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Definition of homework
Example sentences.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'homework.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback .
Word History
1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near homework
Cite this entry.
“Homework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homework. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of homework, more from merriam-webster on homework.
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for homework
Nglish: Translation of homework for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of homework for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homework
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Is "homework" countable?
I was wondering if "homework" is countable? I remember it is an uncountable noun when I learned English in middle school.
Suppose now I would like to ask my teacher to hand back my graded "homeworks" of last three times. How shall I ask him?
- uncountable-nouns
- countable-nouns

4 Answers 4
"Homework" is uncountable since it is treated as a general meaning not a particular item, like "work", "money" etc.
In your case, use "assignment" instead.
May I have my last three graded assignments back please?
- Both 'work' and 'money' are countified and have well-documented plural forms. 'Homeworks' has not got the same pedigree, though some dictionaries license it with caveats. – Edwin Ashworth Jun 22, 2019 at 18:44
While I've seen the word homeworks used, I've never seen anything legitimate to indicate that it's correct. In any case, you can use the term homework assignments to refer to multiple homework items. That's a fairly common term, at least in American English.
- Thanks! But I don't ask my teacher for assignments, but my homework that I have worked out and handed to my teacher, and the homework is from last three times. How shall I ask him? – Tim May 22, 2011 at 1:39
- 1 @Tim: In American English, assignments is used for what you describe. In British English, homeworks is at least marginally acceptable — we used it at at least one school I went to, although I do remember it feeling awkward/slangy to me at first. – PLL May 22, 2011 at 8:10
- What I’ve seen to indicate it is correct is its frequent use by native speakers – Casey Nov 20, 2021 at 22:37
Traditionally, it is not countable, and most dictionaries list it as such.
However, the Merriam-Webster thesaurus (although not the Merriam-Webster dictionary) does have an entry for homeworks . Moreover, the plural form is used by at least some groups of educated native speakers.
One's best bet is to try to find out if one's audience belongs to a group that tends to use homeworks . If yes, then go ahead and use that word yourself. If not, rephrase as homework assignments or something similar.
Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
Notice that the Merriam-Webster thesaurus has the following entry :
homeworks noun plural of homework Synonyms of homeworks as in schoolwork Synonyms & Near Synonyms for homeworks schoolwork assignments, lessons, reading lectures drills, exercises, practices (also practises ) études, studies
(Interestingly, the Merriam-Webster dictionary entry does not give a plural form for homework .)
Examples of usage by educated native speakers
Such examples are not hard to find at all. For instance, American professors of linguistics, physics, and mathematics, at least, use the word homeworks quite frequently.
All of the examples below are from native speakers, as best as I can tell.
Here are five examples from linguistics professors:
Final grades will be calculated as follows: 30% for homeworks, 20% for the midterm, … Penny Eckert and Ivan A. Sag , Linguistics 1: Introduction to Linguistics (Syllabus), 2011, here . Late assignments are not accepted, but your two lowest-scoring homeworks will be dropped. Adam Jardine , Introduction to Linguistic Theory (Honors) (Syllabus), 2018, here . Homeworks are due at the beginning of class on the days indicated. Emily M. Bender, Linguistics 461: Introduction to Syntax (Syllabus), here . If turned in complete, the homeworks will be graded 8 (well below average), 9 (average), or 10 (well above average); but 0 if not done. Anthony C. Woodbury, Linguistics 306: Introduction to the study of language (Syllabus), here . Homeworks: 25% (lowest score dropped) Dani Byrd and Toby Mintz , Ling 275: Language & Mind (Syllabus), 2006, here .
Here are five examples from physics professors:
Some homeworks are 'secret' assessment exercises: General GRE, Praxis and Major Field Tests Richard Robinett, Penn State Physics Undergraduate Program Better Practices, 2010, p. 12 here . Homeworks are like sports practice Tom Moore , Teaching General Relativity with Tensors, 2006, here . These concepts can be introduced to students through labs, homeworks, and discussion questions. Brianna Billingsley and Cory Christenson, Incorporating Non-Western Contributions Into the Intro Physics Curriculum, 2019, here . With their flexible design, PhET sims are used in many ways—as demos, homeworks, or inexpensive, accessible lab alternatives—and getting started is easy with our database of over 500 activities. Katherine K. Perkins, Teaching Physics with PhET Simulations: Engaging Students and Increasing Learning (Abstract) 2012, p. 58 here . In this talk, we will outline the reforms—including consensus learning goals, “clicker” questions, tutorials, modified homeworks, and more—and present evidence of the effectiveness of these reforms relative to traditional courses. Katherine K. Perkins, Steven Pollock, Stephanie Chasteen, Steve Goldhaber, Rachel Pepper, Michael Dubson, and Paul Beale, Colorado's Transformed Upper-Division E&M and QM courses: Description and Results (Abstract) 2010, p. 119 here .
And here are five examples from mathematics professors:
Homeworks 1-3 David Blecher, here . There will be two midterm exams, weekly homeworks, and a final exam. Scott Sutherland, MAT 141: Honors Calculus 1 (syllabus), 2012, here . MIT 3.016 Homeworks W. Craig Carter, Mathematics for Materials Science and Engineers, MIT 3.016 (syllabus), 2011, (here) . Click on the link 'Problem Sets and Solutions'; you will reach this page , which is where the word homeworks appears (in the page heading). Homeworks (41/42 Track); Homeworks (51 Track) Andrew Schultz, SSEA 2006: Mathematics Track, 2006, here . All homeworks, except the first one, are due on Thursday at 3:30pm Mike Clancy and David Wagner, CS 70, Spring 2005: Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science, 2005, here .
In searching for examples, I also saw examples of similar usage by professors of comparative literature , philosophy, computer science, chemistry, and sociology.
- Even Wiktionary fails to concede the plural form as a possibility, but this is doubtless an ongoing countification (and 10 years is a substantial time for the evolution to progress). – Edwin Ashworth Nov 20, 2021 at 16:42
- American professors of physics and mathematics, at least, use the word homeworks... I wonder if I should take seriously pronouncements on quantum physics by English professors... – Greybeard Nov 20, 2021 at 18:18
- @EdwinAshworth I just looked at Wiktionary , and it says 'usually uncountable, plural homeworks '. The edit that added that note was on 5 October 2015. So indeed, things change in ten years! – linguisticturn Nov 21, 2021 at 17:18
- Whoops, I had SimpleWiktionary , which I didn't know existed. Obviously homeworks is harder. – Edwin Ashworth Nov 21, 2021 at 17:53
- @Greybeard Apologies if your comment was meant as a joke, but if it wasn't (and for the benefit of those who don't take it as a joke), the answer is, no you shouldn't. And indeed, conversely, if physics or math professors were to start making 'pronouncements' about whether a particular word is acceptable English, you shouldn't take that seriously, either. But that's not what's going on in my answer. My answer simply points out that there is a U.S.-wide, loosely connected group of educated native speakers who rather frequently and unselfconsciously use homeworks in day-to-day life. – linguisticturn Nov 21, 2021 at 18:38
Ask for "items" or "pieces" of homework.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged nouns uncountable-nouns countable-nouns or ask your own question .
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Is the word homework a noun?

