coursework countable or uncountable noun

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Definition of coursework noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Coursework accounts for 40 per cent of the final marks.

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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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Countable and Uncountable Nouns

What are countable and uncountable nouns, and how do we use them in English grammar? Let’s learn all about these two different types of nouns today! There are some details you need to know in order to make sure your sentences with uncountable nouns are grammatically correct.

Download free PDF + quiz

Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are things we can easily count – for example, cats:

• My brother has  a cat.
• My sister has  two cats.
• My friend has  three cats.

Other examples of countable nouns:

• Things – book, table, computer, banana, shirt, television, pen, house
• People – man, woman, child, friend, brother, sister, uncle, teacher, boss

With most countable nouns, we add -s to make them plural. But there are some irregular plural nouns – like person/people, man/men, child/children, and others.

“Cat” is a countable noun – one cat, two cats, three cats

Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns (or non-count nouns) are words that we can’t count, or can’t easily divide into separate parts:

• Concepts – love, fun, sadness, work, money, peace, safety
• Information –  advice, information, news, knowledge
• Categories –  music, furniture, equipment, jewelry, literature, meat
• Liquids and foods that can’t be counted –  water, butter, rice, flour, milk

Some English learners think that all countable nouns are concrete nouns (physical things), and all uncountable nouns are abstract nouns (non-physical things) – but this is not true!

• We have abstract nouns that are countable, like ideas, beliefs, hopes, dreams.
• We have concrete nouns that are uncountable, like furniture, luggage, butter, and milk.

Learn more in this lesson on 10 types of nouns.

Learn about words that can be both countable and uncountable!

Special rules for uncountable nouns

#1 – never add -s to make uncountable nouns plural:.

• I need some informations  about the course.
• I need some information  about the course.
• The factory has lots of equipments .
• The factory has lots of equipment .

In some other languages, “information” can be made plural – but it’s incorrect in English, because it’s an uncountable noun!

Instead, you can use other words to help create a plural form:

• She bought three  bottles of wine  and five  boxes of rice.
• I need two  cups of flour  and four tablespoons of butter  for this recipe.

It’s very common to use the word “piece”:

• They brought five  pieces of luggage  on their vacation.
• He gave me two  pieces of advice:  eat less and exercise more.
• I’m practicing three difficult pieces of piano music.

Don’t say “He poured two wines .” Instead, say “He poured two glasses of wine .”

Uncountable nouns by themselves take singular verbs, since they are grammatically singular nouns:

• The furniture is old.  (not “are old”)
• His advice  was  good.  (not “were good”)

However, if we add one of those “helping words” to create a plural form, then we use plural verbs:

• Those three crates of furniture are  heavy. (crates –> are)
• His two pieces of advice  were  good.  (pieces –> were)

#2 – Never use the indefinite article “a/an” with uncountable nouns

Instead, you can use “some” or “a piece of”:

• I heard  a  sad news.
• I heard  some  sad news.
• That’s  an  expensive  jewelry.
• That’s  an  expensive  piece of jewelry.
• That’s  an  expensive  necklace.  (necklace is countable; jewelry is uncountable)

However, the definite article (“the”) can be used with both countable nouns and uncountable nouns:

• The facts are accurate.  (countable)
• The information is accurate.  (uncountable)
• The necklace is expensive.  (countable)
• The jewelry is expensive.  (uncountable)

Don’t say “That’s an expensive jewelry .” Instead, say “That’s an expensive piece of jewelry .” or “That’s an expensive necklace .”

Expressing quantities of countable and uncountable nouns

In English, we use different quantity words:

With  countable nouns,  you can use  many, a few, fewer, the fewest:

• How  many  brothers do you have?
• I have  a few  books in my backpack.
• There are  fewer  people here today than there were yesterday.
• Out of the whole team, John made the fewest  mistakes in his work.

With  uncountable nouns,  you can use  much, a little, less, the least:

• Our teacher gives us too  much  homework!
• Add  a little  butter to the recipe.
• I’m trying to eat  less  red meat.
• Compared to my friends, I make  the least  money.

