Are all Mass Nouns Singular in Form (Not Pluralized) ?

Dictionary.com defines mass nouns as “nouns. . . that denote a substance or concept indivisible into countable units...”

Most mass nouns represent liquid substances (water, milk, vinegar) and food stuff (meat, sugar, cake, pie).

Although mass nouns are generally not pluralized, there are also mass nouns that can take both singular and plural forms (by adding s).

Some mass nouns can also be count nouns.

Examples are:

• She knows how to cook salad.
• She knows how to cook many kinds of salads.

• Grain is abundant in this country.
• Different grains are grown in each region.

• Go ahead and ask her what brand of detergent she likes.
• Some detergents contain harsh ingredients.

• Forest fires are prevalent during dry season.
• Earlier today, there was a forest fire in this area.

Some mass nouns only have a singular form but no plural form.

Examples are:

• I bought a piece of equipment for you.
• I bought pieces of equipment today.

• He sold me this piece of furniture.
• He carves desks, cabinets, shelves and other wooden furniture.

• I didn’t know that piece of information until the teacher explained it in class.
• The internet is packed with useful information.

*Microsoft Word editor flags the word "informations" & “furnitures” as grammatical errors. The word "equipments" is left unchecked.


Other examples of mass nouns:

advice * air * blood * food * garbage * graffiti * grass
homework * knowledge * luggage * mathematics
money * music * pollution * research * sand * soap
software * traffic * transportation * travel * trash