Yes, the word homework is a noun, a common, uncountable, noun; a word for work assigned to do at home, a word for a thing.
The definition of noun is a person, place, thing, or idea; HOMEWORK falls into the category of thing.
Add your answer:

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Definition of homework noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
- I always do my homework on the bus.
- physics/geography/French, etc. homework
- I still haven't done my geography homework.
- How much homework do you get?
- for homework I have to write up the notes for homework.
- (especially North American English) I have to finish this homework assignment .
- acquire/get/lack (an) education/training/ (British English) (some) qualifications
- receive/provide somebody with training/tuition
- develop/design/plan a curriculum/ (especially British English) course/ (North American English) program/syllabus
- give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
- hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
- sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons
- go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
- be in the first, second, etc. (North American English) grade/ (especially British English) year (at school)
- study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
- (British English) leave/finish/drop out of/ (North American English) quit school
- (North American English) graduate high school/college
- be the victim/target of bullying
- (British English) play truant from/ (both British English, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
- (both especially North American English) skip/cut class/school
- (British English) cheat in/ (North American English) cheat on an exam/a test
- get/be given a detention (for doing something)
- be expelled from/be suspended from school
- do your homework/ (British English) revision/a project on something
- work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/ (North American English) a paper
- finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/coursework
- hand in/ (North American English) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
- study/prepare/ (British English) revise/ (North American English) review/ (North American English, informal) cram for a test/an exam
- take/ (both British English) do/sit a test/an exam
- (especially British English) mark/ (especially North American English) grade homework/a test
- (British English) do well in/ (North American English) do well on/ (informal, especially North American English) ace a test/an exam
- pass/fail/ (informal, especially North American English) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject
- apply to/get into/go to/start college/ (British English) university
- leave/graduate from law school/college/ (British English) university (with a degree in computer science)
- study for/take/ (British English) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics
- (both North American English) major/minor in biology/philosophy
- earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master’s degree/a bachelor’s degree/a PhD in economics
- Have you finished your homework?
- Have you done your physics homework yet?
- I was helping my sister with her maths homework.
- The homework assignments are worth 10% of the final grade.
- I have some homework to do on the Civil War.
- I want you to hand in this homework on Friday.
- The science teacher always gives a lot of homework.
- They get a lot of homework in English.
- They get masses of homework at secondary school.
- We had to write out one of the exercises for homework.
- for homework
- homework on
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

