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Glite Dictionary
🔢 Can be listed 📚 Can be counted
countability

countability

7.3
A quality of a noun that shows if you can use numbers with it
  • noun
  • /ˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : contabilidad
  • The countability of nouns is an important grammatical concept.

Examples

  • Teachers often explain countability when introducing new vocabulary to language learners.

  • Understanding countability helps students avoid common grammar mistakes in English.

  • The countability of a noun affects which articles and quantifiers you can use with it.

  • Can you explain the countability of different nouns?

  • In English grammar, countability refers to whether a noun is considered countable or uncountable.

  • The countability of the items in your inventory will help you determine how to manage stock effectively.

  • Understanding countability is crucial for learners when deciding if they should use 'much' or 'many' in sentences.

Surface Forms

countability singular
countabilities plural

Morphology

countability = countable (transparent) = count + able + ity

A regular nominalization of the adjective 'countable' (countable + -ity) describing whether nouns can be treated as individual items.

Etymology

Countability comes from the simple word count ('to say numbers one by one') and the ending -ability ('can be done'), so it literally means 'can be counted'. For nouns, countability shows whether you can treat things as separate items (like 'three books') or not (like 'some information').