Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Some nouns are countable and can be described with the phrase ka loki ‘are many’. People, animals, body parts, and objects are often countable. Other nouns are uncountable and can be described with the phrase na kädërï ‘are many’. Plants, liquids, things usually found in numbers, and abstract nouns (ideas) are often uncountable. Depending on how a noun is used, it may be either countable or uncountable. Insects are often countable or uncountable. Sometimes people, animals and other nouns are either countable or uncountable.
Countable and uncountable nouns | ||
Countable | Uncountable | |
batuu ka loki | father-in-laws | |
bötölï ka loki | male goats | |
kaliki ka loki | elbows | |
gboo ka loki | fences | |
nduma na kädërï | grasses | |
mini na kädërï | waters | |
waru na kädërï | fish types | |
kiri na kädërï | stars | |
ꞌbii na kädërï | sleeps | |
ꞌbindugu ka loki | ꞌbindugu na kädërï | merchants |
yëgë ka loki | yëgë na kädërï | locusts |
böꞌdü ka loki | böꞌdü na kädërï | hog, pigs |