assignment countable and uncountable nouns

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Nouns: countable and uncountable

Countable nouns.

Some nouns refer to things which, in English, are treated as separate items which can be counted. These are called countable nouns. Here are some examples:

a car , three cars

my cousin , my two cousins

a book , a box full of books

a city , several big cities

Singular and plural

Countable nouns can be singular or plural. They can be used with a/an and with numbers and many other determiners (e.g. these, a few ):

She’s got two sisters and a younger brother .

Most people buy things like cameras and MP3-players online these days .

These shoes look old now.

I’ll take a few magazines with me for the flight .

Determiners ( the, my , some , this )

Singular and plural nouns

Uncountable nouns

In English grammar, some things are seen as a whole or mass. These are called uncountable nouns, because they cannot be separated or counted.

Some examples of uncountable nouns are:

Ideas and experiences: advice, information, progress, news, luck, fun, work

Materials and substances: water, rice, cement, gold, milk

Weather words: weather, thunder, lightning, rain, snow

Names for groups or collections of things: furniture, equipment, rubbish, luggage

Other common uncountable nouns include: accommodation, baggage, homework, knowledge, money, permission, research, traffic, travel .

These nouns are not used with a/an or numbers and are not used in the plural.

We’re going to get new furniture for the living room.

Not: We’re going to get a new furniture for the living room . or We’re going to get new furnitures for the living room .

We had terrible weather last week.

Not: We had a terrible weather last week .

We need rice next time we go shopping.

Some nouns always have plural form but they are uncountable because we cannot use numbers with them.

I bought two pairs of trousers .

Not: I bought two trousers .

Other nouns of this type are: shorts, pants, pyjamas, glasses (for the eyes), binoculars, scissors .

Some nouns which are uncountable in English are countable in other languages (e.g. accommodation, advice, furniture, information ):

They can give you some information about accommodation at the tourist office.

Not: They can give you some informations about accommodations at the tourist office .

Can you give me some advice about buying a second-hand car?

Not: Can you give me some advices about buying a second-hand car?

A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a noun is countable or uncountable.

Quantity expressions ( a bit/piece )

To refer to one or more quantities of an uncountable noun , expressions such as a bit of, a piece of , an item of or words for containers and measures must be used:

He bought a very expensive piece of furniture for his new apartment.

Maggie always has some exciting bits of news when she comes to see us.

I think we’ll need five bags of cement for the patio.

There’s a litre of milk in the fridge for you. And I bought you a bar of chocolate .

Determiners ( my, some, the )

Uncountable nouns can be used with certain determiners (e.g. my, her , some, any , no , the, this, that ) and expressions of quantity (e.g. a lot of, (a) little ):

They gave me some information about courses and scholarships and things.

Have you heard the news ? Fran’s getting engaged.

She’s been studying hard and has made a lot of progress .

There’s no work to do here, so you can go home if you like.

This milk ’s a bit old, I’m afraid.

Countable phrases for uncountable nouns

We can sometimes use countable noun phrases to talk about an individual example of the thing an uncountable noun refers to.

Finding a place to live is difficult if you’re a student and you’ve got no money. (or Finding accommodation … )

Not: Finding an accommodation …

She brought two big suitcases and a rucksack with her.

Not: She brought two big luggages …

I read a poem once about someone riding a horse at night.

Not: I read a poetry …

We went on a trip to the Amazon when we were in Brazil.

Not: We went on a travel …

Countable and uncountable nouns with different meanings

Some nouns can be used either countably or uncountably, but with different meanings.

Uncountable nouns used countably

Measures and examples.

Sometimes uncountable nouns are used countably, to mean ‘a measure of something’ or ‘a type or example of something’:

Can I have two teas and one coffee , please? (two cups of tea and one cup of coffee …?)

A: How many sugars do you want in your tea? (How many spoonfuls/lumps of sugar?) B: Just one, please .

To some degree we tend to eat the foods that we ate as children. (i.e. types of food)

Abstract nouns

Some abstract nouns can be used uncountably or countably. The uncountable use has a more general meaning. The countable use has a more particular meaning.

Nouns of this type include: education, experience, hatred, help, knowledge, life, love, sleep, time, understanding .

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assignment countable and uncountable nouns

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All you need to know about countable and uncountable nouns

What’s the difference between countable and uncountable nouns , and what grammar rules do you need to know to use them correctly?

Also known as count and noncount nouns , this vocabulary point can trip you up when you’re learning English as a second language. It’s especially tricky because:

There are no concrete rules for classifying nouns as countable or uncountable (although there are some general guidelines that we will explain later).
Certain nouns that are countable in other languages may be uncountable in English, so you’ll have to un-learn what you know from your native language and learn a different set of rules for English words.

So, let’s take a detailed look at countable vs uncountable nouns, with plenty of examples showing how to use them with the correct articles, quantifiers, and other determiners.

a table spread with countable and uncountable nouns foods

The basics of countable and uncountable nouns

What is a countable noun.

A countable noun (also called a count noun) is a noun naming something that can be counted using standard numbers. Countable nouns usually have singular and plural forms.

Examples of countable nouns include chair, table, rabbit, page, part, and lemon .

So, we can have one chair, five tables, ten rabbits, twenty-three lemons, and three hundred pages .

You are probably already familiar with this pattern of counting things in English.

What is an uncountable noun?

An uncountable noun (also called a mass noun or a non-count noun) is a noun naming something that cannot be counted in English using standard numbers. These nouns cannot be made plural.

Examples of uncountable nouns include rice, money, advice, news, and happiness .

We cannot have one rice, five monies, two advices, or a happiness .

Instead, we must use different determiners to quantify these particular things: a cup of rice , a bag of money , and a piece of advice .

Now you know these basics, it’s time to take a deeper look at what this means in practice. You need to know whether you’re dealing with a countable or uncountable noun so you can select the correct determiners and plural forms in your writing and speech.

Rules for using countable nouns

We’ll begin by going over the rules for using countable nouns, since these are most straightforward.

Countable nouns:

Can be separated into whole, individual, countable units
Broadly refer to people, places, and things
Have a singular and a plural form (with a few exceptions like sheep, deer, fish) – see this site for more about how to form plurals
May take indefinite articles (a/an) as well as the definite article (the)
May take other determiners such as this/that/these/those, some/any/few/many/several, my/your/his/her/our/their
To form a question about a countable noun, we say ‘How many…’

Countable noun example sentences

Most of the nouns we use in English are countable. Here are some example sentences showing correct usage:

I have two cats as pets .
She bought a few books from the store .
We went to the zoo and saw several giraffes .
The school has six classrooms for different subjects .
He has a collection of ten stamps .
My father owns a few bikes .
The store has a variety of balloons in different colors.
He has five siblings : three brothers and two sisters .
There are many oranges in the fruit basket .
The bakery doesn’t have any bread left.
I would like to buy that handbag .
How many meals should I order at the restaurant ?

Read about the difference between few vs a few here.

Rules for using uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are used less often in English, and they:

Are abstract ideas, qualities, or masses that can’t be separated and counted individually
Do not have a plural form and are treated as singular nouns (and therefore take the singular form of the verb)
May take the definite article (the) but do not take the indefinite articles (a/an)
May take other determiners such as much/little/less/any/some and my/your/his/her/our/their
Can be quantified with phrases that contain countable nouns (e.g. a bag of rice)
To form a question about an uncountable noun, we say ‘How much…’

See also: What’s the difference between less and fewer?

Uncountable noun examples

We can group uncountable nouns into some broad categories. Although we cannot list them all here, the following groups are a general guide that may make it easier for you to identify others in the future:

This may seem like a long list of uncountable nouns; however, there are hundreds more.

Quantifying an uncountable noun

Although we can’t quantify uncountable nouns using numbers, we can add a countable unit of measurement to refer to one or more quantities of these things. Below are some of the most common quantifiers we can use to refer to things that are uncountable.

A piece of… advice, art, cheese, equipment, evidence, furniture, homework, information, luck, luggage, music, news, paper, poetry, publicity, rubbish, software
A bottle of… beer, water, wine, sauce, salad dressing
A carton of… juice, milk, cream
A packet of… ketchup, rice, gum
A plate/bowl of… cereal, pasta, rice
A drop of… blood, oil, rain, water
A game of… badminton, chess, football, soccer, tennis
A ray of… hope, light, sun
A grain of… sand, rice, sugar, dignity
A cube of… ice, sugar
A blob of… toothpaste, mayonnaise, glue
A pane of glass
A round of applause
A bar of soap
A mode of transport
A bolt of lightning
A blade of grass
A rasher of bacon
A sheet of paper

Determiners for count and noncount nouns

You’ll have seen from the examples above that certain determiners can only be used for one type of noun, whereas others can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Here’s a handy reference table for these, although this is not an exhaustive list.

Most other adjectives can modify both countable and uncountable nouns.

See also: What’s the difference between advice vs advise?

Some nouns can be countable and uncountable

You might often hear people say something like “I take two sugars in my tea”. What they really mean is “two teaspoons of sugar”, but the noun “sugar” has taken on that meaning and become countable.

In this way, uncountable nouns can sometimes be used as countable when referring to a complete unit or measurement of something, normally in relation to food and beverages. Here are some more examples:

I’ll have three coffees , please. (three cups of coffee)
I’ve had too many beers tonight! (glasses/cans/bottles of beer)
Could I get two more ketchups ? (two sachets of ketchup)

Uncountable nouns may also be used as countable when they refer to a specific type, example, or category of something . For example:

You should have at least five different cheeses on your cheese board.
The best wines in the world are produced in France.
We used three woods to make this beautiful box.
They encountered a lot of difficulties while completing the project.
These juices are all freshly squeezed.

These plural countable nouns are exceptions to the rule given earlier.

Nouns with different countable and uncountable meanings

To make things even more confusing, certain nouns in English have two or more meanings. When a noun refers to different things, one countable and one uncountable, you must remember which is which in order to form a correct sentence. Here are some common examples of words with dual meanings:

As you can see, English can be hard to learn . Fortunately, you can always check in a dictionary to see whether a noun is countable or uncountable. Some dictionaries, such as Oxford Dictionaries , specify this in the definition.

We hope this information about countable vs uncountable nouns has been helpful. It can be quite a tricky English grammar topic to get right because, even once you have mastered the rules of count and noncount nouns, there is still no hard-and-fast way to know which words are which, unless you look them up.

Leave a comment below if you have any more questions about this topic or want to check your understanding of a particular point we’ve mentioned.

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Countable Nouns

What are countable nouns.

Table of Contents

Examples of Countable Nouns

Examples of non-countable nouns, more about countable and non-countable nouns, some nouns can be countable and non-countable, some interesting countable nouns, why countable nouns are important.

There are three faithful friends : an old wife , an old dog , and ready money. (Founding Father Benjamin Franklin)
You can learn many things from children – how much patience you have, for instance. (Writer Franklin Jones)
Do we have much coffee left? I need a coffee in the morning.
Apparently, Israel is famous for its baby cheeses .
Most works of art, like most wines , ought to be consumed in the district of their fabrication. (French philosopher Simone Weil)

(Issue 1) Use fewer with plurals and less with non-countable nouns.

(Issue 2) Be careful with "number of," "amount of," and "quantity of."

