Equipment vs. Equipments: 차이점은 무엇인가요?
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Equipment is a mass noun, meaning it is always singular and never takes an 's'.
- Never add an 's' to equipment; 'equipments' is incorrect. Example: 'The equipment is new.'
- Use 'some' or 'a lot of' for quantity. Example: 'We have a lot of equipment.'
- To count it, use 'pieces of'. Example: 'I bought three pieces of equipment.'
Overview
equipment입니다.equipment는 불가산 명사(Uncountable noun 또는 Mass noun)라는 점입니다. 이는 특정 목적을 위해 필요한 도구나 장치들의 '집합적 개념'이나 '전체적인 묶음'을 의미하며, 개별적인 아이템 하나하나를 세는 개념이 아닙니다. 따라서 equipment는 복수형을 가질 수 없으며, 단어 끝에 -s를 붙인 equipments라는 표현은 현대 표준 영어에서 명백한 오답으로 간주됩니다.equipment는 furniture(가구), information(정보), luggage(수하물)와 같이 개별 항목이 아닌 '카테고리 전체'를 나타내는 추상적인 덩어리로 취급됩니다.three equipments가 아니라 equipment라는 하나의 집합체입니다. 이러한 영어식 사고방식을 이해하는 것이 자연스러운 영어를 구사하는 첫걸음입니다.equipment가 불가산 명사라는 사실을 이해하기 위해서는 영어의 가산 명사(Countable nouns)와 불가산 명사(Uncountable nouns)의 근본적인 차이를 살펴봐야 합니다. 이 구분은 관사(a/an), 수량 형용사, 그리고 동사의 수 일치에 직접적인 영향을 미칩니다.- 부정관사
a나an을 붙일 수 있습니다:a machine,an instrument. - 숫자와 함께 쓸 수 있습니다:
two tools,five devices. - 복수형 어미
-s나-es를 붙입니다:machines,tools.
equipment가 바로 이 '집합적 범주'에 해당합니다.- 부정관사
a나an을 직접 붙일 수 없습니다:an equipment(X) - 복수형 어미
-s를 붙일 수 없습니다:equipments(X) - 숫자와 직접 결합할 수 없습니다:
three equipment(X)
equipment는 문법적으로 항상 단수 취급을 받기 때문에 뒤에 오는 동사도 단수형을 써야 합니다. 많은 학습자가 여러 개의 물건을 떠올리며 복수 동사를 쓰는 실수를 범하곤 합니다.- 옳은 표현: The new medical
equipment isexpensive. (새 의료 장비는 비싸다.) - 틀린 표현: The new medical
equipment areexpensive. (X)
tool과 불가산 명사인 equipment를 비교해 보세요.tool) | 불가산 명사 (예: equipment) |tools) | 불가능 (항상 equipment) |a/an 사용 | 가능 (a tool) | 불가능 |two tools) | 불가능 |How many tools? | How much equipment? |equipment 자체는 형태가 변하지 않지만, 이를 구체적으로 세거나 양을 표현해야 할 때는 특정한 패턴을 사용해야 합니다. 한국어의 '단위 명사'(개, 대, 벌 등)와 유사한 개념인 '부분사(Partitive)'를 활용하는 것이 핵심입니다.equipment 앞에 직접 a를 붙일 수 없으므로, a piece of라는 표현을 빌려와야 합니다.a piece of equipment: 장비 한 점/한 개an item of equipment: 장비 한 항목 (조금 더 격식 있는 표현)
This is a very expensive piece of equipment. (이것은 매우 비싼 장비 한 대입니다.)equipment가 아니라 앞의 piece를 복수형으로 바꿉니다.two pieces of equipment: 장비 두 대several items of equipment: 여러 가지의 장비들
We need to move three pieces of equipment to the new office. (우리는 새 사무실로 세 대의 장비를 옮겨야 합니다.)- 많은 양:
much,a lot of,plenty of,a great deal of를 사용합니다. (many는 불가) We don't have much equipment.(우리는 장비가 많지 않다.)- 적은 양:
little,a little을 사용합니다. (few는 불가) There is a little equipment left in the gym.(체육관에 장비가 조금 남아 있다.)- 약간/어느 정도:
some,any를 사용합니다. Do you need any special equipment?(특별한 장비가 필요하신가요?)
