You could say "swimming and cycling are both (good) exercise" or "swimming and cycling both give us exercise" or "swimming and cycling are both forms of exercise".īut if you say "swimming and cycling are both exercises", the meaning virtually disappears you are now simply saying they are both activities. Things that cannot be counted are called Uncountable nouns. "Swimming is an exercise" simply means "swimming is an activity carried out for a specific purpose" - a completely different meaning. Instead, by using the countable noun "exercise", you are invoking Lexico's second definition. If you say "swimming is an exercise", you no longer mean that it is an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to improve health. However, the second sentence has a different meaning. (We would be more likely to say "swimming is good exercise" or "swimming is a form of exercise".) So, the following sentences are both correct (but with caveats):
‘exercise improves your heart and lung power’ 2 An activity carried out for a specific purpose. Trying to get more exercise ģ: something performed or practiced in order to develop, improve, or display a specific capability or skill īuild Your Back and Shoulders: Kickboard Press and PullĪmong Lexico's definitions of "exercise":ġ mass noun Activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness. Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)Īre right, no a before exercise when it refers to a sports' activity such as: cycling, swimming, jogging, surfing, etc.ī: bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness.Work is not always good for you.Įxercises I like to do include deep knee bends and waist stretches.
#Count and noncount nouns exercises advanced series#
Playing tennis and golfing are good exercise too.Įxercise, uncountable refers to a particular activity or series of movements viewed as a single action.Įxercise is good for you.