- 'Details of their homework'? – Kate Bunting May 21, 2021 at 7:46
- "Contact book" does not sound like what we would call it in English. "Notebook" or "workbook", maybe. – stangdon May 21, 2021 at 11:20
- Rather than focusing on "homework", you might want to consider alternatives to "write". Verbs like "list", "note", "record" or "take down" indicate that it's information about the homework (not the completed homework itself) that is written in the day planner. – Gary Botnovcan May 21, 2021 at 12:59
- @GaryBotnovcan - I think it's a very good suggestion! Can you, please, help me or at least give me some clue on how I could re-write that sentence without using the verb "write"? – brilliant May 21, 2021 at 13:10
- @stangdon - Would you use "communication book" for that then? Or any other word? What I mean in my example is a thin copybook, like a very thin day planner, in which students put down some records about the homework that they need to complete at home, and it is also used for written communication between teachers and parents. Parents are also required to put down their signature in that book once a week. – brilliant May 21, 2021 at 13:14
4 Answers 4
I agree that changing the focus from the word "homework" is a good idea.
Students always make a note of their homework in their school contact books.
I suggest making use of a different noun ("note" in this example) to set a context that will make the distinction clear.
Example of use from Old Buckenham High School :
In addition to all homework being set on Go4Schools. Students are expected to make a note of their homework and the deadline in their planner.
- That's exactly what I was looking for! Thank you. – brilliant May 29, 2021 at 14:20
assignments
First, never write " a homework," like you did in your question. "Homework" is a noncount noun. Second, despite the name, "homework" is NOT limited to being done at home but only refers to schoolwork students are given to do outside of class, the opposite of "classwork." Obviously, kids do their homework wherever and whenever, often not at home and often even in class. People understand this, all of us having been students at some point, so there's no ambiguity to avoid with "homework." Unless someone says it was done at home or the context conveys that, there's no basis to assume it was done at home.
That being said, if seeking an alternate word for that sentence, you might try " assignments ." Schoolwork, whether classwork or homework, is "assigned" (i.e., A teacher assigns students schoolwork.). So a common, catchall, scholastic phrase free on any mention of location is "assignment," which in your context would be plural, so "assignments."
This assignment should take an hour or so for each of you to complete. I'll give you the 25 minutes we have left in class to start working on it and to ask any questions you may have about problems or concerns you run into. Please take advantage of this time I'm giving you. This assignment is due tomorrow. Since I gave you until tomorrow to do yesterday's assignment, that means both assignments are due tomorrow, so have them ready and in-hand as I'll be collecting both assignments when class starts.
- It looks like the very first sentence in your example, " This assignment should take an hour or so for each of you to complete ", flies right in the face of your explanation on the usage of the word "assignments". How long does it usually take students in the end of the class to copy from the blackboard the numbers of pages they need to complete back at home (or elsewhere)? Twenty to thirty seconds at most! How can then assignments take "an hour or so" to complete?! It look like the word "assignments" in your example is still used in the sense of homework. – brilliant May 21, 2021 at 13:03
- Besides, when teacher says, " I'll be collecting both assignments when class starts " (the last sentence in your example), he, of course, doesn't mean the numbers of pages that gave to the students earlier. – brilliant May 21, 2021 at 13:07
- @brilliant - There still seems to be an issue regarding the full understanding of a Contact Book . It seems to be integral to what you are describing but I don't believe anyone responding to your question is considering the use of a Contact Book . No one knows what it is. The bit about copying down the number of pages , is confusing to me. I don't think copying down the number of pages is a standard, iterative task in formal western education. – EllieK - Don't support her May 21, 2021 at 13:48
- @EllieK - It's funny, but they use it in American schools (those full of American teachers) in Asia. So what would you use instead of "contact book"? Would "communication book" be more understandable? – brilliant May 21, 2021 at 13:51
- 1 @EllieK - "The bit about copying down the number of pages , is confusing to me" - It was "copying the numberS of pages". I meant the ordinal numbers of pages from the book that students were supposed to complete (like "pp. 23-34"). That could also be simply a number of the unit or a part of it to complete (like "Unit 5, chapter 3"). Or it could also be numbers of math problems, for examples, to solve (like "page 3, problems 4 and 9; page 5, problems 12-15") – brilliant May 21, 2021 at 14:35
A teacher assigns some homework.
Then, students write down the homework assignments in their notebooks.
Then they do their homework.

