Basic Details
Word: Uncountable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Something that cannot be counted as individual items.
Synonyms: Non-count, mass, immeasurable
Antonyms: Countable, measurable, finite
Idioms and Phrases
- Like sand through an hourglass: Used to describe an uncountable amount of time passing quickly. Example: "The days felt like sand through an hourglass during the summer holidays."
- Water under the bridge: Referring to past events or situations that are no longer relevant or important. Example: "Their argument is water under the bridge; they are friends again."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Water is an uncountable noun because you cannot say "two waters" when referring to a liquid.
Example 2: Information is uncountable; we cannot say "informations" but instead use "pieces of information."
Example 3: When we refer to furniture, we think of it as uncountable because we dont count each item, rather we say "pieces of furniture."
Fun Fact
Did you know the term "uncountable" is primarily used in grammar to describe nouns? In English, certain nouns like "milk," "rice," and "advice" fall under this category because they cannot be counted individually.
Famous Quote
"The greatest wealth is to live content with little, for there is never want where the mind is satisfied." Lucretius
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "uncountable" mean?
a) Something that can be counted
b) Something that cannot be counted
c) Something that is very small
d) Something that has no value
Answer: b) Something that cannot be counted
2. Which of these is a synonym of "uncountable"?
a) Countable
b) Non-count
c) Countable and uncountable
d) Measurable
Answer: b) Non-count
3. Which of the following is an antonym of "uncountable"?
a) Mass
b) Countable
c) Immeasurable
d) Mass quantity
Answer: b) Countable
4. Which sentence uses "uncountable" correctly?
a) I have an uncountable number of apples in my basket.
b) Water is uncountable because we measure it in litres.
c) She has collected an uncountable trophies.
d) We can count the uncountable chairs in the room.
Answer: b) Water is uncountable because we measure it in litres.
5. Which idiom talks about uncountable time?
a) Water under the bridge
b) Like sand through an hourglass
c) Count your blessings
d) The tip of the iceberg
Answer: b) Like sand through an hourglass
