MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

What is a noun that can be counted and has both singular and plural forms?

1. Collective noun

2. Concrete noun

3. Countable noun

4. Abstract noun

The correct answer is: Countable noun

A countable noun is defined as a noun that can be counted individually, meaning it has both singular and plural forms. This type of noun allows for the expression of quantity, such as "one book" (singular) and "three books" (plural). Countable nouns can easily be used with numbers and can also take articles like "a" or "an" in the singular form. In contrast, collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things as a single unit but do not inherently provide a singular or plural form related to individual countable features. Concrete nouns denote physical objects or things that can be perceived by the senses and may include both countable and uncountable elements. Abstract nouns represent ideas or concepts that cannot be physically counted, making them inherently uncountable. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify what qualifies a noun as countable, affirming that countable nouns are specifically characterized by their ability to be expressed in both singular and plural.