Countable and Uncountable Nouns

 

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