a piece of equipment | an equipment |three pieces of equipment | three equipments |a lot of equipment / much equipment | many equipments |some equipment | some equipments |little equipment | few equipments |equipment는 비즈니스, 기술, 스포츠, 일상생활 등 거의 모든 분야에서 광범위하게 사용됩니다. 각 상황에서 어떻게 자연스럽게 쓰이는지 살펴보겠습니다.The company provides all the necessary
(회사는 모든 필요한 사무 장비를 제공합니다.)office equipment.We are upgrading our
(우리는 올해 IT 장비를 업그레이드하고 있습니다.)IT equipmentthis year.
Laboratory
(실험실 장비는 조심스럽게 다뤄야 합니다.)equipmentmust be handled with care.The hospital has invested in new
(병원은 새로운 진단 장비에 투자했습니다.)diagnostic equipment.
You can rent
(리조트에서 스키 장비를 빌릴 수 있습니다.)ski equipmentat the resort.Proper
(암벽 등반에는 적절한 안전 장비가 필수적입니다.)safety equipmentis essential for rock climbing.The band brought their own
(밴드는 자신들의 음향 장비를 가져왔습니다.)sound equipment.
Modern
(현대적인 주방 장비는 요리를 훨씬 쉽게 만들어 줍니다.)kitchen equipmentmakes cooking much easier.
is, provides, makes와 같이 단수 형태를 유지하고 있다는 점에 주목하세요.equipments라고 쓰는 실수 (과잉 일반화)-s 붙이기)을 모든 명사에 적용하려다 발생하는 오류입니다.- 잘못된 예: The construction site has many ~~equipments~~.
- 올바른 예: The construction site has a lot of equipment.
- 이유: 영어에서
equipment는 개수가 아닌 '상태'나 '범주'로 인식됩니다. 마치 '물(water)'을 '물들'이라고 하지 않는 것과 같은 원리입니다.
- 잘못된 예: All the
equipment~~were~~ damaged in the fire. - 올바른 예: All the
equipmentwas damaged in the fire. - 이유: 문법적 일치(Grammatical Agreement)는 의미가 아닌 단어의 '형태'를 따릅니다.
equipment는 형태상 단수이므로 무조건 단수 동사를 써야 합니다.
many나 a few와 함께 쓰는 실수 (수량 형용사 오류)equipment에 붙이는 경우입니다.- 잘못된 예: We have ~~a few equipment~~ left.
- 올바른 예: We have a little equipment left. 또는 a few pieces of equipment left.
- 이유:
many,few,several은 오직 셀 수 있는 명사하고만 친구가 될 수 있습니다.equipment와는 어울릴 수 없는 조합입니다.
equipment와 비슷하지만 문법적 성격이 다른 단어들을 비교해 보면 개념이 더 명확해집니다. 특히 가산 명사인 tool이나 machine과의 차이를 아는 것이 중요합니다.Equipment | 집합적/추상적 범주 | 아니오 (Uncountable) | The equipment is ready. |Tool | 구체적인 개별 도구 | 예 (Countable) | I have three tools. |Machine | 구체적인 기계 한 대 | 예 (Countable) | The machines are noisy. |Machinery | 기계류 전체 (집합) | 아니오 (Uncountable) | Heavy machinery is needed. |Device | 특정 목적의 장치 | 예 (Countable) | Electronic devices are allowed. |tools입니다. 하지만 이 모든 도구를 통칭하여 부를 때는 equipment라고 합니다.I have many
(나는 도구가 많다. - 개별 아이템 강조)tools.I have a lot of
(나는 장비가 많다. - 전체적인 세트 강조)equipment.
