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d) names of languages:e.g. EnglishGermanSpanishAn uncountable noun takes a singular verb.e.g. Honesty a virtue.Butter tastes good.Furniture was provided.1. The absence of a determiner before uncountable nounsa. Making a general statementIn general statements, uncountable nouns are usually not preceded by determiners. Theuncountable nouns in the following general statements are underlined.e.g. Information is often valuable.Butter is fattening.Courage and honesty are admirable qualities.Sunlight and water are usually required for plants to grow.b. Referring to something not mentioned beforeIn descriptions, uncountable nouns are generally not preceded by a determiner whennaming something which has not been referred to previously.e.g. Rain was forecast for the next day.However, thunder and lightning were not expected.Our breakfast consisted of bread, honey and marmalade.In these examples, the uncountable nouns rain, thunder, lightning, bread, honey andmarmalade are not preceded by determiners. It is assumed that the things referred toby these nouns have not been mentioned previously.See Exercise 1 .2. The use of The before uncountable nounsa. Referring to something mentioned beforeThe is used with uncountable nouns referri ng to things previously mentioned.e.g. We were served bread and cheese. The bread was somewhat stale, but the cheesewas delicious.Gold was discovered in the Klondike. The gold attracted thousands of prospectors.Furniture and clothing are being sold at the flea market. The furniture is reasonablypriced, and the clothing is cheap.In these examples, the first time the uncountable nouns bread, cheese, gold, furnitureand clothing are used, they are not preceded by determiners, because the things