(Issue 3) If you precede your noun with a term like "a lot of" or "a pound of," check you've aligned your verb.

Use "fewer" with plural nouns. Use "less" with singular nouns. Use "less" with numbers when they quantify dates or measurements.
Use "number of" with plural nouns. Use "amount of" with singular nouns. Use "quantity of" with either, especially if your concept is measurable and you want to allude to accuracy in counting.
When you use an expression in the format "A of B," remember that A governs the verb.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns (List, Examples & Exercise)

Countable and uncountable nouns.

The nouns are the names of things, people, or places. The nouns have different classifications. Countable and uncountable nouns are types of nouns. These can be counted or not. Let’s discuss their usage with the help of examples and exercise.

Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are the things that we can count. For example, one book, three chairs, one room, etc. Countable nouns can be singular or plural such as chair (singular), chairs (plural).

Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are the things that we cannot count. For example, sand, advice and yoga etc. These words are in singular form.

Some words are used as both countable and uncountable nouns like room, hair, weight etc.

There is no room for luggage. (here room means space) Uncountable Noun
There are five rooms in this building. Countable Noun

Some words are used with the Countable Nouns only such as few, a few, many

Some words are used with Uncountable Nouns only such as little, a little, much

10 Examples of Countable Nouns

There are twenty books on the bookshelf.
I drank a glass of fresh juice.
There are many animals in this zoo.
The monkeys were eating bananas.
There was no magazine on the table.
I took an apple and some grapes in the morning.
There are 9057 public libraries in the United States.
I have a few questions for you to ask.
Jonathan attended a webinar last night.
Only ten students passed the intelligence test.

20 Examples of Uncountable Nouns

I could not see anything in the darkness.
Success is a combination of hard work and determination.
Do you like sandwiches with cheese topping?
There is no return policy in this market.
Tom is interested in research work.
She spent many hours sitting on the beach sand.
The soil of this land is fertile.
Sound sleep is essential for good health.
There is no transportation between these two cities?
Do you need lots of energy to complete the assignment?
I do not have time to go there.
Positive behavior can turn an enemy into a friend.
There was plenty of cheese on the pizza.
The kids were having a lot of fun at the zoo.
Jacob has been learning Spanish for two weeks.
Cotton is widely used to make textile products.
This building is a great symbol of architecture.
Is there any recreation resort in this town?
Tom controlled his anger and responded politely.
She went to the park for fun.

Read also: 50 Sentences with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

List of Uncountable Nouns (a-z)

Accommodation
Engineering
Electricity
Environment
Information
Intelligence
Mathematics
Punctuation
Temperature
Unemployment

You can find here list of uncountable nouns with meaning and sentences.

Exercise / Worksheet

Read the bold words in the given sentences and point out whether it is a countable noun or uncountable noun.

There were a lot of coins in the box. ( __________ )
I need your help to complete this project. ( __________ )
My advice fell flat on him. ( __________ )
Julia ordered two cups of coffee. ( __________ )
There are 20 bananas in the basket. ( __________ )
Mr. Johnson specializes in mathematics. ( __________ )
I prefer rugby over soccer. ( __________ )
There are plenty of houses in this zone. ( __________ )
The cold wind and snow stopped my jouney. ( __________ )
Tom is studying history . ( __________ )
Uncountable

Types of Noun with Examples
Material Nouns
Abstract Nouns
Common Nouns
Proper Nouns

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Countable and uncountable nouns masterclass

This lesson helps us understand what countable and uncountable nouns are, how to identify them, and learn what the difference between countable and uncountable nouns are.

What are countable nouns in English?

Countable nouns are words that refer to people, things, places, or other noun names that we can count. Though most countable nouns have a physical existence, they don’t have to have a physical nature to be able to fall into this category. They can be concrete or abstract in quality.

Note that we can use numbers of quantifiers before countable nouns only because they are countable, meaning they can be in both singular and plural forms.

NOTE : Some countable nouns are concrete in nature, meaning they have a physical existence, and some countable nouns are abstract/nonphysical in nature.

Countable nouns that are concrete in nature

Countable nouns that are abstract in nature.

An abstract noun is a word that refers to something that does not have a physical existence. It refers to an idea, concept, subject, emotion, state, etc. Note that some abstract nouns are countable and some are not. Let’s study some examples of countable and uncountable abstract nouns.

Some abstract nouns (shown in the last column) are uncountable in nature and considered singular. They simply don’t have a plural form.

Examples (countable):

You were given many opportunities to prove your caliber .
She is taking advantage of you.
I had a bad dream last night.
What are your thoughts on this new system, Ashish?
Everyone likes compliments .
Your losses never define you. It’s how you act in them.

Examples (uncountable):

Your determination and courage help you in winning any battle.
What most people crave in life is love .
His growth has been exceptional.
Ashish said, “I don’t feel pain .”
He needs to learn how to control his anger .
Your ego can do worse for you than you can imagine.
All the guys on the team have shown immense maturity in their actions.

What are uncountable nouns in English?

Uncountable nouns are words that refer to something that can’t be counted. These are concepts, emotions, subjects, ideas, qualities, materials, etc. Since we can’t count these nouns, they don’t have a plural form and are considered singular.

Democracy gives everyone the right and liberty to voice their opinions.
Ashish doesn’t like water in his tea .
I find joy and happiness in small things.
Some of these guys are going to prison for doing corruption .
Why is there water on the floor?
I appreciate your honesty .
Meditation can change your life.
She was awarded for her loyalty .
You don’t seem to have a lot of passion about it.
The man has so much wisdom to pass on.
Control your mind to control the outcome of your life .

Countable and uncountable nouns (physical and nonphysical)

The infographic below shows some countable and uncountable nouns that are in physical and nonphysical (abstract) forms.

More countable and uncountable nouns (physical and nonphysical)

Countable nouns (physical)

Countable nouns (nonphysical/abstract)

Uncountable nouns (physical)

Uncountable nouns (nonphysical/abstract)

entertainment
brotherhood

Practice set!

Choose if the underlined words are countable or uncountable nouns in the following sentences:

Don’t act like my father !
The government has only made false promises and done corruption .
There is no problem in the world that can’t be solved with love .
Alan is in need of some blood .
The growth of this company has been exceptional.
Everyone needs a little admiration .
All of the boxes got damaged in the accident .
You are not a stranger to me.
I left the job for my dignity .
The city has so much to offer.

How can I teach countable and uncountable nouns?

The first thing to do while trying to find out whether a noun is countable or uncountable is to see if refers to an object (something physical or nonphysical). Once that is identified, see if you can count it.

What is an example of a countable and uncountable noun in a sentence?

“My parents have filled this place with love and respect.” There are 4 nouns in the sentence, two countable and two uncountable. Countable nouns: parents (plural), place (singular) Uncountable nouns: love , respect

Is milk countable or uncountable?

Milk is an uncountable noun. It is a name of a liquid, which we can’t count. Mass nouns can’t be counted; they can be weighed.

Is money an uncountable noun?

Money is an uncountable noun. We can’t count money; it is a general idea. It does not have a physical existence. What we can count are coins and notes.

Why is bread uncountable?

The noun ‘bread’ refers to a material a lot of objects (like pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, pancakes, etc.) are made of. We can’t count the material that is bread. We, though, can count objects made from it, like slices of bread, burgers, chapatis, pizzas, etc.

Is oil a countable noun?

No, oil is an uncountable noun. We can’t count oil as it is a material in a liquid form. We can weigh it or count the bottles, barrels, cans, glasses, and bowls it can be put in.

Is sugar a countable noun?

Sugar is a mass noun. It is a material that is used in many objects.

What are countable and uncountable nouns in questions?

Here are some examples of countable and uncountable nouns in questions: 1. Are you interested in a job ? (countable) 2. When is he giving my laptop back? (countable) 3. Should the company pay for your traveling expenses ? (countable) 4. Do you want some money ? (uncountable) 5. Why do children love drinking milk ? (uncountable) 6. Why do I lack discipline ? (uncountable)

Now, we know what countable and uncountable nouns are and everything about them. Feel free to share your question, doubt, or feedback in the comment section, and also, share the post with the people that need it.

For one-on-one classes, contact me at [email protected] .

Ashish Sharma

Ashish found his first love—the English language—a few years back. Since then, he has been immersed in the language, breaking down the language and teaching it to passionate English learners. He has a flair for listening to the English language (podcasts, sitcoms, stories), observing the nuances, and making it easy for English learners. He is known for breaking down complex English topics and making them easy to be understood.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns - Definitions and Examples

Grammar Lessons >
Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Overview of Countable and Uncountable Nouns:

What is a countable noun.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns - Video Lesson

What Is an Uncountable Noun?

Uncountable nouns – chart, quantity expressions - (a piece of/ a bit of), quantifiers for countable and uncountable nouns, articles with countable and uncountable nouns, tricky nouns, subject-verb agreement, warning about irregular countable/uncountable nouns, partitive expressions: giving a count to the uncountable, is that fewer or less.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns - Quiz

A countable noun refers to an item that can be counted. Countable nouns can be singular or plural, and they are mostly used with one of the articles: a, an, or the, or quantifiers such as a few and ">many .

a few apples

An uncountable noun is one that can't be counted. Nine times out of ten, uncountable nouns are used in singular forms, which means they either stand alone or are used with quantifiers like some, a little, and so on.

information

a little weight

As you can see, each countable noun has a count with it like three, five, and so on. Significantly, none of the uncountable nouns has it.

Quick tip: An easy way to distinguish between the countable and uncountable is we mostly use "how many" with the former, while we stick to "how much" with the latter.

How many poems?

How much sugar?

List of uncountable nouns with examples. Remember there's more to the list than what is here.

Click on the Circles to Spot the Six Uncountable Nouns

If you wish to refer to one or more quantities of an uncountable noun, you must use expressions like "a piece of" and "a bit of".

That was an interesting piece of information .

A little bit of advice would help Mark steer clear of the crisis.

several students, much enthusiasm, little sugar, few teachers, some cities, some salt

Singular countable nouns are always accompanied by one of the indefinite articles: a, or an.

When a countable noun is mentioned for a second time, we use the definite article "the" with it.

I saw a lion at the zoo; the lion was majestic.

Uncountable nouns generally don't take articles.

I don't have sugar in my tea.

While referring to specific uncountable nouns, "the" is used.

I was impressed with the beauty of the flower.

Some nouns are both countable and uncountable. The noun "fruit" is generally uncountable.

Fruit is ideal for health.

But it can be a countable noun while referring to different kinds of fruit.

The store sells a great variety of exported fruits .

While referring to a single item, we use an indefinite article for uncountable nouns.

This is a very useful piece of information .

While countable nouns can take both singular and plural verbs, uncountable nouns take only singular verbs.

The park was exciting. All parks are exciting.

The furniture is great.

Some nouns cane be both countable and uncountable. Based on contextual clues, we decide whether the noun is used as countable or uncountable.

There are three rooms in this hotel. (The noun “room” is countable, and it means a bedroom .)

There is room to accommodate 20 people. (The noun “room” is uncountable, and it means space .)

To count or quantify an uncountable noun, we use a unit of measurement — a measure word. For example, we cannot usually say "two breads", because "bread" is uncountable. So, if we want to specify a quantity of bread, we use a measure word such as "loaf" or "slice". Take, for example, "two loaves of bread" or "two slices of bread". They are called partitive structures or partitive expressions.