furniture나 luggage도 equipment와 똑같은 문법 규칙을 따릅니다.furniture(가구 전체) ↔chair,table(개별 가구)luggage/baggage(짐 전체) ↔bag,suitcase(개별 가방)information(정보 전체) ↔a piece of information(정보 한 가지)
equipments라고 말하는 경우도 있나요?equipment를 불가산 명사로 쓰는 것이 몸에 배어 있습니다. 만약 equipments라고 말한다면 그것은 매우 드문 방언이거나 화자의 실수일 가능성이 높습니다. 공인 영어 시험(TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS)이나 비즈니스 이메일에서는 반드시 equipment로 써야 합니다.a piece of equipment 말고 다른 표현은 없나요?a laptop, 카메라라면 a camera라고 부르세요. 굳이 '장비'라는 일반 명사를 써야 한다면 a piece of equipment나 an item of equipment가 표준입니다.gear라는 단어도 장비라는 뜻인데, 이건 셀 수 있나요?gear 역시 equipment와 마찬가지로 불가산 명사입니다. I packed my camping gear.라고 하며, gears라고 하지 않습니다. (단, 기계의 '톱니바퀴'를 의미할 때는 가산 명사가 되어 gears라고 할 수 있지만, '장비'라는 뜻일 때는 항상 불가산입니다.)a lot of는 가산/불가산 모두 쓸 수 있나요?a lot of나 lots of는 가산 명사와 불가산 명사 모두에 쓸 수 있는 '만능 수량 형용사'입니다. 그래서 many와 much 중 무엇을 쓸지 헷갈릴 때는 a lot of equipment라고 표현하는 것이 가장 안전하고 현명한 전략입니다.Grammar Rules for 'Equipment'
| Feature | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Plural Form
|
Never add -s
|
Equipment (NOT equipments)
|
|
Verb Agreement
|
Always singular
|
The equipment is...
|
|
Indefinite Article
|
Never use 'a/an'
|
Some equipment (NOT an equipment)
|
|
Counting
|
Use 'piece(s) of'
|
Two pieces of equipment
|
|
Quantifier (Large)
|
Use 'much' or 'a lot of'
|
Too much equipment
|
|
Quantifier (Small)
|
Use 'little' or 'some'
|
A little equipment
|
Meanings
The set of articles or physical resources serving to equip a person or thing, such as tools, machines, or gear for a specific task.
General Gear
Tools or supplies needed for a specific activity like sports, camping, or work.
“Do you have all the camping equipment in the car?”
“The gym replaced its old weightlifting equipment.”
Industrial/Technical
Heavy machinery or complex electronic systems used in business or manufacturing.
“The factory installed new automated equipment last month.”
“Telecommunications equipment requires regular maintenance.”
Mental/Qualitative
The mental or emotional qualities needed for a particular task (metaphorical).
“She has the intellectual equipment to solve this complex problem.”
“The training provides students with the necessary mental equipment for the exam.”
Reference Table
| 개념 | 셀 수 없는 명사 (정확한 표현) | 셀 수 있는 명사 (정확한 표현) |
|---|---|---|
|
일반적인 장비
|
The `equipment` is ready.
|
The `tools` are ready.
|
|
사무실 용품
|
We bought new `furniture`.
|
We bought three `chairs`.
|
|
여행 가방
|
My `luggage` was lost.
|
My `suitcase` was lost.
|
|
정보
|
She gave me some `advice`.
|
She gave me a `tip`.
|
|
주방 용품
|
All the cooking `equipment` is clean.
|
All the `pots` and `pans` are clean.
|
|
운동 용품
|
The gym's `equipment` is modern.
|
The gym's `dumbbells` are heavy.
|
|
음악 용품
|
The band set up their `equipment`.
|
The band set up their `guitars` and `drums`.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Has the necessary equipment been prepared for the operation? (Work/Preparation)
Is the equipment ready yet? (Work/Preparation)
Is the gear ready? (Work/Preparation)
Got the kit? (Work/Preparation)
'Equipment' 이해하기
주요 규칙
- 복수형 's' 없음 Never say 'equipments'
- 단수 동사 The equipment IS...
세는 방법
- a piece of... a piece of equipment
- 구체적인 명사 사용 a camera, two tools
예시 상황
- 스포츠 football equipment
- 사무실 computer equipment
- 캠핑 camping equipment
셀 수 없는 명사와 셀 수 있는 명사 비교
'equipment'에 's'를 붙여야 할까요?
