NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which term refers to a noun that can be put into plural form?

1. Collective noun

2. Count noun

3. Abstract noun

4. Proper noun

The correct answer is: Count noun

The correct answer, a count noun, refers specifically to a noun that can be made plural. Count nouns are distinct in that they represent items that can be counted individually and therefore can have both singular and plural forms—for example, "cat" becomes "cats" and "book" becomes "books." This property allows for quantification, enabling speakers to express how many items they are discussing. In contrast, collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things, but they are typically treated as singular or plural depending on whether the group is being viewed as a unit or as individual members. Abstract nouns represent concepts, ideas, or qualities rather than physical objects and do not have a plural form; they cannot be counted (e.g., "love," "happiness"). Proper nouns refer to specific names of people, places, or organizations and usually do not take a plural form as they denote singular entities (e.g., "New York," "Sarah"). Thus, in the context of the question, count noun is the most accurate term for a noun that can be converted into a plural form.