The word "partitive" indicates that only "part" of a whole is being referred to. The partitive structure using a measure word is common with uncountable nouns, but it can also be used with countable nouns.

a pane of glass

two boxes of matches

a can of worms

We often hear people using "less" with countable nouns. They say and write for example "There are less cars outside the school gates than usual" with such confidence and poise that we are tempted to think the sentence is grammatically correct. The rule, though, is that with countable nouns, we use only "fewer" and therefore, this practice should not be encouraged especially when it comes to formal writing or speaking.

Martin now has fewer friends than he used to. (" Fewer " is used with " friends " which is a countable noun.)

This website has less information than the other. (" Less " is used with " information " which is an uncountable noun.)

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns in English

Countable nouns, uncountable nouns, counting uncountable nouns, countable and uncountable nouns, singular/plural uncountable nouns.

Lingolia Plus English

Introduction

Nouns in English grammar can be either countable or uncountable . Countable nouns refer to individual things and we can use them in the singular or plural (e.g. coin/coins ). Most nouns in the English language are countable. Uncountable nouns, also known as mass nouns , refer to things we consider a whole or mass and cannot be counted (e.g. money ). Many abstract nouns (e.g. happiness ) are uncountable in English.

Learn the rules for countable and uncountable nouns in English grammar with Lingolia’s online grammar explanations and interactive exercises.

Mike and his sister Sandra are shopping. They need milk , apples , and bread .

Sandra wants to make a cake tomorrow. She needs 6 eggs , 400 grams of flour, a bar of chocolate and some strawberries .

At the checkout, Mike doesn’t have any money , just a few coins in his pocket – oops!

Most English nouns are countable nouns . This means they can be used in both the singular and the plural. Example: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are healthy.
We can put numbers and indefinite articles in front of countable nouns. Example: one banknote, two banknote s one coin, two coin s a cake a sister
We cannot use singular countable nouns without articles or possessive pronouns (a/the/your). Example: I saw your sister yesterday. ( not: I saw sister yesterday. )Can you give me a hand? ( not: Can you give me hand? ) However, we can use plural countable nouns alone. Example: Did you buy apples ? Yes, but I forgot to buy stawberries .
We can use some/any /(a) few / many with plural countable nouns. Example: We need some apples. I don’t have any eggs. There are a few strawberries in the fridge. Mike dosen’t have many coins.
Some collections of countable nouns have a corresponding uncountable noun which describes them as a whole/mass. Example: suitcases, bags, trunks = baggage tables, chairs, couches = furniture peaches, bananas, apples = fruit ( but: one vegetable, two vegetables) socks, dresses, t-shirts = clothes
Some English nouns are uncountable nouns. This means they only have one form. Most uncountable nouns are singular, but some are plural see below singular/plural uncountable nouns. Example: I drink milk everday. Milk is healthy. ( not: Milks are healthy. ) My trousers are too big. (not: My trouser is too big. )
We cannot usually put numbers in front of uncountable nouns. Example: money ( not : one money/two moneys ) milk ( not: one milk / two milks ) bread ( not: one bread/ two breads )
We can use many uncountable nouns without an article or possessive pronoun. Example: We need flour and chocolate to make a cake. ( not: … a flour and a chocolate… ) Can you buy milk on the way home? ( not: can you buy a milk… )
We use some/any/ little / much with uncountable nouns. Example: We can buy some bread at the bakery. We don’t have any milk. There’s a little flour in the pantry. Mike doesn’t have much money.
Materials, liquids, and collections are often uncountable nouns. Example: materials – paper, wood, gold, glass etc. liquids – water, milk, oil, coffee, etc. collections – furniture, luggage, traffic etc.

Although we can’t count uncountable nouns themselves, we can use different units, such as a bottle/grain/ glass/loaf/ piece/kilo/gram of, to count them. Here, we are counting the units rather than the actual uncountable nouns.

Some nouns have both a countable and an uncountable form. The countable form usually refers to something more specific and the uncountable form to something more general.

Some uncountable nouns are used in plural and some are used in singular.

Singular uncountable nouns are used with verbs in the third person singular. Here is a list of common singular uncountable nouns: advice, bread, chewing gum, equipment, fun, furniture, grass, information, knowledge, luck, luggage, money, milk, news, pasta, poetry, progress, rain, research, rice, snow, traffic, travel, weather, work, … Example: money – Money makes the world go around. ( not: Money make the world go around. ) milk – The milk has gone sour. ( not: The milk have gone sour. ) news – The news was wonderful. ( not: The news were wonderful. )
Plural uncountables are used with verbs in the plural. Here is a list of common plural uncountable nouns: clothes, remains, thanks, groceries, glasses, jeans, scissors, trousers/pants Example: clothes – His clothes are too big. ( not: His clothes is too big. ) groceries – The groceries were expensive.. ( not: The groceries was expensive. )

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A1-A2 grammar

Countable and uncountable nouns

It’s the day of Oliver and Alfie’s cooking competition. Daisy is filming the chefs in action, and Mum is on her way home.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of countable and uncountable nouns. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, countable and uncountable nouns correctly.

Daisy: So, our first chef is Alfie. Alfie, let’s see your ingredients. Alfie: OK, well, I’ve got a lemon, an apple and some garlic, some butter and some chicken breasts ... livers! Ah, chicken livers! Daisy: Mmm ... chicken livers ... an unusual choice. Are you feeling confident? Alfie: Well, sort of. It’s a challenge! Daisy: OK ... now to Oliver. Hi, Oliver. Oliver: Hello. Daisy: What ingredients have you got, Oliver? Oliver: OK, well I’ve got a steak, some red chilli peppers, some potatoes, cream, onions and some giant prawns. Daisy: Wow – an interesting selection. How do you feel about the competition? Oliver: I’m pretty confident. I mean ... steak and prawns, or chicken livers ... I know which I prefer! Daisy: OK, well, we’ll be back later.

Mum: Hi, love. Daisy: Hi, Mum. Where are you? Mum: At the airport. What’s going on there? Daisy: Well, right now Alfie and Ollie are having their Master Chef cooking competition. Daisy: Only 53 minutes left! Mum: OK, love, see you soon. Daisy: Bye, Mum – if you’re lucky, you’ll arrive home in time to taste the dishes! Mum: Hmm ... shall I bring some fish and chips just in case?

Daisy: Let’s taste the pâté first, Mum. Mum: OK, it smells and looks delicious! Oliver: OK, OK. Try it first, judges. It’s all in the taste. Daisy and Mum: Oooooh, that’s amazing! Mum: Mmmm! I could eat it all! Alfie: Wow, thanks Sophie! Oliver: OK, leave some space for my dish! Daisy: Mmmm ... it’s tasty ... whoa! How many chili peppers? Mum: Wow, it’s good, Oliver! It’s a taste of Thailand! It’s going to be a difficult decision. Mum and Daisy: This year’s Master Chef champion is ...

Some nouns in English are countable – we can use them in singular and plural forms. Some are uncountable – they only have one form.

We often use a/an with singular countable nouns and some with plurals. We can also use some with uncountable nouns.

What are examples of countable nouns?

Here are a few:

I've got a steak, some red chilli peppers, some potatoes… OK, well, I've got a lemon, an apple … and some chicken breasts. I'd like a blue pen, please.

OK, so for things you can count, like one pen, two pens … Why did you say a pen , not one pen ?

We often use a/an before singular countable nouns. Before words that start with a vowel sound, we use an , and before words that start with a consonant sound, we use a .

So is one wrong? As in Would you like one drink?

It sounds as if you're saying one (not two). If you're offering someone a drink, you'd say Would you like a drink?

But someone who works in a café might say, So that's one coffee and two lemonades.

So it's usually a or an for singular countable nouns and a number or some for plurals. How many is some ?

It can be any number more than one.

I got some new jeans at the weekend. (a pair of new jeans) Some teachers left at the end of the year. (we don't know how many)

Is some or a number always used with plurals?

No, have a look at these examples

I'm frightened of dogs . (dogs in general) Strawberries have a lot of vitamin C. (strawberries in general)

What about uncountable nouns?

These are nouns that don't have a plural form.

I've got some garlic and some butter . I'm looking for i nformation about early rock and roll. I haven't got enough paper . You have to get permission from the head teacher. Do you want some cake ?

So, I can use some with uncountables too?

Yes, we use some with both countables and uncountables.

How do I know whether a noun is countable or uncountable?

A dictionary will tell you. Usually dictionaries use symbols [C] for countable and [U] for uncountable.

Just a minute. You said cake was uncountable. What about I made a cake this morning ?

Yes that's correct, but there's a difference in meaning.

I made a cake this morning. (a whole cake – countable) Do you want some cake ? (a piece of cake – uncountable) A box of chocolates . (individual chocolates – countable) I'd like some chocolate too. ( a piece or pieces of chocolate from a bar of chocolate – uncountable)

I thought coffee and lemonade were uncountable too.

Yes, they are usually.

I love coffee with hot milk. (uncountable) Can you get some coffee ? (uncountable) I'll have a coffee , please. (a cup of coffee, countable)

Wow, so it's more complicated than I thought.

No, they're not really very difficult.

OK, they're easy. It's a piece of cake !

Yes, simple! A piece of cake !

Check your grammar: picture matching - countable and uncountable nouns

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The expression a piece of cake means something is really easy. Is speaking English a piece of cake for you?

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A1-A2 grammar

Nouns: countable and uncountable

Do you know how to use a , some , any , much and many ? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how to use countable and uncountable nouns in a sentence.

I'm making a cup of tea. There's some money on the table. Have we got any bread? How many chairs do we need? How much milk have we got?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Countable and uncountable nouns 1: Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Nouns can be countable or uncountable. Countable nouns can be counted, e.g. an apple , two apples , three apples , etc. Uncountable nouns cannot be counted, e.g. air , rice , water , etc. When you learn a new noun, you should check if it is countable or uncountable and note how it is used in a sentence.

Countable nouns

For positive sentences we can use a / an for singular nouns or some for plurals.

There's a man at the door. I have some friends in New York.

For negatives we can use a / an for singular nouns or any for plurals.

I don't have a dog. There aren't any seats.

Uncountable nouns

Here are some examples of uncountable nouns:

We use some with uncountable nouns in positive sentences and any with negatives.

There's some milk in the fridge. There isn't any coffee.

In questions we use a / an , any or how many with countable nouns.

Is there an email address to write to? Are there any chairs? How many chairs are there?

And we use any or how much with uncountable nouns.

Is there any sugar? How much orange juice is there?

But when we are offering something or asking for something, we normally use some .

Do you want some chocolate? Can we have some more chairs, please?

We also use some in a question when we think the answer will be 'yes'.

Have you got some new glasses?

Other expressions of quantity

A lot of (or lots of ) can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

There are lots of apples on the trees. There is a lot of snow on the road .

Notice that we don't usually use many or much in positive sentences. We use a lot of instead.

They have a lot of money.

However, in negative sentences we use not many with countable nouns and not much with uncountable nouns.

There are a lot of carrots but there are n't many potatoes. There's lots of juice but there is n't much water.

Go to Countable and uncountable nouns 2 to learn more.

Try this exercise to test your grammar again.

