Classifier / Measure Word
What kind of unit are we counting?
意味
A word or marker used with numbers or quantity to classify the noun by shape, type, animacy, function, or measurement unit.
見分け方
Notice whether numbers require an extra word before the noun.
例
piece|cup|sheet|person|classifier
three cups of water|one piece of paper
I bought three cups of coffee.
Visual guide
counting a noun: number -> unit/class -> noun 3 -> cups -> coffee 1 -> piece -> paper classifier answers: "count as what kind/unit?"
Counting patterns: A) 3 books number + noun B) 3 CL book number + class + noun C) 3 cups of water number + measure + of + noun Ask: required? which class?
言語別ビュー
母語の仕組み
Counters are highly visible with numbers and depend on the type or shape of the noun.
コーヒーを三杯買った。
I bought three cups of coffee.
学習言語では
English has measure expressions, but classifiers are not generally obligatory for ordinary nouns.
a piece of advice
piece of = measure expression
Learners from classifier languages may overuse measure words, while others may struggle with uncountable nouns.
Usually lighter in your learning language
Do not over-transfer this pattern from your own language. It is often less explicit in your learning language.