- The problem is, in a separate sentence like " Students write down homework assignments in their notebooks " it will still not be clear whether it is the homework itself or just the homework-locating information. – brilliant May 24, 2021 at 0:32
- @brilliant - The homework is not generally completed in a notebook. Homework in the U.S. is generally a separate print out with separate pages stapled together and given to the students (at least that's what it was several decades ago). Your notebook is for notes, including what homework is due. The actual homework is distributed in diverse handouts that are then turned in to the instructor. All of your homework at the end of a semester would be a stack of papers, some stapled together, but not in a booklet form. – EllieK - Don't support her May 24, 2021 at 13:01
- The teacher assigns some homework. The students write down what is due (i.e. read The Stranger and write a six page essay on existentialism) in their notebooks. Then, on separate sheets of clean paper, the students complete the homework (write the six page essay) and turn it in the next day. – EllieK - Don't support her May 24, 2021 at 13:03
- @EllieK - Thank you. So, it looks like "what is due" is the answer then. But I am afraid that in a separate sentence like "Students always write what is due in their school contact books" the scope of meaning becomes broader than homework-locating info and even broader than homework. – brilliant May 25, 2021 at 1:07
- @brilliant You're really worrying too much about this. While technically ambiguous, everyone will understand what you mean in context. I can't recall ever having any confusion or miscommunication about homework / assignments. And I had a lot of homework and now have school-age kids ;) Don't overthink it. By turning to less common phrases to try to eliminate ambiguity, you will actuality instead invite more confusion. – TypeIA May 25, 2021 at 4:56
Since the question seems to be cropping up, I'll first address the use of "contact book." While I'm not sure precisely what your use entails, context suggests what I'd call a "planner," a sort of calendar with space to write notes for each date. I've had school-issued ones in the past (American schools), which teachers never strictly required but generally expected us to use.
On to the actual question: I'd opt for "write down their assignments". "Write down" is less ambiguous than "write" because it suggests copying or recording something predefined, rather than putting thought into it. While not unambiguous in every way, it sounds natural and would bring the correct idea to most listeners' minds.

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homework Definitions and Synonyms
Have the kids done their homework?
We have two chapters to read for homework.
mark your own homework

Definition and synonyms of homework from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.
This is the British English definition of homework . View American English definition of homework .
Change your default dictionary to American English.
View the pronunciation for homework .
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Homework - singular or plural?
- Thread starter Mr_Croft
- Start date Nov 19, 2007
- Nov 19, 2007

Senior Member
I haven't ( have not) done it. It is singular. My homework is singular. It names the collective tasks I have to do. Bienvenido mr_Croft! Note: Some dictionaries describe this noun as "uncountable". There are many threads here about uncountable nouns. You may find them by using the forum Search feature, or by looking up the word "uncountable" in the WordReference English dictionary. It will display threads with that word in the title: Forum discussions with the word(s) 'uncountable' in the title: Countable and uncountable, depending on context! Countable, uncountable: asparagus Countable, uncountable: homework Uncountable nouns - an exercise is the word "cheese" uncountable? Countable, uncountable: mail, e-mail Countable, uncountable: broccoli, orange Countable, uncountable: advice, bread, cabbage, hair, onions Countable, uncountable: chocolate, chocolates Countable, uncountable: food Countable, uncountable: news Two uncountable nouns become plural? Countable, uncountable: peanuts, people Should the verb be singular or plural after two uncountable nouns? Countable and uncountable, depending on context! uncountable luck Biker, Sponsor: UNCOUNTABLE??? is or are with a list of uncountable Countable, uncountable: help Countable, uncountable: snow Two types of uncountable nouns. the use of articles with uncountable nouns Countable, uncountable: patience "Advice" - uncountable??? Tip (countable or uncountable)