Countable and uncountable nouns 1: Grammar test 2

Language level

Hello, I want to ask a question.Can I answer 'any' in Grammar Test 2 No.7. Why is the answer 'any shirt'?

Hello Aung Qui,

'any shirt' is not correct in that sentence. When there's a negative meaning, we use 'a' with singular nouns (like 'shirt') and 'any' with plural nouns and countable nouns in a sentence like this.

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hi Is there any difference between this grammar in American English ?

Hello reza-3x,

I can't think of any differences, but if you had something specific in mind, please let us know.

After I finished the lessons, I completely understood how prepositions come with a noun. This lesson helps me a lot. Thank the authority.

Hello! I also have some question about using 'uncountable and countable' words. Regarding the word 'waste' as a noun, it can be used both 'waste' and 'wastes' for the meaning as unwanted material or substance(e.g.nuclear waste, plastic waste). When you say 'A lot of plastic waste goes into the ocean.', can you also say 'Lots of plastic wastes go into the ocean.' or 'A lot of platic wastes go into the ocean.'? I am quite confused what makes a real difference between plastic 'waste' and plastic 'wastes'.

Thank you for your advice!

Hello lily7983,

Waste is usually an uncountable noun and we modify it with quantifiers that go with uncountable nouns: a lot of, a great deal of, some, a little etc.

Wastes (plural) is unusual, but it does exist to describe types of waste. The Cambridge Dictionary gives this example: Oil spills are common, as is the dumping of toxic industrial wastes .

I would not say 'plastic wastes' unless in context you are very specifically talking about a number of different types of plastic waste.

The LearnEnglish Team

I have trouble understanding the punctuation applied by some writers, which is inconsistent with what I learned from grammar books. For instance, I learned that a comma should be placed before coordinating conjunctions such as 'and' and 'but.' However, why is a period sometimes placed before them?

I have another question, too. Which of the following is grammatically correct?

People don't have a good life.

People don't have good lives.

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Countable + uncountable nouns rules with examples

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Countable and uncountable nouns

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Countable and uncountable nouns: rules + examples

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Countable nouns

Countable nouns are people, places, animals or things that we can count. We can use the indefinite article a/an with countable nouns in singular forms: A bee is an insect.

Plural forms of countable nouns can be regular ( a car - cars, boy - boys, baby - babies ) or irregular ( woman - women, wolf - wolves, datum - data ). More examples: a girl - two girls, a lion - two lions, a book - two books, a man - three men, a sheep - five sheep

Uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns (or mass nouns) are substances, abstract ideas, qualities and other things that we cannot count. We cannot usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns: I need money .

Substances:

air, bread, butter, dust, fire, flour, fuel, gold, ice, jam, juice, milk, oil, oxygen, petrol, rice, salt, sand, smoke, snow, soap, sugar, water, wheat...

Abstract nouns:

advice, aid, anger, art, beauty, cash, chaos, courage, damage, death, evidence, freedom, fun, happiness, health, help, horror, information, kindness, knowledge, love, motivation, pity, relief, safety, wealth, wisdom...

Other things:

baggage, camping, cash, clothing, electricity, energy, food, furniture, literature, litter, luggage, money, nature, news, parking, rubbish, shopping, sunshine, traffic, weather...

Nouns that are both countable and uncountable

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, but they have a different meaning.

beer = kind of drink, beers = glasses of beer chicken = kind of meat, chickens = animals chocolate = kind of food, chocolates = small sweets in a box of chocolates coffee = kind of drink, coffees = cups of coffee experience = kind of knowledge, experiences = things that happen to you glass = material, glasses = cups hair = hair on your head, hairs = animal hairs light = brightness from the sun, lights = electric lamps or bulbs paper = material, papers = newspapers people = human beings, peoples = nations or ethnic groups room = space, rooms = living room, bedroom, etc. wood = material, woods = forest work = job, works = factory

Some abstract nouns can be used with a/an in special cases. Compare:

help I need help. - You are always a great help to me.
knowledge, love, hatred, dread, horror, etc. + of The internet provides access to all universal knowledge. - A good knowledge of English is essential. Is it love or hatred? - How to foster a love of music in children?
pity, shame, wonder, etc. I don't want pity, I need support. - What a pity. It's a pity that you can't come.

Some abstract nouns can be used in plural with that-clauses introduced by there .

fear, hope, suspicion, etc. There are fears that global warming will continue.

How to make uncountable nouns countable

We combine special words (piece words) with uncountable nouns to make them countable.

I have two pieces of information for you. We'll need three sheets of paper. How many slices of bread do you have for breakfast? Add two spoonfuls of sugar. I'd like three jars of jam.

a bit of fun, luck, time, work, paper, information, bread, money, news, gossip a piece of paper, software, information, work, writing, furniture, wood, equipment, music, cloth, land an item of clothing, equipment, furniture, food, information, interest, business, jewellery, news a sheet of paper,ice, glass a carton of milk, juice, yoghurt a glass of milk, beer, wine a cup of tea, coffee a slice of bread, cheese, cake a loaf of bread, cheese, meat a bar of chocolate, soap a spoonful of sugar, flour, salt a pinch of salt, cinnamon, humour a jar of jam, honey, beer, mayonnaise

Little / few, a little / a few, much / many

Little / few We had very little information about the hotel. (= not much information) We learned very few facts about the hotel. (= not many facts)
A little / a few I can help you. I have a little time now. (= some time) I can help you. I have a few hours to spare. (= several hours)

Little and few have negative meanings. They mean 'not as much or not as many as I expected'. A little and a few have positive meanings. They mean 'better than nothing'.

I have little money and few friends. (= I feel unhappy. I want more money and friends.) I have a little money and a few friends. (= I feel happier. I have some money and several friends.)

Much / many My brother won much money with a lottery ticket. (= a lot of money) My brother bought many lotery tickets. (= a lot of tickets)

A lot of, some, hardly any

These quantifiers can be used with countable and uncountable nouns in affirmative sentences. They are more informal than the quantifiers mentioned above.

A lot of (lots of, plenty of) We can use a lot of, lots of or plenty of instead of much, many. We had a lot of fun (much fun) at the party. (uncountable) We had a lot of drinks (many drinks) at the party. (countable)
Some We can use some instead of a little and a few . I would like some more coffee (a little more coffee). (uncountable) I would like some more bisquits (a few more bisquits). (countable)
Hardly any We can use hardly any instead of little and few . Samantha has hardly any (little) experience with programming. (uncountable) George has hardly any (few) problems with programming. (countable)

English nouns Countable and uncountable nouns, singular and plural nouns, group nouns, compound nouns and proper nouns.

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns — Grammar Rules and Examples

What are countable and uncountable nouns?

A countable noun consists of individual people, animals, places, things, or ideas that can be counted. Uncountable nouns are not individual objects and cannot be counted.

The types of nouns considered countable include concrete, collective, and proper nouns.

A concrete noun refers to something that can be identified through one of the five senses: ducks

A collective noun denotes a singular group: family

A proper noun designates specific people, places, or things: Italians

Uncountable nouns, also called mass nouns, are thought of as wholes rather than individuals. These nouns typically refer to abstract ideas (such as emotions), so they are usually abstract nouns . But they can be concrete and collective nouns, too, depending on their function in a sentence.

Abstract Noun: The advice Greg received from his father helped him tremendously.

Concrete Noun: The price of oil continues to increase.

Collective Noun: When will the food be ready?

Though “food” is considered a singular group, it cannot be counted in this context.

Countable and uncountable nouns grammar rules

Countable and uncountable nouns follow a variety of grammatical rules in English:

Grammar rules for countable nouns include the following:

Can be singular or plural

Become plural by adding an "s" or "es" to the end of the word

May use either singular or plural verbs

The indefinite articles "a" and "an" can be used with singular countable nouns

Plural countable nouns do not need an article but may use determiners like “these” or “a few.”

Grammar rules for uncountable nouns include the following:

Only have a singular form

Cannot be used with an article ("a" or "an")

Require singular verbs

To make uncountable nouns plural, pair with countable nouns

Examples of countable and uncountable nouns

Examples of countable nouns include the following:

Travis took a variety of pictures on his vacation. (concrete)

Wendy left her lunch on the kitchen table. (concrete)

The Museum of Art had several new paintings. (concrete)

After a long day, the children quickly fell asleep. (collective)

Mike can play many different instruments . (collective)

They saw many politicians entering the Capitol. (collective)

Despite moving to Florida, he will always be a Pennsylvanian . (proper)

Alana enjoys visiting New York . (proper)

Ted shops at Target . (proper)

Examples of uncountable nouns include the following:

Mary listed all of the key facts of the investigation. (abstract)

They all thought Alex was a true patriot . (abstract)

Betty felt that love was in the air. (abstract)

After a dry summer, there is less water in the pond. (concrete)

Help yourself to the food in the refrigerator. (concrete)

The air felt thick after the thunderstorm. (concrete)

Sarah enjoys eating fruit for breakfast. (collective)

Could you please fill the shaker with salt ? (collective)

The government d eclared today was a national holiday. (collective)

Nouns are used to form complete sentences. Countable and uncountable nouns are just two types of nouns among many.

English EFL

Countable and uncountable nouns.

It's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs.

COUNTABLE NOUNS

Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an". If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun.

She has three dogs .
I own a house .
I would like two books please.
How many friends do you have?

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers. They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.). Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form.

We cannot use a/an with these nouns. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day of . If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?"

There has been a lot of research into the causes of this disease.
He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview.
Can you give me some information about uncountable nouns?
He did not have much sugar left.
Measure 1 cup of water, 300g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt .
How much rice do you want?

TRICKY SPOTS

Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are: accommodation, advice, baggage, behavior, bread, furniture, information, luggage, news, progress, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work

I would like to give you some advice .
How much bread should I bring?
I didn't make much progress today.
This looks like a lot of trouble to me.
We did an hour of work yesterday.

Be careful with the noun hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural. It can be countable only when referring to individual hairs.

She has long blond hair.
The child's hair was curly.
I washed my hair yesterday.
My father is getting a few grey hairs now. (refers to individual hairs)
I found a hair in my soup! (refers to a single strand of hair)

Course Curriculum

NOUN GENDER 15 mins
Singular and Plural Nouns 25 mins
Countable and Uncountable nouns 30 mins
Compound Nouns 25 mins
Capitalisation Rules 25 mins
Nationalities 30 mins

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Definition of assignment noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns: A Comprehensive Guide

Marcus Froland

March 28, 2024

Getting a grip on countable and uncountable nouns is like finding the secret key to unlock a big part of English language mastery. It’s not just about knowing a bunch of rules. It’s about seeing the language in action, in the real world, where it makes a tangible difference in how we communicate. This concept might sound a bit dry at first, but stick with us. It’s going to light up parts of English you probably never thought much about.

So, why do these categories matter? In English, whether a noun is countable or uncountable affects everything from verb conjugation to article usage. And yes, it can be a bit of a headache at first. But understanding this distinction is crucial for anyone looking to polish their English . We’re here to break it down, show you the ropes, and make it as painless as possible. Let’s get into it.