Our teacher gives us too much homework! (not “too many homework”)

We can use  some, any, more, the most, a lot of, and  lots of  with both countable and uncountable nouns:

• She bought  some bananas at the store. (countable)
• We heard  some  great music on the radio this morning. (uncountable)
• Does he have  any  children? (countable)
• He doesn’t have  any  furniture in his new house. (uncountable)
• We need to buy  more  bananas. (countable)
• We need to buy  more  equipment. (uncountable)
• I’ve read  the most  books in my class. (countable)
• The boss gave me  the most  work. (uncountable)
• She has  a lot of / lots of  friends. (countable)
• We’re having  a lot of / lots of  fun. (uncountable)

He doesn’t have any furniture in his new house.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns QUIZ!

Uncountable noun list.

Most nouns in English are countable – but here are some common uncountable nouns organized by category.

Liquids, grains, and semi-solids:

“Oatmeal” is an uncountable noun in English

Categories or Mass Nouns:

• Agriculture
• Entertainment
• Infrastructure
• Transportation

“Seafood” is an uncountable noun in English

Abstract ideas or qualities:

• Intelligence

“Money” is an uncountable noun in English, but “dollars,” “Euros,” “pounds,” etc. are countable.

Many nouns for emotions are uncountable, like “happiness”

Master the details of English grammar:

More Espresso English Lessons:

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• Knowledge Base
• Nouns and pronouns
• How to Tell If a Noun Is Countable or Uncountable | Examples

How to Tell if a Noun is Countable or Uncountable | Examples

Published on June 21, 2019 by Fiona Middleton . Revised on April 18, 2023.

Uncountable nouns , also known as mass nouns or noncount nouns, refer to a mass of something or an abstract concept that can’t be counted (except with a unit of measurement). In contrast, countable nouns can be counted as individual items.

The main rules to remember for uncountable nouns are that they cannot be pluralized , and that they never take indefinite articles (“a” or “an”).

Table of contents

Countable noun or uncountable noun, are uncountable nouns singular or plural, using articles with uncountable nouns, numbers and amounts, “research” and “data”, other interesting language articles.

Some nouns in English, like those in the table above, are always (or nearly always) uncountable. Many other nouns, however, can be countable or uncountable depending on the context.

To identify whether a noun is countable or uncountable in a particular context, consider whether you are referring to a single tangible item, entity or type of something, or if you are describing a general mass or idea of something.

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Uncountable nouns should be treated as singular, and thus should always be used with singular verbs to ensure correct subject-verb agreement .

• Knowledges are power.
• Knowledge are power.
• Knowledge is power.

Singular countable nouns generally require an article or other determiner (e.g., “the interview ,” “a participant,” “my hypothesis “). Uncountable nouns, in contrast, can usually stand alone without an article.

Because uncountable nouns can’t be counted as a single item,  indefinite articles (“a” or “an”) should never be used with them.

• The admissions office can provide an advice about arranging accommodation.
• The admissions office can provide advice about arranging accommodation.

The definite article “the” can be used when you are referring to a particular instance or specific mass of an uncountable noun.

• All living things require water to survive.
• We wanted to swim but the water was too cold.

Many uncountable nouns are associated with words that break them up into countable units. This is helpful when you want to refer to a single or numbered instance or unit.

• A piece of advice .
• A head of broccoli.
• A bolt of lightning.
• Ten items of feedback.

Finding the correct term to describe amounts can be tricky. Many terms that describe amount (e.g., “some,” “ a lot of” and “most”) can be used with both uncountable and countable nouns (although note that these terms are often  too vague to use in academic writing).

• Uncountable: Some vegetation has started to grow over the study site.
• Countable: Some desserts can be very healthy.
• Uncountable: After 5 minutes most of the calcium carbonate should be dissolved.
• Countable: Most of the chemicals are not easy to obtain.