The last time we talked about this, everyone but me said that homework is not countable. Countable, uncountable: homework But in this particular example, even I would say: I haven't done my homework. Have you done your homework? I haven't done it yet. - - - even if I have homework to do in several different subjects.
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home•work
An assignment is a task that someone is given to do, usually as part of their job.
An assignment is also a piece of academic work given to students.
In American English, an assignment is also a piece of work given to students to do at home.
Work given to schoolchildren to do at home is also called homework .
Be Careful! Homework is an uncountable noun. You do not talk about 'homeworks' or 'a homework'. Note that you do not say ' I have made my homework '. You say 'I have done my homework'.
Homework is work that school pupils are given to do at home. You say that pupils do homework. Don't say that they ' make homework '.
Housework is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house.
Be Careful! Both homework and housework are uncountable nouns. Don't talk about ' a homework ' or ' houseworks '.
- assignability
- best of all
- brain-teaser
- change magnitude
- concentrate
- Home-speaking
- Homestead Act
- homestead exemption
- homestead law
- homesteader
- homesteading
- homestretch
- Homeward bound
- homeward(s)
- homeward-bound
- homework problem
- homeworking
- homewrecker
- homichlophobia
- homicide bomber
- Homicide by misadventure
- homicidomania
- homiletical
- homing adaptor
- homing device
- homing guidance
- homing instinct
- homing mine
- homing pigeon
- Homework Access Line
- Homework assignment
- Homework Assistance Hotline
- Homework Center
- Homework Diary
- Homework help
- Homework hotline
- Homeworkers
- Homeworkers Organized for More Employment
- Homeworkers' Union and Small Business Association
- Homeworking
- Homeworld 2
- Homewrecker
- Homewrecker (MTV series)
- Homewrecker (TV series)
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- Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education
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Meaning of homework in English
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- The kids are busy with their homework.
- My science teacher always sets a lot of homework.
- "Have you got any homework tonight ?" "No."
- I got A minus for my English homework.
- For homework I want you to write an essay on endangered species .
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homework | American Dictionary
Homework | business english, examples of homework, translations of homework.
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Word of the Day
divide something by something
to calculate the number of times that one number fits (exactly) into another

A matter of life and death: Talking about importance (1)

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Understanding Noncount Nouns

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Today we are going to talk about the difference between count and noncount nouns .
Most nouns in English can be counted. Think of the noun shirt , as in, “I bought a shirt .” If you have more than one shirt , you just add “s” to make it plural.
"I bought 10 shirts ."
But a shirt is part of a larger category: clothing . You can say “I bought three shirts ” but you cannot say, “I bought three clothings .” Clothing is a noncount noun. You cannot use a, an , or a number before a noncount noun.
Grammatically, a noncount noun is always singular, even if it refers to multiple items like furniture , luggage , or equipment .
A count noun in your native language might be a noncount noun in English. For example, the Spanish translation for homework ( tarea ) is a count noun. But homework is a noncount noun in English. It would sound strange to say, “I had three homeworks .” You could say, “I had a lot of homework .”
You can also could say, “I had three homework assignments .” In this example, homework is used as an adjective. It describes assignment . You can count assignments , but you cannot count homework .
There is no perfect rule to determine if a noun is count or noncount. Fortunately, most noncount nouns fall into a few categories.
Groups of similar things
Noncount nouns often refer to groups of similar objects. Furniture , for example, is a noncount noun. Furniture is a collection of similar countable items like chairs, sofas, tables, shelves, beds and so on.
Luggage is also a noncount noun. You can count bags, packages, and backpacks, but you cannot count luggage . Other noncount nouns that refer to groups of similar things include equipment, food, garbage , mail, money and vocabulary.
Abstractions
Abstract words are noncount. These are words that refer to ideas or qualities instead of physical objects or events. Abstractions are usually things that you cannot see: They only exist in the mind. For example: love, hate, information, news, peace, music and art . There are tens of thousands of abstract words.
Other types of noncount nouns
It is logical that particles -- things that come in very small pieces -- are noncount nouns. It would be difficult to count rice, corn, salt, sugar and dust .
The names of academic fields of study are noncount. Even though physics, economics, and mathematics all end with an s, they are singular noncount nouns. For example, “ Physics is difficult.”
Words related to nature and weather are often noncount, such as rain, wind, snow, lightning, fire and air .
Words with count and noncount meaning
A few words can be used as count and noncount nouns. But the meaning changes a little bit. Let’s look at the word glass . As a noncount noun, glass refers to the clear material used to make windows. For example, “The lamp was made of glass .”
As a count noun, glass refers to a drinking container made of glass , as in “Could you bring me a glass of water?”
The plural glasses has two meanings. It could refer to more than one drinking container. “Please wash the glasses .”
Glasses could also refer to spectacles , a pair of lenses used to correct vision. “I have been wearing glasses since I was a teenager.”
Coffee , along with other drinks, has a count and noncount meaning. “Coffee is grown in Colombia” refers to coffee as an agricultural product. “I’ll have a coffee” refers to a single cup of coffee.
Making Noncount Nouns into Count Nouns
There are a few very important words that make it possible to count noncount nouns. Many food words are noncount nouns. But if you are cooking, you need to measure specific amounts of food.
A recipe for cookies might call for “2 cups of sugar, a half-pound of butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla." Pound, cup and teaspoon are examples of measure words that you can use to make noncount nouns countable.
One of the most useful of these measure words is piece . You cannot count information but you can count a piece of information . Piece is a very useful word because it can be used with both count and noncount nouns. For example, you can have two pieces of pie or three pieces of information. Listen to this song by Paul Young.
Every time you go away You take a piece of me with you.
Here is a video of Paul Young singing Everytime You Go Away.
Some of these measure words have poetic qualities to them, such as: a grain of sand, a speck of dust, a bolt of lightning, a flake of snow, and a breath of air.
Common mistakes
Let’s look at some common mistakes with noncount nouns.
Traffic might seem like a count noun. After all, it refers to a lot of cars. But traffic is a noncount noun in English. Vocabulary, hardware, information, music, and advice are noncount nouns that English learners often confuse for count nouns.
And let us not forget the most important noncount noun of all: grammar . You cannot count grammar . But you can count grammar rules.
I'm Jill Robbins.
I'm Rick Hindman.
Come on come on come on come on and Take it! Take another little piece of heart now baby Break it! Break another little piece of my heart I know you will Have a ... Have another little piece of my heart now baby
Adam Brock wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Jill Robbins and Kathleen Struck were the editors.
Now it’s your turn. If you send us your mailing address in the comments, we will send you a 2016 VOA Calendar. We will not publish your address in the comments, of course. Feel free to add a comment, we will publish that without the address.
Here is Janis Joplin singing Piece of My Heart.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
noncount nouns - n. a noun (such as “sand” or “butter”) that refers to something that cannot be counted
luggage - n. the bags and suitcases that a person carries when traveling
garbage - n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown out
abstract - adj. relating to or involving general ideas or qualities rather than specific people, objects, or actions
spectacle - n. (old-fashioned) eyeglasses
bolt - n. a bright line of light that appears in the sky during a storm as in a flash of lightning
flake - n. a small, thin piece of something
speck - n. a very small piece or spot

