Meaning & use
counting
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“counting” is a form of “count”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
saying numbers in order to find out how many things there are.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (counting the chairs) or without one (counting quietly).
Patterns
- counting something
- counting to a number
- counting down
She is counting the students in the classroom.
The children are counting to twenty in English.
He sat by the window, counting the cars that passed.
verbintransitive
being important or having value.
Grammar: No object; often used in the phrase 'counting for something'.
Patterns
- counting for something
- counting toward something
Every small effort counts when you are learning a language.
This test counts for half of your final grade.
In the end, only your actions count.
adjectivebefore a noun
used for the activity of saying numbers or doing arithmetic.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: a counting book, counting skills.
Patterns
- counting game
- counting book
- counting skills
The teacher gave the class a counting exercise.
My little brother loves his counting book with pictures of animals.
Counting songs help young children remember numbers.
Common combinations
- counting down
- The crowd was counting down the seconds before the new year.
- counting on someone
- We are counting on you to bring the tickets.
- counting the days
- She is counting the days until her vacation.
- counting sheep
- He tried counting sheep to fall asleep.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tallying
- Suggests keeping a written record of numbers, often for a total; 'counting' is more general and can be done silently.
- calculating
- Focuses on doing math with numbers; 'counting' is simpler and usually means saying numbers in order.
Word family
Commonly confused: counting or count?
counting vs count
'Count' is the base verb (I count) and a noun (a count), while 'counting' is the -ing form used in continuous tenses or as a gerund.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
After 'is' we need the -ing form 'counting' to make the present continuous. 'Count' (option A) is the base form and cannot follow 'is'; option C is missing 'is'; option D uses 'counts', which does not follow 'is'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “counting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.