Research, advice and information are all non-count nouns. Before we take a look at what this means, let’s review the difference between a count noun and a non-count noun.
Count nouns are nouns that you can count. I can count the number of fingers on my right hand. I have 5 fingers. I have 2 hands. I have a nose on my face. Fingers, hands and noses are all count nouns.
Countable nouns
May have an “s” after them.
I have fingers.
May have a number in front of them.
I have 2 hands.
May have the article “a/an” in front of them because “a/an” means one.
I have a nose.
Non-Count Nouns are nouns that cannot be counted. For example, air is a non-count noun. Have you ever tried to count air? It is impossible! You can’t count it! Non-count nouns act like a singular noun. So, “air” will act like “it.” Air is necessary. It is all around you.
Non-Count Nouns
Will not have an “s” after them.
Research is fun.
Will have no numbers in front of them because, again, you can’t count them!
He gave me some advice.
Will not have the article “a/an” in front of them because “a/an” means one and one is a number.
The video gave us information about non-count nouns.
In my experience, the three most commonly misused non-count nouns in TOEFL Writing and Speaking are:
research, advice, information
Incorrect:
According to the researches, non-count nouns are challenging to remember.
I have seen this mistake so many times that it makes me want to cry.
Let’s correct this sentence.
Correct:
According to the research, non-count nouns are challenging to remember.
Incorrect:
I did a lot of researches.
Correct:
I did a lot of research.
Incorrect:
He gave her an advice.
Correct:
He gave her some advice.
Incorrect:
There are many informations in the lecture.
Correct:
There is a lot of information in the lecture.
I wrote a song for you so you’ll never forget these three non-count nouns. Here are the song lyrics:
Research, advice, information
You can’t, you just can’t count.
Research, advice, information
You can’t, you just can’t count.
No “s”
No number
No “a”
No number
Research, advice, information
You can’t, you just can’t count.
Incorrect! Correct!
researche̶s̶ research
3̶ advices̶ some advice
a̶n̶ information information
3̶ informations̶ a lot of information
For more information about the word “research,” click here.