Everyday Grammar: Little vs. A Little, Few vs. A Few

Everyday Grammar: Noncount Nouns

Everyday Grammar: Unusual Plurals
Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Rules and Examples

Countable nouns definition
Countable nouns refer to items that can be counted, even if the number might be extraordinarily high (like counting all the people in the world, for example). Countable nouns can be used with articles such as a/an and the or quantifiers such as a few and many . Look at the sentence below and pay particular attention to the countable noun:
Here is a cat .
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Cat is singular and countable.
Here are a few cats .
Here are some cats .
Other examples of countable nouns include house, idea, hand, car, flower, and paper .
Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns, or mass nouns , are nouns that come in a state or quantity that is impossible to count; liquids are uncountable, as are things that act like liquids (sand, air). Abstract ideas like creativity or courage are also uncountable. Uncountable nouns are always considered to be singular, and can stand alone or be used with some, any, a little, and much. See the examples below for reference:
An I.Q. test measures intelligence .
Intelligence is an uncountable noun.
Students don’t seem to have many homework these days.
Because homework is an uncountable noun, it should be modified by much or a lot of, not many .
Students don’t seem to have much homework these days.
A lot of equipment is required to play hockey safely.
Since uncountable nouns are singular, they also require singular verbs. If you’re ever trying to decide whether to write the information is or the information are , remember that information is an uncountable noun and therefore needs is .
Good information are necessary for making good decisions.
Good information is necessary for making good decisions.
Additional examples of uncountable nouns include water, soil, love, literature, and dust.
Both countable and uncountable nouns
Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, depending on the context of the sentence. Examples of these versatile nouns include light, hair, room, gear, art, and science . See the examples below:
Did you have a good time at the party?
Here, time is countable (a time).
I don’t think I have time to do my hair before I leave.
In this sentence, time is uncountable.
There is some juice on the table.
There are some juices on the table.
In the first sentence, juice refers to the liquid beverage; thus, it is uncountable. In the second sentence, juice refers to the different varieties of juice (e.g., apple, grape, pineapple, etc.), and therefore, is considered a countable noun.