However, there are certain terms that can only be used with either uncountable or countable nouns. Make sure to choose correctly between “less vs. fewer,” “much vs. many,” and “amount vs. number.”

In academic writing , “research” and “data” are two uncountable nouns that are notoriously difficult to use correctly.

Never add “s” to pluralize “research” or “data”. (Note that the word “researches” is only correct when used as the third-person singular of the verb “to research.” )

• We review researches about the financial crisis of 2007.
• We review research about the financial crisis of 2007.
• The experiments produced a large amount of datas .
• The experiments produced a large amount of data .

Always use “research” as a singular noun.

• Research are lacking in this area.
• Research is lacking in this area.

Data, however, can be used as a singular or plural noun.

• Data was collected through semi-structured interviews .
• Data were collected through semi-structured interviews.

If you want to know more about nouns , pronouns , verbs , and other parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations and examples.

Nouns & pronouns

• Common nouns
• Types of nouns
• Collective nouns
• Personal pronouns
• Proper nouns
• Verb tenses
• Phrasal verbs
• Types of verbs
• Active vs passive voice
• Subject-verb agreement
• Interjections
• Determiners
• Prepositions

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Middleton, F. (2023, April 18). How to Tell if a Noun is Countable or Uncountable | Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/nouns-and-pronouns/uncountable-nouns/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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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.

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Unit 10 - Countable and Uncountable Nouns

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Listen carefully to these examples. The first sentence is correct, and the other sentences are incorrect.

1. I have a brother and two sisters. I love my family. (Correct)

I have brother and two sisters. I love my a family. (Incorrect) -----

2. She has a cheese sandwich, an apple, and some milk for lunch. (Correct)

She has some cheese sandwich, a apple, and a milk for lunch. (Incorrect) -----

3 . My house is in London. It has a living-room and two bedrooms. In the morning I study English, and in the afternoon I work in a store. (Correct)

My house is in a London. In the morning I study an English, and in the afternoon I work in store. (Incorrect)

Key Vocabulary

love cheese sandwich apple milk lunch house

in London living room bedroom morning afternoon store

Unit 10 Grammar

All nouns are countable or uncountable. Countable nouns have the following properties.

- They can be counted, for example 1 apple, 2 apples, ...etc. - They can be made plural. - They can take the indefinate article a/an.

2. Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns have the following properties.

- They usually can't be counted, for example 1 money , 2 money , ...etc. - They usually can't be made plural. - They usually don't take the indefinate article a/an.

Some is often used for plural nouns. For example: - I have some apples. - I have some food. This is covered later in more detail.

Here are some common countable and uncountable nouns.

apple tree person dog kilo liter

Uncountable

time rice beef money information help

Countable nouns often refer to individual things, and physical things. For example: a person, a tree, a kilo.

Uncountable nouns often refer to non-individual things, and abstract things. For example rice is not an individual thing, it's seen as group of hundreds of small grains. Love and sadness are abstract, not physical things.

3. Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Some nouns can be countable and uncountable, depending on how they are used. For example:

- Countable : A glass of milk. Here glass refers to one container made of glass. - Uncountable : You can see through glass. Here glass doesn't refer to one thing, it refers to glass as a substance.

- Countable: He has many papers. Here papers refers to some of the individual documents. - Uncountable: Paper is made from wood. Here paper is not an individual thing, but a general substance.

Whether something is countable or uncountable takes time to learn and can only be achieved through longterm exposure to English. Also, what may seem logical in your own language may seem completely illogical in English! Learning a language involves learning another culture's point of view, and as always, the guidelines above should be used to help your own understanding rather than as hard and fast grammar rules. Good luck!

Grammar Exercises

Write "c" if the noun is countable, "uc" if the noun is uncountable.

Example: tomato - c

Remember, uncountable nouns always take singular verbs.

Example: I like cheese. (like)

1. Milk healthy. (be)

2. Grape juice good. (taste)

3. Grapes delicious. (be)

4. A grape on the floor. (be)

5. Rome (be) a beautiful city.

6. Monkeys bananas. (eat)

7 . Sandwiches good. (be)

8. You great pizza. (make)

9. The pictures beautiful. (look)

10. English interesting. (be)

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.

