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I need some help! my question is: I �ve seen that watermelon can be countable and uncountable. Until now, I knew that watermelon is uncountable.... how can I explain my students the difference? I mean, to know when it �s count or uncout? please everyone, help me!
Apodo �s
explanation is absolutely clear and precise. I�d just like to add that I
usually teach my students that, in language, the situation and the point of
view of the speaker is very important. I think this helps them understand what
can be felt as an �exception� This is very useful when I�m teaching the
difference between simple and continuous tenses; duration is an issue only from
the speaker�s point of view, not in a chronological sense.
Regarding
countable and uncountable nouns, there are some which can only be uncountable
(toast, bread, wine), in general, but those which are mainly countable can be used as uncountable if you want to take the
unit as a whole. For example, you only have an orange and you want to share it,
you say �would you like some orange?�
Uncountable
nouns can also be reclassified as countable in some cases (for example a
specific type: French wines)
Then, there
are cases of homonyms: toast (bread)
U and toast (a toast to the bride) C.
A good dictionary is always very useful in these cases.