어떤 작업에 필요한 장비의 일반적인 범주에 대해 이야기하고 있나요?
특정 개별 품목에 대해 이야기하고 있나요?
'Equipment' 사용법
이 단어들을 사용하세요
- • much
- • a lot of
- • some
- • piece of
이 단어들은 피하세요
- • many
- • several
- • a/an
- • equipments
수준별 예문
The school has new equipment.
I need some equipment for football.
Is the equipment in the box?
This equipment is very heavy.
We don't have enough equipment for everyone.
She bought a lot of kitchen equipment.
The gym equipment was very expensive.
Please put the equipment away.
A piece of equipment is missing from the lab.
How much equipment do we need to rent?
The technical equipment requires a specialist to fix it.
All the necessary equipment has been ordered.
The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
Despite having the latest equipment, the team failed the mission.
The cost of new office equipment has skyrocketed this year.
Several pieces of heavy equipment were moved to the site.
The sheer volume of equipment needed for the expedition was daunting.
Modern telecommunications equipment is increasingly compact.
The athlete's mental equipment was just as important as his physical training.
We must ensure that all safety equipment complies with federal regulations.
The obsolescence of existing equipment necessitates a total system overhaul.
One might argue that the human brain is the most complex piece of equipment in existence.
The military's reliance on sophisticated electronic equipment proved to be a vulnerability.
The workshop was cluttered with an eclectic array of specialized equipment.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both are uncountable and refer to similar things.
One is countable, the other is not.
Learners often say 'an equipment' when they mean 'a device'.
자주 하는 실수
I have many equipments.
I have a lot of equipment.
An equipment is here.
A piece of equipment is here.
The equipments are new.
The equipment is new.
I need one equipment.
I need one piece of equipment.
Where are the equipments?
Where is the equipment?
Few equipments were used.
Little equipment was used.
These equipments are broken.
This equipment is broken.
We ordered several equipments.
We ordered several pieces of equipment.
The laboratory equipments are expensive.
The laboratory equipment is expensive.
All equipments must be checked.
All equipment must be checked.
The equipments' costs are rising.
The cost of the equipment is rising.
문장 패턴
I need some ___ equipment for ___.
The ___ equipment is ___.
A piece of ___ equipment was ___.
How much ___ equipment does the ___ require?
Real World Usage
Please wipe down the equipment after use.
The IT department is installing new computer equipment.
Heavy equipment is required to clear the site.
I spent $2,000 on new camera equipment.
The hospital needs more life-saving equipment.
Check your equipment before heading into the woods.
'아이템'이 아닌 '카테고리'로 생각하기
동사 일치가 중요해요
The equipment **is** old,처럼요. 'The equipment ~~are~~ old'는 틀린 표현이에요.
구체적으로 말할 때는 'Piece Of' 사용하기
I need to buy one new piece of equipment.
'Gear'는 더 멋진 사촌
Smart Tips
Stop and delete the 's'. If it feels too small, add the word 'some' before it.
Use 'Items of equipment' to sound more formal and precise than just 'equipment'.
Try to put 'a' in front of it. If 'a equipment' sounds weird, it's probably uncountable.
Use 'kit' in British contexts or 'gear' in American contexts to sound more natural.
발음
Stress
The stress is on the second syllable.
Silent 't'
In fast speech, the final 't' is often a 'stop t', meaning the tongue blocks the air but doesn't release it.
Rising on questions
Is the equipment NEW? ↗
Asking for confirmation
암기하기
기억법
Equipment is like Water: You can't count drops (equipments), only the whole glass (equipment).
시각적 연상
Imagine a giant box labeled 'EQUIPMENT'. No matter how many tools you throw inside, the label on the box never changes to 'EQUIPMENTS'.
Rhyme
One tool, two tools, that's the rule. But for equipment, don't be a fool—keep it singular, keep it cool.
Story
A clumsy worker once tried to order 'ten equipments' for his factory. The supplier was so confused he sent ten empty boxes. The worker learned that if he wanted ten things, he should have asked for 'ten pieces of equipment'.