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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• 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'?

• Log in or register to post comments

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 and Uncountable Nouns

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There are many different types of nouns in English. Objects, ideas, and places can all be nouns. Every noun is either countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns are nouns you can count, and uncountable nouns are nouns you can't count. Countable nouns can take the singular or the plural form of a verb. Uncountable nouns always take the singular form of the verb. Study the rules and examples below.

What Are Countable Nouns?

Countable nouns are individual objects, people, places, etc. which can be counted. Nouns are considered content words meaning they provide the people, things, ideas, etc. about which we speak. Nouns are one of the eight parts of speech . For example, apple, book, government, student, island.

A countable noun can be both singular—a friend, a house, etc.—or plural—a few apples, lots of trees, etc.

Use the singular form of the verb with a singular countable noun :

• There is a book on the table.
• That student is excellent!

Use the plural form of the verb with a countable noun in the plural:

• There are some students in the classroom.
• Those houses are very big, aren't they?

What Are Uncountable Nouns?

Uncountable nouns are materials, concepts, information, etc. which are not individual objects and can not be counted. For example, information, water, understanding, wood, cheese, etc.

Uncountable nouns are always singular. Use the singular form of the verb with uncountable nouns:

• There is some water in that pitcher.
• That is the equipment we use for the project.

Adjectives With Countable and Uncountable Nouns.

Use a/an with countable nouns preceded by an adjective(s):

• Tom is a very intelligent young man.
• I have a beautiful grey cat.

Do not use a/an ( indefinite articles ) with uncountable nouns preceded by an adjective(s):

• That is very useful information.
• There is some cold beer in the fridge.

Some uncountable nouns in English are countable in other languages. This can be confusing! Here is a list of some of the most common, easy to confuse uncountable nouns.

• accommodation
• information

Obviously, uncountable nouns (especially different types of food) have forms that express plural concepts. These measurements or containers are countable:

• water - a glass of water
• equipment - a piece of equipment
• cheese - a slice of cheese

Here are some of the most common containers / quantity expressions for these uncountable nouns:

• accommodation - a place to stay
• advice - a piece of advice
• baggage - a piece of baggage
• bread - a slice of bread, a loaf of bread
• furniture - a piece of furniture
• garbage - a piece of garbage
• information - a piece of information
• knowledge - a fact
• luggage - a piece of luggage, a bag, a suitcase
• money - a note, a coin
• news - a piece of news
• pasta - a plate of pasta, a serving of pasta
• research - a piece of research, a research project
• travel - a journey, a trip
• work - a job, a position

Here are some more common uncountable food types with their container / quantity expressions :

• liquids (water, beer, wine, etc.) - a glass, a bottle, a jug of water, etc.
• cheese - a slice, a chunk, a piece of cheese
• meat - a piece, a slice, a pound of meat
• butter - a bar of butter
• ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard - a bottle of, a tube of ketchup, etc.
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Countable and Uncountable Nouns: What the Differences Are and How to Use Them

What makes one noun countable and the other uncountable in English? 

Countable nouns are specific items that can be counted individually, such as “apples” or “dogs.” Uncountable nouns , on the other hand, represent something as a whole, like “music” or “sand” and are not counted as separate units.

Read on to learn more about the differences between countable and uncountable nouns.

You’ll also find examples and resources for perfecting your noun skills!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

What Are Countable Nouns?

What are uncountable nouns, how to turn an uncountable noun into a countable noun, main differences between countable and uncountable nouns, resources for practicing countable and uncountable nouns, and one more thing....

A countable noun, as the name suggests, is a noun that can be counted or numbered. It can also be turned into a plural.  Often countable nouns refer to things or objects that we can see, feel or touch (but not always!).

For instance:

If you aren’t sure if a noun is countable or not, ask yourself if you can place a number right before it. Since all countable nouns can be expressed in terms of a number, they all have singular and plural forms .

