Explanation
Uncountable nouns name things you do not usually count one by one. In English, they usually take a singular verb, and they do not use "a" or a plural "-s."
For example, "Water is important." Here "water" is uncountable, so the verb is "is," not "are." In Japanese, the same idea often has no special count mark, so learners may forget that English needs singular forms and special determiners. You can say "some water," "much water," or "a little water," but not "a waters" or "a water."
不可算名詞は、1つ2つと数えないものを表します。英語ではふつう単数扱いなので、動詞は単数形になり、"a" や複数の "-s" はつけません。
例えば "Water is important." では、"water" が不可算名詞なので、動詞は "are" ではなく "is" です。日本語ではこの区別をあまり表さないことが多いので、英語でも数え方を意識せずに "a water" や "waters" としてしまいがちです。"some water"、"much water"、"a little water" は言えますが、"a waters" は言えません。
Examples
- Water is important. 水は大切です。
- I need some rice. お米が少し必要です。
- How much milk do we have? 牛乳はどれくらいありますか。
- There isn't any sugar. 砂糖は1つもありません。
- We have a little time before the train. 電車の前に少し時間があります。
- I don't have much homework tonight. 今夜は宿題があまりありません。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often add "a" or "-s" to an uncountable noun, for example "a rice," or "informations." Correct forms are "some rice," and "some information," or simply "information." Another common error is using "many" with uncountable nouns; say "much water," not "many water."
日本人学習者は、不可算名詞に "a" や複数の "-s" をつけてしまいがちです。たとえば "a rice" や "informations" は誤りで、正しくは "some rice"、"information"、"some information" です。さらに、不可算名詞に "many" を使ってしまうことも多いので、"many water" ではなく "much water" と言います。