1.79 uncount nouns

Because '-ing' nouns refer to activities in a general way, they are usually uncount nouns; that is, they have only one form, cannot be used with numbers, and do not usually have a determiner in front of them.

For more information on uncount nouns, see paragraphs 1.24 to 1.34.

1.80

We often use an '-ing' noun because it is the only noun form available for certain verbs, such as 'eat', 'hear', 'go', 'come', and 'bless'. Whereas other verbs have related nouns that are not '-ing' nouns: for example 'see' and 'sight', 'arrive' and 'arrival', 'depart' and 'departure'.

• Eating, unlike fighting, is a pursuit in which both sexes freely indulge.
• ...loss of hearing in one ear.
• Only 6 per cent of children receive any further training when they leave school.