns or references to units or servings.

1. From Theory to Practice
Nouns in English
Mass Noun: Nouns that can be pluralized and are always singular such as gases,
fluids, natural phenomena, materials, academic fields, ideas, emotions, and behaviors.
Mass-to-Count Nouns: Certain mass nouns that shift to count ones when denoting a
type, kind, unit, or serving.
Count Nouns: Nouns that can be either singular or plural, except in certain cases such
as scissors that is always a plural count noun.
Collective Nouns: This is a subdivision of count nouns that when being used as
subjects, they can take singular or plural verbs with a difference in meaning or intention
on the side of the speaker.
1. Classify the following nouns according to the categories below.
binder – difficulty – ethics – beer – ozone – book – beauty – milk – mouse – experience
– oil – fish – CD – carbon dioxide – pen – wine – grass – cheese – scissors – rain –
marker – helium – tea
Mass Nouns
Mass-to-Count Nouns
Count Nouns

2. 2. Which of the following have no singular forms? Supply the singular form in case it is
possible.
socks
beddings
pants
slacks
clothes
scissors
shoes
jeans
belongings
belt
desks
briefs
3. Complete the following phrases with “a unit or a serving of” or with a “collective
noun.”
a) a __________ of coffee
loaf
band
pack
cup
coven
slice
piece
pride
bar
flock
b) a __________ of deer
c) a __________ of chocolate
d) a __________ of lions
e) a __________ of pastry
f) a __________ of geese
g) a __________ of bread
h) a __________ of witches
i) a __________ of pizza
j) a __________ of wolves