Difference between revisions of "Mass noun"
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| − | + | A '''mass noun''' is a noun which refers to something without clear boundaries or individual members, like ''milk'' and ''gold''. The opposite of a mass noun is called a [[count noun]]. | |
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| + | ===Comments=== | ||
| + | In English, mass nouns cannot be pluralized (cf. ''*milks'') and cannot be used with the [[indefinite article]] (cf. ''*a milk'') or with [[numeral]]s (cf. ''*one milk''). | ||
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| + | Mass nouns like ''cattle'' and ''furniture'' are sometimes called [[collective noun]]s because they refer to a collection of individuals, but not to any one individual. | ||
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| + | ===Synonym=== | ||
| + | [[mass term]] | ||
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| + | ===See also=== | ||
| + | [[count noun and mass noun]] | ||
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| + | ===Link=== | ||
| + | [http://www2.let.uu.nl/Uil-OTS/Lexicon/ Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
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| + | ===Other languages=== | ||
| + | German [[Massennomen]] | ||
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| + | {{dc}} | ||
| + | [[Category:Semantics]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Noun phrase]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:56, 6 October 2007
A mass noun is a noun which refers to something without clear boundaries or individual members, like milk and gold. The opposite of a mass noun is called a count noun.
Comments
In English, mass nouns cannot be pluralized (cf. *milks) and cannot be used with the indefinite article (cf. *a milk) or with numerals (cf. *one milk).
Mass nouns like cattle and furniture are sometimes called collective nouns because they refer to a collection of individuals, but not to any one individual.
Synonym
See also
Link
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics
Other languages
German Massennomen