There are five red cars on the road.

She’s carrying three eggs in a basket.

Two people are standing outside the gate.

Only one sandwich is left.

In their singular form, these nouns usually have an article (“a,” “an” or “the”), or the number “one” before it.

For example:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

A century (100 years) has already passed.

Similarly, their plural forms usually have a number before it or are preceded by words like “few,” “many,” “several” and so on. 

Eight out of 10 apples were rotten.

There are a few girls in the class.

How many countries have you visited?

Several centuries have passed.

Most objects around us, as well as collective nouns (such as teams, groups and bands) , are countable nouns.

Uncountable nouns are nouns that can’t be counted , or rather, which can’t be directly expressed in terms of numbers . Often, uncountable nouns also refer to abstract nouns.

• information

Here are examples of how they look in a sentence: 

We all seek happiness in our lives.

She makes a lot of money .

His success as a movie star is a result of his hard work , rather than his luck .

My kids find it relaxing to play with clay .

Certain materials are uncountable nouns , like:

Some food or drink items are also uncountable nouns , such as:

You’ll also notice that most uncountable nouns don’t have a plural form. So, to express the amount or quantity, such nouns are often used with words like “some,” “much,” ” a lot” and so on.

Can I borrow some milk to bake the cake?

His mother has placed much hope in him.

A lot of effort is needed to finish this task.

If you want to express an uncountable noun in terms of exact numbers or measurements, you need to add a countable noun before it that is used to specify amounts .

Take a look at the following examples:

Can I have some water ? Yes, there’s a glass of water on the table.

Is there any cheese in the fridge? Yes, there are three slices of cheese still left.

She gave me some terrible advice about my love life! Really? When I spoke to her, I came away with at least two pieces of good advice .

However, for certain tricky words, it depends entirely on the context. You have to study the sentence carefully to know if the noun is countable or not.

The floor is covered with loose hair . (uncountable) A stray hair clung to her sweaty face. (countable)

The hotel has 20 rooms . (countable) Is there room for me on the bus? (uncountable)

And sometimes, an abstract noun can be used as a countable noun.

Only the t ruth can set you free. (uncountable) There are two truths in this story. (countable)

Helen’s beauty can’t be surpassed. (uncountable) What are you two beauties doing here by the pool? (countable)

If you’re confused if a noun is countable or not, look for articles (“a” or “the”) or words like “some,” “few” and “many” to figure it out. And if there are none, then they’re probably uncountable nouns.

To summarize, countable nouns …

• can be expressed with numbers
• have singular and plural forms
• can have a numeral or an article before it
• can be preceded by words like “few,” “many” and “several”

And uncountable nouns. ..

• can’t be directly expressed with numbers
• usually don’t have a plural form
• can have words like “some,” “much” and “a lot” before them
• can be preceded by a number and a countable noun

To test your understanding of countable and uncountable nouns, there are plenty of online exercises that can help you keep track of your progress.

• Perfect English Grammar : Brush up on nouns before moving on to countables and uncountables.
• AgendaWeb : Focus purely on countable and uncountable nouns.
• FluentU : See nouns and other aspects of English in use naturally through short videos embedded with learning tools.
• MyEnglishPages : Take short quizzes. For each sentence, choose whether the nouns are countable or uncountable.

By now, the differences between countable and uncountable nouns should be clear to you. 

Try to reread the differences between countable and uncountable nouns to memorize them and then test your understanding with the practice exercises I’ve listed above. 

It’s okay if you make mistakes in the beginning. Just keep practicing regularly and you’re sure to make a lot of progress!

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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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• 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

Check your grammar: gap fill - countable and uncountable nouns, check your grammar: multiple choice - countable and uncountable nouns, worksheets and downloads.