Countable nouns are items you can count, like apples or cars. You can use numbers with them and add an ‘s’ at the end to make them plural. For example, “three apples” or “ten cars.” On the other hand, uncountable nouns refer to things you cannot count because they are seen as a whole or a mass. This includes substances like water, air, and sugar. With uncountable nouns, you don’t use ‘s’ for plural because they remain the same in both singular and plural forms. For instance, “some water” or “a lot of air.” Remember, when talking about amounts of uncountable nouns, use words like “some,” “much,” or “a lot of” instead of numbers.

Defining Countable Nouns in English Grammar

Countable nouns, as the name suggests, are those that can be counted and divided into singular and plural forms. To achieve a better understanding of countable nouns, it’s essential to learn how to identify them in sentences, use them along with articles and quantifiers, and analyze their examples in everyday language.

Identifying Countable Nouns in Sentences

Typically, countable nouns can be identified by their ability to take on a plural form. They are generally unique items or ideas and can be combined with other nouns. For instance, ‘dog/dogs’ or ‘idea/ideas’. The singular forms of countable nouns can also use the articles ‘a’ or ‘an’. Moreover, countable nouns can be quantified using numbers or indicators such as ‘one’, ‘two’, ‘three’, and so on.

The Use of Articles and Quantifiers with Countable Nouns

Countable nouns can be accompanied by articles and quantifiers to construct meaningful phrases. Articles like ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ act as modifiers to specify or denote the noun involved. In addition, quantifiers such as ‘some’, ‘a few’, and ‘many’ can be used to describe the amount or quantity of a countable noun. To inquire about the count of countable nouns, you can pose questions using “How many?” followed by the plural form of the noun.

Countable Noun Examples That Illustrate Common Usage

Countable nouns encompass various entities, including:

Restaurants (e.g., ‘twenty Italian restaurants’)
Animals (e.g., ‘a big brown dog’)
Objects (e.g., ‘several paintings’)

Remember, countable nouns should be used with appropriate verb forms. Singular countable nouns require singular verbs, while plural countable nouns call for plural verbs.

Comprehending countable nouns is an integral part of mastering English grammar, as they help express ideas and information more clearly and accurately. By learning to recognize countable nouns and correctly use articles and quantifiers along with them, you’ll significantly improve your language skills.

The Basics of Uncountable Nouns and Their Usage

Uncountable nouns represent materials, ideas, or collections that cannot be separated into individual elements. They are always singular, such as ‘water’, ‘cheese’, ‘information’, and ‘furniture’. Unlike countable nouns, uncountable nouns do not typically have a plural form and cannot use the articles ‘a’ or ‘an’.

Recognizing and using uncountable nouns correctly can be a challenging aspect of learning English, especially if your native language has different rules for these nouns. Here are some guidelines to help you master the basics of uncountable nouns and their usage:

Uncountable nouns are always considered as singular, even though they represent substances or collections that cannot be individualized.
Since uncountable nouns are singular, they are used with singular verbs in sentences, such as “Milk is a good source of calcium.”
Uncountable nouns cannot be used with the articles ‘a’ or ‘an’. You can use other quantifiers like ‘some’, ‘much’, ‘a lot of’, or ‘a little’ to indicate quantity.

For example: “I need some information about the event.”

Remember : It’s essential to consider the context when using uncountable nouns, as some nouns can switch between countable and uncountable depending on the situation. For instance, ‘hair’ can be both countable and uncountable. When referring to individual strands of hair, it is countable, whereas, when talking about hair as a mass on someone’s head, it is uncountable.

By understanding the basics of uncountable nouns and their usage, you’ll be better equipped to communicate clearly and accurately in English. In the next sections of this article, we’ll talk more about the differences between countable and uncountable nouns, along with practical applications to help you master their utilization.

Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns: Understanding the Difference

When it comes to English grammar, one of the primary distinctions to grasp is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. To communicate effectively and accurately, it’s essential to understand the nuances of these two types of nouns and their usage in different contexts. In this section, we’ll compare countable and uncountable nouns, explore how some nouns can function as both, and discuss ways of quantifying uncountable nouns.

Comparing Countable and Uncountable Nouns in Context

Countable nouns are distinct, individual items or ideas that can be numbered, while uncountable nouns represent substances or concepts that exist as wholes or masses. The context in a sentence determines how these nouns are used, with countable nouns taking plural verbs and uncountable nouns using singular verbs. To illustrate the difference, consider the following examples:

She has three books on her desk. (countable noun) He needs more information before making a decision. (uncountable noun)

Notice that, in the first example, the countable noun “books” can be directly quantified and takes a plural verb, while the uncountable noun “information” cannot be counted and requires a singular verb.

Nouns That Can be Both Countable and Uncountable

In some cases, nouns can function as both countable and uncountable depending on the context of the sentence. This flexibility in usage highlights the complexity and adaptability of the English language. Examples of such nouns include “time,” “hair,” “light,” and “art.”

There were times when she felt lonely. (countable noun) He spent a lot of time on his studies. (uncountable noun) She has a few strands of white hair . (countable noun) Her hair is very long. (uncountable noun)

The aspect these nouns are describing determines whether they function as countable or uncountable in a sentence.

Quantifying Uncountable Nouns with Expressions of Volume

Although uncountable nouns cannot be directly counted, they can still be quantified using expressions of volume or quantity. These expressions, such as “a pinch of salt,” “a piece of advice,” or “a cup of water,” allow for the communication of specific amounts of uncountable nouns.

a liter of milk
a slice of bread
a scoop of ice cream

Using these expressions, you can effectively convey the quantity of uncountable nouns even though they aren’t countable by nature.

By understanding the differences between countable and uncountable nouns, you’ll greatly improve your English grammar and communication skills. Remember that context is key, and practice using both types of nouns in various situations to increase your mastery of this essential aspect of the English language.

Rules for Using Singular and Plural Forms with Countable Nouns

Understanding the rules for using singular and plural forms with countable nouns is essential to communicate effectively in English. Countable nouns have specific guidelines in their singular and plural forms, which help in determining the correct usage of articles and verb conjugation.

First, let’s discuss the usage of the articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ with countable nouns in their singular form. You should use ‘a’ with countable nouns that begin with a consonant sound, while ‘an’ is used with countable nouns that begin with a vowel sound. For example:

When it comes to plural forms, countable nouns usually follow regular or irregular patterns. Regular countable nouns take an ‘s’ or ‘es’ at the end of the word. For example:

cat → cats dog → dogs watch → watches

Irregular countable nouns, on the other hand, change their spelling when they’re in their plural form. For example:

man → men woman → women child → children

When it comes to verb conjugation, it adjusts to reflect whether the countable noun is singular or plural. Singular countable nouns take singular verbs, while plural countable nouns require plural verbs. For example:

The dog is sleeping. The dogs are sleeping.

Mastering the rules for using singular and plural forms with countable nouns will significantly improve your English communication skills. Remember the following key points:

Use ‘a’ or ‘an’ with singular countable nouns depending on the sound it begins with.
Regular countable nouns take an ‘s’ or ‘es’ at the end in their plural form.
Irregular countable nouns change their spelling when pluralized.
Verb conjugation adjusts depending on whether the countable noun is singular or plural.

With practice, you’ll become comfortable using countable nouns in both their singular and plural forms and enhance your English communication skills.

Using Uncountable Nouns Correctly: Singular Verbs and Quantifiers

As you develop and refine your English language skills, understanding the correct usage of uncountable nouns becomes critical. In this section, we’ll discuss the singular nature of uncountable nouns, how to use measurements and quantities, and the differences between uncountable nouns in English and other languages.

The Singular Nature of Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are, by definition, always singular in form. They cannot be divided into separate units, and as such, require singular verb forms. Additionally, they do not have a plural form, nor can they be used with articles such as ‘a’ or ‘an’. For example:

Incorrect: I have a luggage. Correct: I have some luggage.

As demonstrated, uncountable nouns must be paired with singular verb forms and suitable quantifiers instead of articles. This may seem daunting initially, but practice and exposure will make this usage more natural over time.

When to Use Measurements and Quantities with Uncountable Nouns

Engaging in precise communication requires expressing quantities related to uncountable nouns. To effectively achieve this, you will need to utilize appropriate units of measurement or quantifying expressions, such as ‘a cup of’, ‘a lot of’, ‘much’, or ‘1kg of’. Some examples include:

A cup of coffee
A pinch of salt
1 liter of milk

By using such measurements and quantities, you can provide clarity to your statements involving uncountable nouns that require specific amounts.

Uncountable Nouns in Different Languages and English Equivalents

Many English learners face challenges when encountering nouns that are considered countable in their native language but uncountable in English. It is essential to recognize this nuance to ensure proper usage according to English grammar rules. Some common noun examples include:

Advice (often countable in other languages)
Luggage (often countable in other languages)
News (often countable in other languages)
Work (often countable in other languages)

Adapting to these differences might be tricky, but it is important to remember that consistency in usage following English grammar conventions ultimately results in clear and effective communication.

Practical Applications: Exercises to Master Countable and Uncountable Nouns

To effectively master countable and uncountable nouns, engaging in practical exercises can be incredibly beneficial. These activities will help improve your understanding and application of the different rules and uses of both types of nouns. Three helpful exercises to try include identifying noun types in sentences, determining appropriate articles and quantifiers, and restructuring sentences to correctly express quantities.

When working on identifying noun types, find texts from a variety of sources, such as newspapers, novels, or websites, and highlight the countable and uncountable nouns. By practicing this, you’ll become more adept at recognizing these nouns in context. For example, circle words like “books” (countable) and underline words like “knowledge” (uncountable).

Next, focus on utilizing articles and quantifiers correctly. Take a list of countable and uncountable nouns, and pair each with the appropriate article or quantifier. For instance, use ‘a few’ with countables like ‘dogs’ or ‘bottles’, and ‘some’ or ‘a lot of’ with uncountables like ‘coffee’ or ‘information’. Lastly, practice restructuring sentences in order to accurately express quantities. Challenging yourself in this manner will solidify your understanding of how to use countable and uncountable nouns effectively in your writing and speaking.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns: the Complete Guide (2021)

Countable Nouns

Singular and plural, determiners, uncountable nouns, making uncountable things countable – quantity expressions, nouns that can be countable and uncountable, how to use countables and uncountables, grammar in action.

You probably already know that nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. You might also remember that there are different categories of nouns based on certain features they share. For example we can distinguish abstract and concrete nouns .

Another way we can categorize nouns is whether they are countable or uncountable . In this article, we’ll explain the difference between these two categories, look at the examples of both and see why it is important to know whether a noun is countable or uncountable.

So, as we’ve already mentioned, nouns in English can be countable or uncountable .

As their name suggests, countable nouns are those that refer to something that can be counted . For example, we can count cars :

one car, two cars, three cars…

Even if the number might be extraordinarily high (like counting all the stars in the sky), countable nouns can be individually counted.

Some more examples of countable nouns:

car, man, bottle, house, key, idea, accident
dog, cat, animal, man, person
cup, plate, fork
table, chair, suitcase, bag, etc.

Concrete nouns may be countable.

New cars are very expensive.
I got some books from the library yesterday.

Collective nouns (words that denote a group of people or things) are countable.

She attended three classes last week.
This house is perfect for two families .

Even some proper nouns are countable.

There are many Italians in New York.
There are five Johns in the room.