'No homework' days to be discussed by Worcester School Committee

WORCESTER — A parent group is pushing for changes to the way Worcester Public School educators assign students homework including having a day in which no homework is assigned at all.
The topic is on the agenda for the school committee meeting Thursday night. Members could vote to send it to a subcommittee for further exploration and discussion.
"You just want to make sure that it's consistent, and ... that it's not just busy work, like a worksheet that's going home, but something where it's helping them in that course of study," said school committee member Molly McCullough, who submitted the agenda item. "You want to make sure it's contributing toward the lesson that they're learning."
McCullough submitted it after seeing a presentation about the topic given by the Citywide Parent Advisory Council, a group of parents and guardians who often collaborate with district administrators and leaders.
The group would like the district to reconsider homework policies, expectations around homework and ways to support students social-emotional and mental health, she said.
One way to accomplish this would be a "no homework date," when students could expect no homework being assigned. It would have to be determined how often "no homework dates" would be scheduled.
Another is trying to find ways for educators and families to collaborate to ensure that homework assignments do not amount to students being overloaded with "busy work."
"Sometimes homework can be daunting, especially if you have a child that maybe is struggling with a certain topic," McCullough said. "Their homework is counting towards their grade, and they're not able to complete it and it becomes frustrating, and then they go in with an incomplete assignment."
McCullough added that it can be difficult for students to juggle homework while also participating in extracurricular and after-school activities, and reexamining homework can help students find a balance.
She also wants the homework being assigned to be consistent across the district. One third grade class should not be getting homework that takes an hour to complete, while another third grade class across the district has no homework assigned.
"If educators are finding value in a lot of what they're assigning, then that's something we need to be looking at," McCullough said. "But I know that we have a lot of educators that don't really assign homework anymore, so it's about consistency throughout the district as well."
She said that she wants to send her agenda item to the teaching and learning subcommittee, where members would receive a presentation about changing homework policies from the Citywide Parent Advisory Council.
The subcommittee would also work with district administration to get feedback from both parents and educators that could be used to reexamine and reevaluate homework and homework policy in the district, and also learn about issues surrounding homework.
"We're really working together with the administration now to take a whole holistic viewpoint of our policies and make sure that we're working towards our students' future success and the success of our district," McCullough said. "It's really important when we talk about where our district is going to make sure that our policies match where we want to be."
The Worcester School Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Esther Howland South Chamber in City Hall.
Ask a Psychologist
Helping students thrive now.
Angela Duckworth and other behavioral-science experts offer advice to teachers based on scientific research. To submit questions, use this form or #helpstudentsthrive. Read more from this blog.
A Reward System Can Build a Homework Habit. Here’s How