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

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Uncountable nouns

• Dependent clauses and agreement
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• Some important exceptions and words of advice
• Atypical nouns
• The major word classes
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• Start here AWELU contents Student writing resources Research writing resources Administrative writing resources LU language policy
• Genres Introduction The Nature of Academic Writing Student writing genres Writing in Academic Genres Writing for Publication Writing for Administrative Purposes
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(1) [This wine ] is not as sweet as that we were offered last Christmas.

(2) [ Gravity ] is an important force.

(3) [This information ] is useless.

(4) [Research] tends to take a lot of time.

Uncountable/Countable nouns

(1) She had three beers yesterday . (2) This is actually a beer that I don't like.

learn Languages Free online

The most complete and effective language courses online and it's free, countable and uncountable nouns explained in english lesson 43, 1/sentence practice.

Hello, mother. Have a seat, where is my sister? She is parking the car with her boyfriend Kevin.

There are hundreds of cars in this street and it is not easy to park. Susan, we need some more dishes for this evening.

There will be five of us after all. We’ve got some more dishes in the dining room cupboard.

And we have one, two, three, four, five chairs. I will set the table for five. Please put some bread on the table.

John’s sister and her boyfriend arrive. Susan has bought some new clothes and  John’s Mother says to her that: “your jeans look great”.

Please get some paper napkins from the cupboard. Get enough for five people, one for each person.

Three women and two men, that’s five in all. That’s a few too many for our little table but we can manage with less room.

Did you bring any wine? It does not matter if you didn’t we have lots. We hardly ever touch the stuff.

We have many bottles left over from my birthday party.

Have you any news about your health problems John?

Yes, I have some news, I think it is overwork but I am going for a final check-up on Tuesday.

Cross our fingers and as soon as you have some news, phone us.

They all eat a lot and there is hardly any left over. Well many thanks, it was really nice.

There aren’t many nice restaurants around here. There are some. You mean there are a few, restaurants are countable.

2/Vocabulary Practice

• uncountable nouns
• to have a seat
• to park the car
•  some more dishes
• for this evening.
• there will be five of us after all
•  the dining room cupboard.
• to set the table
• put some bread on the table.
• to buy some new clothes
• your jeans look great.
• paper napkins
• from the cupboard
• get enough for five people
• one for each person.
• that’s five in all
• That’s a few too many
• for our little table
• to manage with less room.
• we have lots
• we hardly touch the stuff.
• from my birthday party.
• Have you any news
• health problems
• to have some news
• I think it is due to overwork
• to go for a checkup
• Cross our fingers
• as soon as you have some news
•  there is hardly any left over.
• There aren’t many nice restaurants
• around here.
• There are some.
• You mean there are a few
• restaurants are countable.

How many or How much? & Review of countable and uncountable

When we are asking about the quantity or amount of something, we use “How many” or “How much” at the beginning of our question.

1/ We want to know the amount or quantity:

How many + countable noun

“How many” is followed by a plural countable noun

How many people attended?

How many times did you practise?

How many ingredients are needed?

2/ If what we are talking about is obvious, it is quite common to omit the noun in the question:

How many + no noun

How many were there?

How many attended?

How many were needed?

1/ We want to find out the price, quantity or amount of something.

How much + uncountable noun

“How much” is followed by a singular or plural noun + verb “to cost” / “to be” to know the price of something

How much is the jacket?

How much are the jackets?

How much are they?

How much did it cost?

How much will this all cost?

How much will this cost me?

2/ We want to know the quantity or amount of something:

How much time do we need to get there?

How much water do you drink per day?

How much money did they spend?

How much milk is left in the fridge?

3/ If what we are talking about is obvious, it is quite common to omit the noun in the question:

How much + no noun

How much do you need?

How much is it?

How much was said?

cf: revision of

Revision of “Many” or “much”?

countable and uncountable nouns

Let’s learn how to identify countable and uncountable nouns!

Nouns can be put into different categories such as plural and singular, but also countable and uncountable.

Countable nouns = we can count them

They have a singular and a plural form.

“car” is a countable noun

cars, two cars…

The car is mine.

The cars are his.