Since countable nouns can be counted, they can be singular (=one) and plural (=two or more):

You probably remember that plural forms of nouns usually have the ‘ -s ‘ (‘ -es ‘) ending. For example:

There is an egg .
There are four eggs .
They’ve got great toys for babies here.
We need to get some new dishes for this evening.

Learn more about how to form the plural forms here .

Note that singular verbs are used with singular countable nouns, while plural verbs are used with plural countable nouns.

Your book is on the kitchen table.
How many candles are on that birthday cake?

Countable nouns can be used with articles such as a/an and the, numbers or quantifiers such as a few, a lot and many . These words in general are called determiners because they describe nouns, i.e. make it clear what a noun refers to. For example:

I bought a jacket and a shirt .
My house is near the center.
There’s a lot of flowers in the garden .
She’s got two sisters and a younger brother .

You can’t use singular countable nouns alone, i.e. without a/the/my, etc.

We can’t get into the house without a key . (not key)
I want a banana . (not banana)
Paris is an interesting city .

We use ‘ a ’ and ‘ an ’ with singular countable nouns when we do not need to make clear which person or thing we are talking about:

an accident, a banana, a couch, a dream, a neighbourhood.

When people can understand which person or thing we mean, we use ‘ the ‘ with singular and plural countable nouns:

The pie won the prize but the judges didn’t like the cookies .

We use no article (the so-called ‘ zero article ‘) with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns when we are talking in general:

Dogs usually don’t like cats .
Good health is more important than money .

Unlike singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns can be used alone:

I like bananas .
Accidents can be prevented.

We can use ‘ some ’ and ‘ any ‘ with plural countable nouns meaning ‘ a bit, a quantity of ‘. We use ‘some’ in affirmative sentences and ‘any’ in negative sentences and questions :

I’d like some bananas , please.
Did you buy any apples ?

We use ‘ many ‘ and ‘ few ‘ with plural countable nouns.

We didn’t take many pictures.
I have a few words to say.

Uncountable nouns are seen as a whole or mass. They cannot be separated or counted and come in a state or quantity that is impossible to count . For example, we cannot count air:

one air, two airs, three airs…

Examples of uncountable nouns include:

– abstract nouns : homework, knowledge, money, permission, research, traffic, travel – ideas and experiences : advice, information, progress, news, luck, fun, work – materials and substances : water, rice, cement, gold, milk – food and drinks : juice, wine, meat, rice, bread, cheese, coffee – weather words : weather, thunder, lightning, rain, snow – names for groups or collections of things : furniture, equipment, rubbish, luggage

Uncountable nouns are always considered to be singular . They have no plural, even if they end in ‘-s ‘. The verb form is singular and we can use some .

Put some sugar .
How much wine is there?
Your hair is really long!
The news was a complete shock!

Thus, uncountable nouns have always only one form:

money — the money — my money — some money — much money etc.

I’ve got some money .
There isn’t much mone y in the box.
Money isn’t everything.

There are, however, some uncountable nouns that are plural and are followed by a plural verb . Be careful with the following words:

Your clean clothes are on the bed.
Your new jeans look great!

Uncountable nouns can stand alone or be used with determiners (e.g. my, her , some, any , no , the, this, that ) and expressions of quantity (e.g. a lot of, (a) little, some, much ):

She’s been studying hard and has made a lot of progress .
This coffee is a bit old, I’m afraid.
I’d like some water , please.
There is a lot of snow on the road.
They gave me some information about the courses.

Since uncountable nouns have no plural, we can’t use ‘ a ’ and ‘ an ’ with them:

As we have seen, some determiners can be used with all nouns whether countable or uncountable. For example, the word ‘ some ‘ can be used with both:

I would like some crackers.
He would like some water.

However, other determiners can only be used with countable nouns and some can only be used with uncountable nouns. For example, the article ‘ a ‘ is used with singular countable nouns and isn’t used with uncountable nouns:

I would like a sandwich .
I would like some juice . (Not: I would like a juice. )

With uncountable nouns we use the determiners ‘ much ‘ and ‘ little ‘:

There isn’t much milk in the bottle.
They have little money .

Uncountable nouns can be paired with words expressing plural concept. These are words and phrases like ‘ a glass of ’, ‘ a bottle of ’ or ‘ a piece of ’ or words for containers and measures. We cannot say ‘an information’ or ‘a music’. But we can say a ‘something’ of .

In short, uncountable nouns can become countable when the noun is in a container. For example:

some sugar — a bag of sugar
some water — a bottle of water
some cereal — a bowl of cereal

Thus, you can’t say ‘two waters’ but you can say ‘two bottles of water’ .

Try to drink at least eight glasses of water each day.
I’d like a glass of water , please.
We bought two bottles of wine .
This is a beautiful piece of music .
I bought you a bar of chocolate .

Sometimes uncountable nouns are used as countable, to mean ‘ a measure of something ’ or ‘ a type of something ’:

Can I have two teas and one coffee , please? (two cups of tea and one cup of coffee …?)
There are some juices on the table. (different types of juice)

Sometimes, the same noun can be both countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning. The meaning will depend of the context.

Consider the following examples:

Our house has seven rooms . – Is there room for me to sit here? (‘rooms’ vs ‘space’)
Have you got a paper to read? – I want to write a letter. Have you got some paper ? (‘magazine’ vs ‘paper’)
There are four lights in our bedroom. – Close the curtain. There’s too much light ! (‘lamps’ vs ‘light’)
I had some interesting experiences while I was travelling. – They offered me the job because I had a lot of experience . (‘things that happened to me’ vs ‘not experiences’)

Why is it so important to know whether a noun is countable or uncountable? That’s because we use different words with countables and uncountables — see the rules below.

In positive sentences, we use:

In negative sentences, we use:

See more examples:

To make pancakes…

… you need a frying pan .
… you don’t need an electric mixer .
… you need some plates .
… you don’t need any chopsticks .

In questions, we use a/an , any and how many :

In questions, we use any and how much :

LET’S SUMMARIZE:

Note the verb forms. Singular nouns take singular verbs, while plural nouns take plural verbs:

There is a frying pan. (singular noun)
There aren’t any eggs. (plural noun)
There is some milk. (uncountable noun)
There isn’t any flour. (uncountable noun)

So, how should we use expressions with countable and uncountable nouns in everyday situations?

1. We use a / an , some and any with nouns to talk or ask about the quantity of something, for example, when talking about food:

Have you got any cheese or meat ? I could make a pasta dish . – Great idea. I’ve got some tomatoes and a chilly pepper . We could add them, too.

2. We use a / an and some with nouns to make requests, for example, when we are at a restaurant:

We’ll have some water and some bread , please. – I’d also like a glass of orange juice .

3. We use some with nouns when we offer something, for example, to our guests:

Would you like some toasts or some cake ? – Yes, with pleasure.

Here’s a good video from mmmEmglish explaining what countable and uncountable nouns are and how they are used:

Abstract and Concrete Nouns

Plural and Singular Nouns

Pronouns and Determiners: Quantifiers

Count and Noncount Nouns: Basic Rules

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Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

The basic rules: count and noncount nouns.

A count noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s." For example, "cat—cats," "season—seasons," "student—students."

A noncount noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food." Usually, you cannot say, "He had many moneys."

Count and Noncount Nouns with Adjectives

Most of the time, this does not matter with adjectives. For example, you can say, "The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives, such as "some/any," "much/many," and "little/few."

Some/Any : Some and any countable and uncountable nouns.

"There is some water on the floor."
"There are some students here."
"Do you have any food?"
"Do you have any apples?"

Much/Many : Much modifies only uncountable nouns. Many modifies only countable nouns.

"We don't have much time to get this done."
" Many Americans travel to Europe."

Little/Few : Little modifies only uncountable nouns.

"He had little food in the house."
"The doctor had little time to think in the emergency room."

Few modifies only countable nouns.

"There are few doctors in town."
" Few students like exams."

Other basic rules

A lot of/lots of : A lot of/lots of are informal substitutes for much and many . They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean much and with countable nouns when they mean many .

"They have lots of (much) money in the bank."
"A lot of (many) Americans travel to Europe."
"We got lots of (many) mosquitoes last summer."
"We got lots of (much) rain last summer."

A little bit of : A little bit of is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

"There is a little bit of pepper in the soup."
"There is a little bit of snow on the ground."

Enough : Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

"There is enough money to buy a car."
"I have enough books to read."

Plenty of : Plenty of modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

"They have plenty of money in the bank."
"There are plenty of millionaires in Switzerland."

No : No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

"There is no time to finish now."
"There are no squirrels in the park."

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Understanding the difference between countable and uncountable nouns

Understanding the difference between countable and uncountable nouns

The English language is full of rules and irregularities, so if you’re having trouble keeping track of all of them, you’re not alone. An important grammar rule to know is which nouns can and can’t be counted.

If you’re confused by what that means, don’t worry: you’re about to understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. If you’re aiming to improve your writing and editing abilities, it’s important that you learn what countable and uncountable nouns are.

What are countable nouns?

By definition, a countable noun is one that has ‘both singular and plural forms and names something that can be counted when there is more than one of it.’ 1 Countable nouns are sometimes referred to as ‘count nouns.’ Here are some examples of countable nouns:

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All the nouns above have both a singular and plural version, making them countable nouns. For example, you can have a dog, or you can have two dogs or even three dogs. You can easily determine if a noun is countable if:

You can make it plural
It can take indefinite articles, like ‘a’ or ‘an’
You can use quantifiers with it, like ‘a few’ or ‘several’

Here are some examples of countable nouns being used in a sentence:

A few of the students stayed home sick.
Most of the dogs at the shelter have been adopted.
Here are a few quarters.

Countable nouns can be paired with the determiner or adjective ‘many.’ For example:

There are so many songs on the album.
How many cars do you own?
So many decisions were made.

What are uncountable nouns?

The definition of an uncountable noun is one that ‘cannot be plural and names something that there can be more of or less of, but cannot be counted.’ 2 Ideas, concepts, and substances are considered uncountable since there is no way to quantify them. Here are some examples of countable nouns:

If you’re not sure if a noun is countable or uncountable, try making it plural to see if it makes sense. You wouldn’t say, “I have lots of moneys.” In this case, you would say, “I have a lot of money.”

Uncountable nouns can be modified by the adjective ‘much.’ For example:

He has so much money.
My cat doesn’t eat much food.
How much air does the tire need?

You wouldn’t say, “he has so many money.” ‘Many’ is used for countable nouns. Uncountable nouns can also be modified by the adjective ‘little’ or ‘a little bit of.’ For example:

Put a little bit of honey in the tea.

‘Honey’ is an uncountable noun since it is a liquid. Liquids can’t be counted.

He has little knowledge of the subject.

Since knowledge is an abstract concept, it can’t be counted. ‘Knowledge’ is an uncountable noun.

Nouns that are countable and uncountable

It’s important to note that some nouns can be both countable and uncountable depending on how they are used. Sometimes, a word will have a different meaning in its countable or uncountable form. For example:

He has blonde hair.

In this context, ‘hair’ is uncountable because it refers to hair in general.

He wishes he could count the number of hairs on his head.

In this context, ‘hair’ is countable because it refers to individual pieces of hair.

Here’s another example of a noun that can be both countable and uncountable:

My doctor told me to eat less meat.

In this case, ‘meat’ is uncountable because it is referring to meat in general.

