Átomo 37

Sustantivos contables e incontables

La regla

Contables: tienen plural y a/an. Incontables: NO plural NI a/an.

"Countable: take plural and a/an. Uncountable: no plural, no a/an."

Los sustantivos contables se pueden contar uno por uno (one apple, two apples) y aceptan a/an. Los incontables (water, money, advice, information, news, work, furniture) no tienen plural ni a/an porque se ven como masa o concepto. Para cuantificarlos se usan expresiones como "a piece of advice", "some information", "a glass of water". Es trampa clasica del hispanohablante porque en español decimos "un consejo" o "unas informaciones".

Ejemplos

I had an apple for breakfast.

Tome una manzana para desayunar.

She gave me good advice.

Me dio un buen consejo.

💡 advice = incontable, sin a.

I need some information about the project.

Necesito información sobre el proyecto.

We have a lot of work this week.

Tenemos mucho trabajo está semana.

Can I have a glass of water?

Me das un vaso de agua?

The news is interesting.

La noticia es interesante.

💡 news es incontable singular.

Two coffees, please.

Dos cafes, por favor.

💡 Aquí contable: dos tazas.

Casos típicos

Contables: tienen plural y a/ana/an / number + plural

an apple, two applesa meeting, three meetings

Incontables clasicossin a/an, sin plural

water, money, time, advice, information, news, work, furniture, bread

Cuantificar incontables: piece / glass / cup ofa piece of + incontable

a piece of advicea glass of watertwo pieces of information

Algunos incontables son SINGULAR (verbo en singular)news, advice, information + is/was

The news is good.This information is useful.

Trampas hispanohablantes

She gave me an advice.She gave me advice. / a piece of advice.

advice es incontable: no a/an.

I need some informations.I need some information.

information es incontable: no plural.

The news are good.The news is good.

news es incontable singular: verbo en singular.

I have many works to do.I have a lot of work to do.

work como tarea/empleo es incontable: no plural.

Mini-quiz

1/6.Cual es correcta?

2/6.Elige:

I need some about the project.

3/6.Cual es correcta?

4/6.Elige:

I have a lot of this week.

5/6.Cuantifica el incontable advice:

Can you give me a of advice?

6/6.Cual es correcta?