Word Web
챌린지
Look around your room or office. Identify 5 items that belong to the category of 'equipment' and write one sentence using 'a piece of equipment' and one using 'some equipment'.
문화 노트
In the UK, 'kit' is a very common informal synonym for equipment, especially for sports or military gear.
Americans often use 'gear' as the go-to informal word for equipment related to hobbies like camping or photography.
In technical fields (IT, Engineering), using 'equipments' is seen as a sign of low English proficiency and can affect professional credibility.
Derived from the Old French word 'esquiper', meaning 'to fit out a ship'.
대화 시작하기
What kind of equipment do you use for your favorite hobby?
If you could buy one new piece of equipment for your home, what would it be?
How has office equipment changed in the last 20 years?
Discuss the importance of protective equipment in dangerous jobs.
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
The gym just got a lot of new ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
All the camping equipments are in the garage.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesWhich of these is grammatically correct?
We need to buy three new ___ of equipment.
Find and fix the mistake:
How many equipments do you need for the project?
Select the uncountable noun from the list.
The tools are very old.
You can say 'an equipment' if you are only talking about one thing.
A: Did the new gear arrive? B: Yes, all the ___ is here.
Match the following:
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesHow ___ equipment do you think we'll need?
The laboratory equipment need to be cleaned.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Necesitamos un nuevo equipo de audio.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the nouns with how you would count them:
This is a very useful ___ of equipment.
The company invested in many new office equipments.
Choose the correct question:
The sound equipment for the concert ___ arriving now.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Translate into English: 'Compraron dos equipos nuevos para la oficina.'
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
In 99.9% of cases, no. It is considered a grammatical error in modern English. Some very old technical or legal documents might use it, but you should avoid it entirely.
Grammatically, yes. Even if you are talking about a thousand computers, you say 'The equipment is...'.
You can say 'a piece of equipment' or simply name the tool, like 'a hammer' or 'a laptop'.
'Gear' is more informal and often used for sports or hobbies. Both are uncountable.
Usually, those websites are written by non-native speakers or translated poorly. It is a very common mistake worldwide.
Yes! 'Some equipment' is perfect for an unspecified amount.
They are similar, but 'machinery' specifically refers to machines. 'Equipment' can include clothing, tools, and non-mechanical items.
If you use 'pieces', the verb becomes plural: 'Two pieces of equipment ARE missing.'
Scaffolded Practice
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4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Equipo / Equipamiento
Spanish allows plural forms for gear; English does not.
Équipement
French pluralizes the noun; English keeps it strictly singular.
Ausrüstung / Geräte
German has a direct singular equivalent but common synonyms are plural.
備品 (Bihin) / 装備 (Sōbi)
Japanese doesn't use plural markers at all, avoiding the 's' mistake.
معدات (Mu'iddat)
The Arabic base word is plural; the English one is singular.
设备 (Shèbèi)
Mistakes are caused by over-applying English rules, not L1 transfer.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
관련 동영상
Related Grammar Rules
방언 대 언어: 차이점은 무엇인가요?
### Overview 우리가 영어를 배울 때 흔히 마주치는 질문 중 하나가 바로 "이건 사투리인가요, 아니면 다른 언어인가요?"라는...
Nowadays vs. Now-a-days: 차이점은 무엇인가요?
### Overview 언어는 살아있는 생명체와 같아서 시간이 흐르면서 그 형태와 쓰임새가 끊임없이 변하곤 합니다. 오늘 우리가 함...
Let them vs. Let they: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어 학습을 하다 보면 `let them`과 `let they` 중 어떤 것이 맞는지 헷갈릴 때가 있습니다. 결론부터 말씀드리...
Quite vs. Quiet: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어 학습의 여정에서 우리 한국인 학습자들을 가장 당혹스럽게 만드는 것 중 하나는 바로 '비슷하게 생겼지만 완...
Said vs. Told: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어를 배우는 한국인 학습자들에게 `say`와 `tell`은 마치 '숙명적인 라이벌'과 같습니다. 우리말로는 둘 다 단...