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How do I help students struggling to get homework done on time?
You can explain to them the science of habits—and how to use it to set themselves up for success. Here’s something I wrote about the topic for Character Lab as a Tip of the Week :
“I promise you, Mrs. Duckworth. Tomorrow, you’re gonna have my homework assignment on time. This is a whole new me. Just watch.”
When I taught middle school math, many of my struggling students would swear up and down that they were going to turn around their performance in my class. This year is going to be different. Some of them did exactly that. But many others did not.
In the long run, the superpower that enables people of all ages to realize their aspirations is habit.
What is a habit, exactly?
A habit is a behavior that, when repeated in the same situation over and over again, and reliably rewarded, becomes automatic. Unlike other kinds of behavior, a habit runs on autopilot when triggered. Why? Because over time, a mental link is forged between the trigger cue and the rewarded behavior.
What you want to do more of, try doing so at the same time and in the same place. And with each repetition, seek some kind of reward. Doing homework at the same time and place each day, for example, only creates a strong homework habit when rewarded in one way or another.
Use your imagination to create rewards. For a lot of students, it’s helpful to take a five- minute break after studying for 25 uninterrupted minutes . You might indulge in an episode of a favorite show after finishing your work for the day. My daughters make a spreadsheet with their to-dos, turning each block a favorite color when done, and derive satisfaction from completing all the blocks.
Once you’ve figured out your rewards, you might want to know how many repetitions it takes to make a habit. Is it 21? 66?
There is, in fact, no magic number. But habits don’t sprout overnight. Initially, it might take self-control to build a habit , but once formed, the automaticity of habit propels you forward without struggle and strife.
Don’t expect behavior change to be easy. It’s not, at least initially.
Do experiment to find positive routines that, with repetition and reward, become second nature.
The opinions expressed in Ask a Psychologist: Helping Students Thrive Now are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
noun home· work ˈhōm-ˌwərk Synonyms of homework 1 : piecework done at home for pay 2 : an assignment given to a student to be completed outside the regular class period 3 : preparatory reading or research (as for a discussion or a debate) Example Sentences She started her algebra homework.
homework noun /ˈhəʊmwɜːk/ /ˈhəʊmwɜːrk/ [uncountable] work that is given by teachers for students to do at home I always do my homework on the bus. physics/geography/French, etc. homework I still haven't done my geography homework. How much homework do you get? for homework I have to write up the notes for homework.
homeworks noun plural of homework Synonyms of homeworks as in schoolwork Synonyms & Near Synonyms for homeworks schoolwork assignments, lessons, reading lectures drills, exercises, practices (also practises) études, studies (Interestingly, the Merriam-Webster dictionary entry does not give a plural form for homework .)
Intelligence is an uncountable noun. Students don't seem to have much homework these days. This example refers to an unspecified, unquantifiable amount of homework, so homework is an uncountable noun. Possessive nouns Possessive nouns are nouns which possess something; i.e., they have something.
The noun 'homework' is an uncountable noun, a form of aggregate noun, a word representing an indefinite number of elements or parts.Units of homework in amounts, such as some homework,...
In the US "homework" is considered to be a "mass" noun and articles are not used. (May be different in the UK or India.) A "homework assignment" is an individual piece of homework and does take an article. - Hot Licks Jan 13, 2016 at 3:56 1 Native speakers don't say a homework. - GoDucks Jan 13, 2016 at 4:16
Yes, the word homework is a noun, a common, uncountable, noun; a word for work assigned to do at home, a word for a thing. The definition of noun is a person, place, thing, or idea;...
The noun homework can be countable or uncountable. In more general, commonly used, contexts, the plural form will also be homework . However, in more specific contexts, the plural form can also be homeworks e.g. in reference to various types of homeworks or a collection of homeworks. Find more words! homework Similar Words assignment task
The homework assignments are worth 10% of the final grade. I have some homework to do on the Civil War. I want you to hand in this homework on Friday. The science teacher always gives a lot of homework. They get a lot of homework in English. They get masses of homework at secondary school. We had to write out one of the exercises for homework.
homework [ hohm-wurk ] SHOW IPA See synonyms for homework on Thesaurus.com noun schoolwork assigned to be done outside the classroom (distinguished from classwork). a single assignment of such schoolwork: Homeworks are due at the beginning of class. paid work done at home, as piecework.
"Homework" is a noncount noun. Second, despite the name, "homework" is NOT limited to being done at home but only refers to schoolwork students are given to do outside of class, the opposite of "classwork." Obviously, kids do their homework wherever and whenever, often not at home and often even in class. ...
homework Definitions and Synonyms noun uncountable UK /ˈhəʊmˌwɜː (r)k/ DEFINITIONS 2 1 education work that a teacher gives a student to do out of class Have the kids done their homework? We have two chapters to read for homework. Collocations and examples Verbs frequently used with homework complete do finish ... Explore Collocations
I just want to know if the word homework is a singular word or a plural one. Thank you very much, PS: Please, if you find any mistake in my text, just let me know cuchuflete Senior Member Maine, EEUU EEUU-inglés Nov 19, 2007 #2 I haven't ( have not) done it. It is singular. My homework is singular. It names the collective tasks I have to do.
home•work (ˈhoʊmˌwɜrk) n. 1. schoolwork assigned to be done outside the classroom. 2. thorough preparatory study of a subject: to do one's homework for the next committee meeting. [1675-85] Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. assignment
• Homework is an uncountable noun and is not used in the plural. You say: The teacher gave us a lot of homework. Don't say: The teacher gave us a lot of homeworks. • Homework is always followed by a singular verb.
Students will do the following:1. Play a 3 minute game that is fast and fun and requires only a pencil and a copy of my worksheet!2. Make a list of common and proper nouns based on a theme.3. Correct a poorly written letter in which a student has not used common and proper nouns correctly (can be used as homework!).4.
This collection of PDF parts of speech worksheets are perfect for morning work, centers, homework and more. The bundle includes adjectives, nouns, pronouns and verbs. Each test is full of color and contains questions and answers aligned to Common Core Standards. Free Easel Activities and Assessments included.
Nouns: countable and uncountable - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
homework noun [ U ] uk / ˈhəʊm.wɜːk / us / ˈhoʊm.wɝːk / A1 work that teachers give their students to do at home: You can't watch TV until you've done your homework. history / geography homework More examples The kids are busy with their homework. My science teacher always sets a lot of homework. "Have you got any homework tonight ?" "No."
A count noun in your native language might be a noncount noun in English. For example, the Spanish translation for homework ( tarea ) is a count noun. But homework is a noncount noun in English.
Because homework is an uncountable noun, it should be modified by much or a lot of, not many. Students don't seem to have much homework these days. A lot of equipment is required to play hockey safely. Since uncountable nouns are singular, they also require singular verbs.
WORCESTER — A parent group is pushing for changes to the way Worcester Public School educators assign students homework, including having a day in which no homework is assigned at all.
And with each repetition, seek some kind of reward. Doing homework at the same time and place each day, for example, only creates a strong homework habit when rewarded in one way or another. Use ...