Uncountable nouns = we can’t count them

They only have one form, the singular form. They do not have a plural form so they always use a singular verb. They cannot use the articles “a”, “an” or a number (one, two, three…) before them.

“butter” is an uncountable noun

butters (does not exist)

a butter (does not exist)

two butters (does not exist)

Countable nouns are very common (a sister, a classroom, a friend, a teacher…). So how can I recognise uncountable nouns?

Uncountable nouns are often:

• abstract ideas: love, beauty…
• liquids or gases: water, milk, air, coffee…
• materials: wood, gold, paper…
• food (certain foods generally cut into small parts): bread, cheese, pasta…
• made of smaller parts: sugar, rice…
• other: advice, work, news, furniture, information, luggage, money…

When we are talking about a large quantity we can use “lots of” or “a lot of” with both countable and uncountable nouns:

• “language” is a countable noun > I speak lots of languages. I speak a lot of languages. / I don’t speak lots of languages. I don’t speak a lot of languages.
• “coffee” is an uncountable noun > I drink lots of coffee. I drink a lot of coffee. / I don’t drink lots of coffee. I don’t drink a lot of coffee.

We can also use “many” with countable nouns and “much” with uncountable nouns, when talking about a large or small quantity (in a positive or a negative statement):

• “lesson” is a countable noun  1/ I have lots of English lessons. – I don’t have lots of English lessons. 2/ I have a lot of English lessons. – I don’t have a lot of English lessons. 3/ I have many English lessons. – I don’t have many English lessons.
• “work” is an uncountable noun > I have lots of work. I have a lot of work. > I have much work. / I don’t have lots of work. I don’t have a lot of work. I don’t have much work.

Questions and Answers

How many people can fit into your car?

I think five.

How many gallons of petrol are there in your tank?

About eight, more or less.

Do we need to buy some bread?

Yes, we need to buy a few loaves.

How much time does it take?

It takes a few minutes.

How many minutes would you say?

I would say about 10 minutes.

How much time have we got?

We have plenty of time.

How much work can you do in one hour?

Not much, but a little.

How many tasks can you accomplish in the day?

Not many but I would say a few.

Have you got some sugar I could borrow?

How much sugar would you like?

Can I have a few teaspoonfuls?

Yes shall I put it in a cup.

Exercises Lesson 43

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns for beginners

It's important to know if a noun is countable or uncountable. This is going to help us to use the correct article. Let's learn more.

• What Are Countable Nouns?

Nouns that can be counted and used with a number are known as countable nouns . Countable nouns have both singular and plural forms.

• 1 apple, 2 apples
• 15 cats, 3 dogs
• 1 car, 2 spoons

Take these apples .

Give me a pen .

I need five more balls .

Using Countable Nouns in a Sentence

• What Are Uncountable Nouns?

Uncountable nouns cannot be counted and therefore only have a singular form. Additionally, they cannot be used with numbers.

• Butter (Not 1 butter)
• Rice (Not 2 rices )
• Honey (Not 3 honeys )

My hair is dark.

I'm eating honey and bread .

• Using Singular and Plural Verbs

When using nouns as subjects, it's important to use singular verbs with singular nouns and plural verbs with plural nouns . Pay attention to the examples:

Your eyes are blue.

The jam was sweet.

A glass is on the table.

• Common Uncountable Nouns

Here is a list of common uncountable nouns:

• Asking about Countable and Uncountable Nouns

When forming questions, how many is used with countable nouns , and how much is used with uncountable nouns .

How many chairs are there?

How much juice is there?

You might also like

Compound nouns, proper and common nouns, singular and plural nouns, collective nouns, possessive nouns.

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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.

Find More Informative Reads in English below

This was all about countable and countable nouns and exercises. Hope you understand the concept and know how to proceed. You can also follow Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

Harshita is a creative writer cum literature enthusiast in pursuit to extend her learnings of overseas and Indian education sectors to the masses, through her well-curated articles. You may also find her emerging in prose writing or reading Toni Morrison when not writing stuff related to education.

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