Abstract
Speakers of languages with article systems have to make different article choices in the case of mass versus countable nouns. This study addressed article use with different types of mass nouns (liquid, solid and abstract). It investigated: a) whether first language (L1) Arabic speakers used English articles accurately with mass nouns; and b) whether they were sensitive to different types of mass noun.
 
 To address these issues, the study recruited twenty-seven English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Saudi-Arabic speaking participants and five native speakers of English, who formed a control group. Members of the experimental group were proficient to the elementary level, according to the Oxford Quick Placement Test. A written forced-choice elicitation task was administered to test their article use. 
 
 The findings showed that: a) the Arabic speakers performed similarly to the native speakers of English in liquid contexts, but differently in solid and abstract contexts; b) the Arabic speakers did not perform similarly across all types of mass nouns, as they were sensitive towards mass noun types; c) their article use was more accurate in liquid contexts than in solid and abstract contexts; and d) they faced difficulties using articles with mass nouns that can be pluralised in Arabic. These findings indicate that the use of articles with mass nouns should be examined in the light of their subtypes, as well as whether second language (L2) learners’ L1 pluralise them or not.
Highlights
Whether a noun is countable or not plays a role in using articles in English (Yule, 1998)
The findings showed that: a) the Arabic speakers performed to the native speakers of English in liquid contexts, but differently in solid and abstract contexts; b) the Arabic speakers did not perform across all types of mass nouns, as they were sensitive towards mass noun types; c) their article use was more accurate in liquid contexts than in solid and abstract contexts; and d) they faced difficulties using articles with mass nouns that can be pluralised in Arabic
In respect of the first research question, the Arabic speakers performed to the native English speakers in liquid contexts. They were less accurate in solid and abstract contexts. These findings show that L2 English speakers do not perform across all types of mass noun, and this leads to a discussion of the second research question, below
Summary
Whether a noun is countable or not plays a role in using articles in English (Yule, 1998). Definite countable nouns (singular and plural) and uncountable nouns (mass) are preceded with the morphological marker the in English and al in Arabic. The section discusses the definite and indefinite use of articles with mass nouns in English and Saudi Arabic. The definite and indefinite use of articles for plural and singular nouns is illustrated below for English and Saudi Arabic: English a. As can be noted from the above examples, article use in English and Arabic is similar except for the fact that indefinite singular nouns are not morphologically marked in Arabic. These examples show that English and Arabic use articles with all types of mass noun
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