Processed meats have been linked to health problems.

In this case, ‘meat’ is countable because it is referring to a specific type of meat (processed meats).

Let’s look at one more noun that can be countable and uncountable:

I want a chicken sandwich.

In this sentence, ‘chicken’ is uncountable because it refers to a general type of food.

My mom has pet chickens.

In this sentence, ‘chicken’ is countable because it refers to a specific type of animal.

Knowing the difference between countable and uncountable nouns will greatly improve the quality and clarity of your writing. If you’re interested in learning more about how to improve your grammar, explore the most common grammatical errors and how to avoid them.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/countable-noun .

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/uncountable-noun .

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Rules, Examples, and Exercises

Updated on
Jan 29, 2024

Have you ever wondered why is it “the flour” and “a dough’, and not “a flour” and “the dough”? If yes, then you are probably dealing with countable and uncountable nouns . They may sound as easy as the singular and plural nouns , but they can also get tricky at times if you are struggling with the rules of nouns in English grammar . Therefore, let’s hop on and find out through this blog, why we needed the aid of countable and uncountable nouns to make ourselves as proficient as a grammar nazi .

This Blog Includes:

What are countable and uncountable nouns, countable noun examples, uncountable noun examples, how to use countable and uncountable nouns, countable and uncountable nouns exercises for practise.

Must Read: Nouns: Examples, Definition, Types

In layman’s language, if a noun, specifically animals, places, things, individuals, ideas, and more can be counted numerically, you can categorise them as countable nouns. On the other hand, if you can measure an object quantitatively, but cannot count it, you are dealing with an uncountable noun.

That is why, ‘the flour’ , in the introduction was represented with ‘the’ and once kneaded, it became ‘a dough’ with the English grammar article ‘a’ , giving back your superpower of counting. Take a look at another example below before studying both the nouns separately.

There is a dog in the yard [Countable]
I need some water to drink. [Uncountable]

By now, you are aware that any person, place or thing that you can count is called a countable noun. But, did you know that countable nouns are further studied in the form of singular nouns and plural nouns? To elaborate, you can easily assign numbers like a, one, two, three, etc. That is how they represent things we can readily quantify, from tiny pebbles on the beach to towering skyscrapers in a bustling city.

Example:

There is a cat in the backyard. [Singular Noun]
There are three cats in the backyard [Plural Noun]

Uncountable nouns, unlike their countable brethren, are the elusive chameleons of language. On a simpler note, imagine the vast expense of the ocean, the boundless sky, or the shimmering sands of the desert. These are uncountable nouns, entities that exist in a continuous, immeasurable whole. It represents abstract concepts or material that exist in a unified state.

Here are some common examples that fall under the category of uncountables:

Must Read: Noun, verb, adjective, and adverb

Let’s quickly go through a few rules you cannot undermine while using countable and uncountable nouns:

Use of Article

Use of Quantifiers

Now that everything is said and done, make sure to check your knowledge:

Exercise 1 – Identify the Noun

Q. Read each sentence carefully and identify the nouns in each sentence. Choose the correct option for the underlined word’s role as a noun.

The resilience of the community was evident in the face of adversity .
The scientist conducted experiments to study the behaviour of neutrinos .
The team explored the mysterious cave, discovering ancient relics .
In the Andes , hikers experience the breathtaking beauty of nature.
The cacophony of city life can be overwhelming at times.
The committee made decisions regarding the allocation of resources .
During the storm, we sought refuge in the historic building.
The orchestra’s performance evoked powerful emotions through its musical compositions .
In the distance, a herd of elephants gracefully moved through the savannah.
The poet captured the essence of love in his poignant verses .
Abstract Noun
Common Noun
Proper Noun
Collective Noun

Exercise 2 – Fill in the blanks with Quantifiers

Q. Choose the appropriate quantifier [e.g., many, much, a few, a little, etc.] to fill in the blanks in each sentence:

There are ___________ books on the shelf.
Can you pass me ___________ sugar for my coffee?
She has ___________ friends in the new city.
There is ___________ milk in the refrigerator.
I have ___________ time to finish the assignment.

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns in English

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Are you looking to understand nouns in English and learn to use them properly? You’ve come to the right place. In this reference, we will explore the differences between countable and uncountable nouns , explore common examples, and even how to make uncountable nouns countable!

Countable vs Uncountable Nouns

The difference between countable and uncountable nouns lies in their ability to be counted. Countable nouns, or count nouns, are words that we can easily put a number next to. They have a singular and plural forms and can be used with the numbers one, two, etc.

On the other hand, uncountable nouns, also known as non-count nouns, are nouns that cannot be counted. They do not have a plural form and they cannot be used with numbers.

For example, the word 'apple' is a countable noun. You can say "I have one apple" or "I have two apples". The word 'information' is an uncountable noun. You cannot say "I have one information" or "I have two informations".

Countable and uncountable nouns are further classified into collective nouns, proper nouns, concrete nouns, abstract nouns , and mass nouns.

Collective nouns are nouns that refer to groups of people or things, such as "team" or "family".
Proper nouns refer to a specific person, thing, or place, such as "John" or "London".
Concrete nouns are nouns that refer to physical objects, such as "chair" or "building".
Abstract nouns are nouns that refer to ideas, feelings, or qualities, such as "happiness" or "honesty".

Countable and Uncountable Nouns in English

Common Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Now that you understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, let’s take a look at some common examples.

Common countable nouns include "person", "book", "pen", "dog", "cat", "flower", and "car". Common uncountable nouns include "water", "air", "information", "money", "advice", "energy", and "love".

It is important to note that some nouns can be both countable and uncountable. For example, the word "bread" can be countable ("I have two slices of bread") or uncountable ("I have some bread").

Context is key when determining whether a noun is countable or uncountable. If you are unsure, consult a dictionary for clarification.

Making Uncountable Countable

Now that you understand differences between countable and uncountable nouns, let’s take a look at how you can make uncountable nouns countable.

One way to make an uncountable noun countable is to add a word that is used for counting. For example, you can add "piece" or "slice" to "bread" to make it countable ("I have two pieces of bread"). You can also add "cup" or "bottle" to "water" to make it countable ("I have two bottles of water").

Another way to make an uncountable noun countable is to add a measurement word. For example, you can add "gram" or "pound" to "sugar" to make it countable ("I have two pounds of sugar"). You can also add "mile" or "hour" to "distance" to make it countable ("I have two miles of distance").

Here are some more useful words for you to use:

Counting words : piece, slice, cup, bottle, box, bag
Measurement words : gram, pound, ounce, mile, hour

Common Mistakes with Noun Count

One of the most common mistakes is using a plural verb with an uncountable noun. For example, "information" is an uncountable noun and it should be used with a singular verb, such as "The information is useful".

Another common mistake is using "many" with an uncountable noun. For example, "happiness" is an uncountable noun and it should not be used with "many", such as "I have many happiness". Instead, you should say "I have a lot of happiness".

Finally, be aware that some nouns can be both countable and uncountable. For example, the noun "time" can be used as both countable and uncountable. If you are talking about a specific amount of time, it is countable ("I have two hours of time"), but if you are talking about an indefinite amount of time, it is uncountable ("I have a lot of time").

We explored the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, common countable and uncountable nouns, how to make uncountable nouns countable, and common mistakes with noun count, and provided many helpful tips to help you understand the concept. Now, it's time to practice and work with your own countable and uncountable nouns!

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Understanding an Uncountable Noun (Definition, Examples, Countable Comparison)

What are countable and uncountable nouns ? Nouns can identify places, people, animals, and other things. They are the basic materials required to construct sentences. There are different types of nouns , including proper nouns , common nouns , compound nouns , collective nouns , abstract nouns , and countable and uncountable nouns.

Each of these may have specific purposes. For instance, proper nouns help identify different objects by their names. Similarly, collective nouns represent groups.

Since nouns represent different things, they may also be countable and uncountable. Some items may be countable, and you can count them, whereas others may be beyond numbers .

What is a Countable Noun?

As the name suggests, you can represent the different things around you that you can count with the help of countable nouns. So, be it places, animals, people, or anything else, there must be a definite number or quantifier.

For instance, ‘There may be at least ten candles on the birthday cake,’ or ‘There are several notable paintings in this gallery.’

Countable nouns may be singular or plural, depending on the context. For example, a book lay on the table,’ or ‘There are 5,000 employees in that company.’

Definition of Countable Noun

Countable nouns , or count nouns, are those nouns that go together with indefinite articles in the singular or plural forms.

Nouns that can be modified using quantities and occur in singular and plural forms, along with quantity determiners , are countable.

So, according to this definition, anything you can represent using a definite or indefinite quantity is a countable noun. Definite determiners are pure numbers. Indefinite denotations, however, can be used when you don’t know the numbers or quantities.

What is an Uncountable Noun?

Anything you cannot represent using a definite quantifier is an uncountable noun. In other words, uncountable nouns are those things that you cannot count.

For instance, ‘There is no water in the pond,’ or ‘Get rid of the garbage .’

Here, ‘water’ and ‘garbage’ are uncountable since a definite number or quantity cannot represent them.

Definition of an Uncountable Noun

In linguistics, uncountable nouns, mass nouns, or non-count nouns are distinguished forms of countable nouns with a syntactic property where the quantity may be an undifferentiated unit rather than a discrete element.

Here, ‘undifferentiated unit’ means that tracking the objects in question may not be possible.

Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns

The most apparent difference between countable and uncountable nouns is that you can represent countable nouns by a definite number or quantifier. In contrast, the same is not true of uncountable nouns. However, this is not the only difference.

Countable nouns vary from uncountable nouns, depending on various other factors. For instance, countable nouns can assume both singular and plural forms, as against uncountable nouns, which may be only in the singular form.

Likewise, when you express countable nouns in the interrogative format, the question would be ‘how many?’ instead of ‘how much?’ for uncountable nouns.

So, the numbers, or quantifiers, become significant when referring to something countable.

Examples of Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns may include bread, rice, coffee, luggage, money, and information.

Some objects, including money, or luggage, can be counted but are still uncountable, as there is too much.

For instance, you may be able to count money, as currency notes but not in an economy, or bank.

Besides this, you can count most other things or at least represent them using a quantifier.

Uncountable nouns (list)

Most things are countable. You can still measure or represent them using a suitable quantifier, even if they are not. However, the terms used to describe the numbers or quantities may vary, depending on several factors, primarily if the amount or number is not overwhelming.

You can determine if a noun is countable by counting or measuring it.

So, most objects are still countable even if there are too many and you may not be able to count them.

You can represent any object that you cannot count, doesn’t come in definite numbers, or quantifiers as an uncountable noun.

However, uncountable objects have only singular forms and no plurals and may need definite articles to support them.

For instance, when you say, ‘I picked up the luggage,’ you may be referring to any luggage. However, when you say, ‘I picked up my luggage,’ you are referring specifically to your bags.

Similarly, when you say, ‘I need to see a doctor,’ you may be referring to any doctor. However, when you say, ‘I need to see the doctor,’ you may be referring to a specific doctor.

When it comes to quantifiers, you may need to be more specific when representing countable nouns. For instance, when you say, ‘The citizens came to the meeting,’ it becomes generic and can refer to the citizens of any place.

