{"id":1449,"date":"2018-08-26T22:21:22","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T05:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.palomar.edu\/mcastillo\/?page_id=1449"},"modified":"2025-08-17T22:32:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T05:32:36","slug":"b-costa-rica","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.palomar.edu\/mcastillo\/b-costa-rica\/","title":{"rendered":"B – Costa Rica"},"content":{"rendered":"

Costa Rica<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

(Lesson – count and non-count nouns – B & I level)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For AI assistance – click on Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"

Costa Rica is sandwiched between two oceans, the the Atlantic on the east and the Pacific on the west. It is boarded by Nicaragua on the north and Panama on the south.<\/p><\/div>\n

The weather<\/strong><\/em> in San Jose, the capital<\/span> of Costa Rica, is windy during the months<\/span> of November and December.\u00a0 It\u2019s cool in the early morning<\/span>, then in the late morning and afternoon<\/span> it becomes warm and balmy .\u00a0 In the late evenings<\/span> it becomes cool again.\u00a0 The city<\/span> is located in a valley<\/span> surrounded by mountains<\/span> on three sides<\/span> boarded by the ocean<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0So the wind<\/strong><\/em> from the mountains comes down the city bringing cool winds.\u00a0 Early morning and late evening you need a light sweater<\/span> or jacket<\/span>.\u00a0 As the day<\/span> progresses the weather becomes very pleasant and maintains a steady temperature<\/span> from 75 to 80 degrees all year long.\u00a0 There is some humidity<\/strong><\/em>, but it is very mild, and the mild humidity doesn\u2019t cause discomfort.<\/p>\n

\"\"

There are so many beautiful pristine beaches in Costa Rica for swimming, surfing, and other water sports.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ticos or Costa Ricans enjoy a very comfortable and pleasant weather all year round.\u00a0 This is why many tourists<\/span> come here to have a vacation<\/span>, enjoy the beaches<\/span> and to be surrounded by the natural beauty<\/strong><\/em> of the country<\/span>.\u00a0 Visitors<\/span> from the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, and many other countries<\/span> do not need a visa<\/span>, and can enter and stay for 90 days<\/span> as a tourist<\/span>. \u00a0It is the most economically and politically stable country in Central America. There are over 50,000 American and Canadian expats<\/span> and retirees<\/span> living in Costa Rica. They come here not only because of the weather but also because of the good economy<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0They can live here comfortably as retirees, and if they wish, they can find work<\/strong> <\/em>and make money<\/strong><\/em>. This is what the Costa Ricans<\/span> call \u201cPura Vida\u201d meaning \u201cpure life.\u201d \u00a0Ticos and expats live a calm and relaxing life<\/span> here.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 First the economy and the politics<\/strong><\/em> are stable in this country.\u00a0 Second, Costa Rica has a modern and highly rated healthcare system<\/span>, even more highly ranked than the United States. Costa Rican citizens<\/span> enjoy universal health care insurance<\/span>.\u00a0 Last, the climate<\/strong><\/em> is so ideal and very comfortable. It\u2019s like spring<\/span> all year round with a spring and summer temperature of 75 \u2013 85 degrees Fahrenheit.\u00a0\u00a0The dry season<\/span> is between December to April, and the wet season<\/span> is from May to November, but the temperature is always constant. It never gets very humid in Costa Rica.\u00a0 Many<\/span> who come here love the beautiful weather, the greenery<\/strong><\/em> of Nature, and the beaches<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

There are many exotic ginger plants of different colors in Costa Rica.<\/p><\/div>\n

When you come here, you feel the nice balmy weather right away.\u00a0 No matter where you look everything is so green, and the flowers<\/span> are so beautiful. \u00a0Furthermore, nature<\/strong><\/em> and the ecosystem<\/span> are well-balanced.\u00a0 The reason<\/span> is simple.\u00a0 Mother Nature<\/strong> <\/em>is so good to Costa Rica.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Warm cascades heated by nearby volcanoes are a welcome sight for thermal resorts all over Costa Rica.<\/p><\/div>\n

(Note – The words in highlighted\u00a0red\u00a0are count nouns. The words in highlighted in black\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>are non-count nouns)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A. \u00a0Count and Non-count nouns<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Count nouns<\/strong><\/em><\/span> are things we can count. \u00a0In this article the words “month, country, and mountain<\/span>” are count nouns. \u00a0They can be counted because they have a singular and plural forms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Thus: \u00a0one month – \u00a0two months \/ one country – \u00a0two countries \/ one mountain – two mountains.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Non-count nouns<\/strong><\/em> do not have a plural form. \u00a0In this article the words “weather, wind, and humidity<\/strong><\/em>” are non-count nouns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Some common non-count nouns can be put into categories.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. (Food) – salad \/ salt \/ sugar \/ yogurt \/ butter \/ meat \/ rice<\/li>\n
      2. (Liquids) – milk \/oil \/ water \/ tea \/ soup \/ gasoline<\/li>\n
      3. (Activities) – yoga \/ golf \/ hockey \/ tennis \/ soccer<\/li>\n
      4. (Abstract nouns or things in the mind) – information \/ work \/ hate \/ love \/ fun \/ help \/ advice<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Category nouns<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

        The following are non-count nouns (category nouns) but examples of them are count nouns.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • (clothing)<\/strong><\/em> – Examples that are count nouns – dresses \/ shirts \/ shoes<\/li>\n
        • (furniture)<\/strong><\/em> – Examples that are count nouns – tables \/ desks \/ sofas<\/li>\n
        • (fruit)<\/strong><\/em> – Examples that are count nouns – bananas \/ oranges \/ strawberries<\/li>\n
        • (Homework)<\/strong> <\/em>– Examples that are count nouns – assignments \/ exercises \/ projects<\/li>\n
        • (luggage)<\/strong> <\/em>– Examples that are count nouns – backpacks \/ bags \/ suitcases<\/li>\n
        • (jewelry)<\/strong><\/em> – Examples that are count nouns – rings \/ necklaces \/ earrings<\/li>\n
        • (money)<\/strong><\/em> – Examples that are count nouns – dollars \/ coins \/ pesos<\/li>\n
        • (time)<\/strong><\/em> – Examples that are count nouns – seconds \/ minutes \/ hours<\/li>\n
        • (traffic)<\/strong><\/em> – cars \/ intersection \/ signal<\/li>\n
        • (weather)<\/strong> <\/em>– showers \/ storms \/ hurricanes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          A. \u00a0Exercise on count and non-count nouns. \u00a0Decide whether the word in parenthesis is a count noun or a non-count noun.<\/p>\n

          Rubric for self-grading this quiz<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          0 – 1 \u00a0 \u00a0 mistakes A. – Student has little or no problems understanding the concepts<\/p>\n

          2 \u00a0 mistakes. B- Student has a couple of problems understanding the concepts<\/p>\n

          3. \u00a0 \u00a0mistakes. C – Student shows problems understanding the concepts<\/p>\n

          4. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0mistakes. D – Student shows significant problems understanding the concept<\/p>\n