However, when you say, ‘Some citizens from the neighborhood came to the meeting,’ you are referring to a specific set of people.

Likewise, there are quantifiers that you can use only with uncountable nouns.

For example, ‘There’s little food left.’

There are other quantifiers that you can use with both countable and uncountable nouns. Examples may include all, some, any, and other such words.

For instance, ‘He made enough money for a well-to-do living.’

Uncountable nouns are always singular compared to countable nouns, which can be singular, or plural. However, some uncountable nouns assume plural forms although they are singular.

For example, when you say, ‘The furniture needs replacement,’ you may be referring to a set rather than a single chair or table.

Some nouns may seem plural but, in reality, are singular and may be hard to figure out. Examples include Mathematics or News.

For instance, when you say, ‘I’ve got some bad news,’ it can be challenging to determine whether ‘news,’ in this context, refers only to a single piece of information.

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Core lessons

Abstract Noun
Accusative Case
Active Sentence
Alliteration
Adjective Clause
Adjective Phrase
Adverbial Clause
Appositive Phrase
Body Paragraph
Compound Adjective
Complex Sentence
Compound Words
Compound Predicate
Common Noun
Comparative Adjective
Comparative and Superlative
Compound Noun
Compound Subject
Compound Sentence
Copular Verb
Collective Noun
Colloquialism
Conciseness
Conditional
Concrete Noun
Conjunction
Conjugation
Conditional Sentence
Comma Splice
Correlative Conjunction
Coordinating Conjunction
Coordinate Adjective
Cumulative Adjective
Dative Case
Declarative Statement
Direct Object Pronoun
Direct Object
Dangling Modifier
Demonstrative Pronoun
Demonstrative Adjective
Direct Characterization
Definite Article
Doublespeak
Equivocation Fallacy
Future Perfect Progressive
Future Simple
Future Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect
First Conditional
Gerund Phrase
Genitive Case
Helping Verb
Irregular Adjective
Irregular Verb
Imperative Sentence
Indefinite Article
Intransitive Verb
Introductory Phrase
Indefinite Pronoun
Indirect Characterization
Interrogative Sentence
Intensive Pronoun
Inanimate Object
Indefinite Tense
Infinitive Phrase
Interjection
Intensifier
Indicative Mood
Juxtaposition
Linking Verb
Misplaced Modifier
Nominative Case
Noun Adjective
Object Pronoun
Object Complement
Order of Adjectives
Parallelism
Prepositional Phrase
Past Simple Tense
Past Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense
Past Progressive Tense
Present Simple Tense
Present Perfect Tense
Personal Pronoun
Personification
Persuasive Writing
Parallel Structure
Phrasal Verb
Predicate Adjective
Predicate Nominative
Phonetic Language
Plural Noun
Punctuation
Punctuation Marks
Preposition
Preposition of Place
Parts of Speech
Possessive Adjective
Possessive Determiner
Possessive Case
Possessive Noun
Proper Adjective
Proper Noun
Present Participle
Quotation Marks
Relative Pronoun
Reflexive Pronoun
Reciprocal Pronoun
Subordinating Conjunction
Simple Future Tense
Stative Verb
Subjunctive
Subject Complement
Subject of a Sentence
Sentence Variety
Second Conditional
Superlative Adjective
Slash Symbol
Topic Sentence
Types of Nouns
Types of Sentences
Uncountable Noun
Vowels and Consonants

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Countable Noun & Uncountable Nouns with Examples
Uncountable nouns, or mass nouns, are nouns that come in a state or quantity that is impossible to count; liquids are uncountable, as are things that act like liquids (sand, air). Abstract ideas like creativity or courage are also uncountable. Uncountable nouns are always considered to be singular, and can stand alone or be used with some, any ...
Nouns: countable and uncountable
Nouns: countable and uncountable - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Rules for countable and uncountable nouns (with examples)
A countable noun (also called a count noun) is a noun naming something that can be counted using standard numbers. Countable nouns usually have singular and plural forms. Examples of countable nouns include chair, table, rabbit, page, part, and lemon. So, we can have one chair, five tables, ten rabbits, twenty-three lemons, and three hundred pages.
Countable Nouns
A countable noun is one that refers to any countable person, place, object, or event. Spoon, orange, and books are examples of countable nouns. Countable nouns can be singular nouns or plural nouns. For example, we can say apple for one apple and apples for more than one apple. We can also say chair and chairs, song and songs, and cup and cups.
Countable Nouns: Explanation and Examples
Why Countable Nouns Are Important There are three noteworthy issues related to countable and non-countable nouns. (Issue 1) Use fewer with plurals and less with non-countable nouns. Use fewer when referring to people or things in the plural (e.g., soldiers, lawyers, dogs, pies, clouds).. A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns (List, Examples & Exercise)
Usage. Some words are used as both countable and uncountable nouns like room, hair, weight etc. Example. There are five rooms in this building. Countable Noun. Some words are used with the Countable Nouns only such as few, a few, many. Some words are used with Uncountable Nouns only such as little, a little, much.
Countable and uncountable nouns (A detailed breakdown)
Uncountable nouns are words that refer to something that can't be counted. These are concepts, emotions, subjects, ideas, qualities, materials, etc. Since we can't count these nouns, they don't have a plural form and are considered singular. Uncountable nouns categories. Examples.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Articles with Countable and Uncountable Nouns. Singular countable nouns are always accompanied by one of the indefinite articles: a, or an. Examples: an apple. a bus. When a countable noun is mentioned for a second time, we use the definite article "the" with it. Example: I saw a lion at the zoo; the lion was majestic.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns in English
Nouns in English grammar can be either countable or uncountable. Countable nouns refer to individual things and we can use them in the singular or plural (e.g. coin/coins ). Most nouns in the English language are countable. Uncountable nouns, also known as mass nouns, refer to things we consider a whole or mass and cannot be counted (e.g. money ).
Countable and uncountable nouns
Countable and uncountable nouns. It's the day of Oliver and Alfie's cooking competition. Daisy is filming the chefs in action, and Mum is on her way home. Some nouns in English are countable - we can use them in singular and plural forms. Some are uncountable - they only have one form.
Nouns: countable and uncountable
Grammar explanation. Nouns can be countable or uncountable. Countable nouns can be counted, e.g. an apple, two apples, three apples, etc. Uncountable nouns cannot be counted, e.g. air, rice, water, etc. When you learn a new noun, you should check if it is countable or uncountable and note how it is used in a sentence.
PDF Using Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Use uncountable nouns after specific determiners as noted above, such as the definite article "the" and the singular demonstrative adjectives "this" and "that" (the advice, this equipment, that information); however, do not use uncountable nouns following a number, the indefinite articles "a" and "an," plural demonstrative adjectives (these, those), or indefinite adjectives ...
Countable + uncountable nouns: grammar rules with examples
Nouns that are both countable and uncountable. Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, but they have a different meaning. beer = kind of drink, beers = glasses of beer. chicken = kind of meat, chickens = animals. chocolate = kind of food, chocolates = small sweets in a box of chocolates. coffee = kind of drink, coffees = cups of coffee.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
The types of nouns considered countable include concrete, collective, and proper nouns. A concrete noun refers to something that can be identified through one of the five senses: ducks. A collective noun denotes a singular group: family A proper noun designates specific people, places, or things: Italians Uncountable nouns, also called mass nouns, are thought of as wholes rather than individuals.
How to Tell if a Noun is Countable or Uncountable
Examples of nouns that can be countable or uncountable; Type of noun Uncountable Countable Other examples; Abstract concepts: He rarely feels fear.: A fear of spiders is known as arachnophobia.: Concepts can often be countable or uncountable: weight, love, courage, strength, time, beauty, pressure, vision, business.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers. They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.). Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form.
PDF Nouns— Countable & Noncountable
Noncountable nouns have no plural form. Some furniture Many nouns that are noncountable represent a whole made of many parts. For instance, the word furniture means a whole group of furniture pieces, like tables, chairs, sofas, and so on. I put sugar in my coffee. The following is a short list of some nouns that are typically considered ...
assignment noun
1 [countable, uncountable] a task or piece of work that someone is given to do, usually as part of their job or studies You will need to complete three written assignments per semester. She is in Greece on an assignment for one of the Sunday newspapers. one of our reporters on assignment in China I had given myself a tough assignment. a business/special assignment
Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Rules and Examples
Countable nouns are items you can count, like apples or cars. You can use numbers with them and add an 's' at the end to make them plural. For example, "three apples" or "ten cars.". On the other hand, uncountable nouns refer to things you cannot count because they are seen as a whole or a mass.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns: the Complete Guide (2021)
Countable Nouns. As their name suggests, countable nouns are those that refer to something that can be counted.For example, we can count cars:. one car, two cars, three cars… Even if the number might be extraordinarily high (like counting all the stars in the sky), countable nouns can be individually counted.
Count and Noncount Nouns: Basic Rules
Few modifies only countable nouns. "There are few doctors in town." " Few students like exams." Other basic rules. A lot of/lots of: A lot of/lots of are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean much and with countable nouns when they mean many. "They have lots of (much) money in the bank." "A ...
Understanding the Difference Between Countable and Uncountable Nouns
The definition of an uncountable noun is one that 'cannot be plural and names something that there can be more of or less of, but cannot be counted.' 2 Ideas, concepts, and substances are considered uncountable since there is no way to quantify them. Here are some examples of countable nouns: Money. Water.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Rules, Examples, and Exercises
Uncountable Noun Examples. Uncountable nouns, unlike their countable brethren, are the elusive chameleons of language. On a simpler note, imagine the vast expense of the ocean, the boundless sky, or the shimmering sands of the desert. These are uncountable nouns, entities that exist in a continuous, immeasurable whole.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Countable nouns, or count nouns, are words that we can easily put a number next to. They have a singular and plural forms and can be used with the numbers one, two, etc. On the other hand, uncountable nouns, also known as non-count nouns, are nouns that cannot be counted. They do not have a plural form and they cannot be used with numbers.
200 Countable and Uncountable Noun Examples
100 Examples of Uncountable Nouns. These 100 examples of uncountable nouns can help give you a sense of what nouns are generally considered uncountable. Some of these nouns can be used as countable nouns occasionally, and in these instances, I have noted that beside the list item. Water. Ice.
Understanding an Uncountable Noun (Definition, Examples, Countable
Definition of an Uncountable Noun. In linguistics, uncountable nouns, mass nouns, or non-count nouns are distinguished forms of countable nouns with a syntactic property where the quantity may be an undifferentiated unit rather than a discrete element. Here, 'undifferentiated unit' means that tracking the objects in question may not be ...

Nouns: countable and uncountable

Singular and plural

Uncountable nouns

Quantity expressions ( a bit/piece )

Determiners ( my, some, the )

Countable phrases for uncountable nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns with different meanings

Uncountable nouns used countably

Abstract nouns

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Quantifying an uncountable noun

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Some nouns can be countable and uncountable

Nouns with different countable and uncountable meanings

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Countable Nouns

Examples of Countable Nouns

(Issue 1) Use fewer with plurals and less with non-countable nouns.

(Issue 2) Be careful with "number of," "amount of," and "quantity of."

(Issue 3) If you precede your noun with a term like "a lot of" or "a pound of," check you've aligned your verb.

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns - Definitions and Examples

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns in English

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