coursework is countable or uncountable noun

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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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Varied and diverse (Talking about differences, Part 1)

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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:

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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.
• Essential Basic English Lessons
• Guide to Expressions of Quantity
• Countable and Uncountable Nouns Explained for ESL
• ESL Lesson Plan on Countable and Uncountable Nouns
• Express Quantity in English for Beginning Speakers
• Learn the Seven Types of English Nouns
• Countable and Non-Countable Nouns: Using How Much and How Many
• Common Mistakes in English: A Little vs. a Few, Little vs. Few
• Some or Any for Absolute Beginner English
• Expressing Quantity for Large Amounts
• Writing Sentences for Beginners
• Plural Noun Forms
• Common Writing Mistakes
• How to Place 'Too' and 'Enough' in English Sentences
• Formation and Usage of Possessive Nouns
• Vocabulary Related to How Food Tastes and Food Preparation

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Introduction to Countable and Uncountable Nouns

In this lesson we’re looking at Countable and Uncountable nouns in English.

If you need help to destinguish between countable and uncountable nouns, this is the right lesson for you. We’re going to look at lots of different countable and uncountable nouns, as well as how to use them with articles and key words like little , few , some  or  any .

Have fun with the lesson, and don’t forget to try the quizzes by clicking on their links below

– James.

Lesson Contents

Countable nouns.

So what is a countable noun ? Here’s an example. “Mango” is a countable noun . It can be singular (mango) or plural (mangoes).

I love mangoes .

I eat a mango at every meal.

Countable nouns can be used with numbers: “Three mangoes.” “Twenty mangoes.” Here are a few more examples of countable nouns :

Bob has two cars , he’s very rich.

I saw a great film last night.

How many children have you got?

This island has lots of beautiful waterfalls .

Do you keep chickens ?

Uncountable nouns

So what’s an uncountable noun then? Let me give you an exmaple. “Rice” is an uncountable noun . It only has one form (rice).

I love rice .

I eat rice at every meal.

Uncountable nouns cannot be used with numbers, we cannot say “ Three rices. ” “ Twenty rices. ” Here are a few more examples of  uncountable nouns :

There is too much traffic on the roads nowadays.

I listen to music while I work.

Do you want some water ?

This island has wonderful fresh air .

Using A & AN with countable nouns

A and AN can be used with singular countable nouns :

an apple / a problem / a university

Singular countable nouns cannot be used alone (A / AN / YOUR etc.)

Can I have a mango ? (not “Can I have mango?”)

I read an article in the paper . (not “article in the paper.”)

You can, however, use a plural countable noun alone:

Smartphones are quite expensive.

Using A & AN with uncountable nouns

A and AN cannot usually be used with uncountable nouns . We cannot say “ a milk ”  “ a water ”  “ a sand “ . You can, however, use A…OF . For example:

a pint of milk / a glass of water / a bucket of sand

Uncountable nouns can be used alone (without A / AN / YOUR etc.):

Would you like more rice ?

I have sand in my bag.

Match the halves of these sentences that use countable and uncountable nouns.

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1 . Question

Sort elements.

• an hour long.
• a bottle of sunscreen.

Using SOME / ANY / MANY / FEW with countable nouns

SOME and ANY can be used with plural countable nouns :

Would you like some sausages ?

Have you got any gloves ?

We can also use MANY and FEW with plural countable nouns :

They didn’t have many children .

I have a few books to sell.

Choose the correct missing word or words from the sentences.

0 of 9 Questions completed

Sorry about that, it was ... .

• an accident

2 . Question

Can you smell ... ?

3 . Question

I was late for work because I didn't set ... .

4 . Question

It's not raining, why do you have ... ?

• an umbrella

5 . Question

Do you like ... in your meals?

6 . Question

Would you like ... with your bags?

7 . Question

I had ... at work.

8 . Question

There was ... all over the seat.

9 . Question

Can I ask ... of you?

Using SOME / ANY / MUCH / LITTLE with uncountable nouns

SOME and ANY can be used with uncountable nouns :

Would you like some rice ?

Do you have any money ?

We can also use MUCH and LITTLE with uncountable nouns :

They didn’t have much time .

I have a little wine left.

Decide if the underlined word needs to be corrected. Choose OK if you think that the sentence works.

Bob hitchhikes everywhere. He hasn't got car .

He was playing music last night.

We're going to great restaurant tonight.

• a great restaurant

To make some great pancakes, just add rum .

Is there cash-point near here?

• a cash-point

My friend works in museum .

We don't like laziness .

Can you smell smoke ?

We watched great match when we went to Wimbledon.

• a great match

All Quizzes

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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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Countable and uncountable nouns | English grammar

5th October 2017 by Andrew 14 Comments

What is a noun?

Look around you. Everything you see is a noun! (desk, computer, phone, car). Nouns are therefore objects and things. But they can also be non-physical things like ideas.

A noun is a word that names:

Things  – Examples: table, chair, water. People  – Examples: Mark, Jane, pilot, driver. Animals  – Examples: dog, cat. Places   – Examples: London, kitchen, country. Concepts, ideas or feelings   – Examples: love, hate, jealousy, information.

2 types of noun – Countable and uncountable

In English grammar, we divide nouns into 2 categories or types:

1) Countable nouns 2) Uncountable nouns

Why do we divide nouns into these 2 groups? Why is it important to know if a noun is countable or uncountable? It is important because English grammar rules are different for countable and uncountable nouns. You must understand and learn the difference.

Let’s look at each type in more detail:

Countable nouns

A countable noun is a separate object. It is a separate unit. We can clearly count the number of units of a countable noun. An example is “apple”.

A countable noun has a singular form (when there is one unit). Example: I have one apple.

It also has a plural form (where there is more than 1 unit) For regular nouns, we usually form the plural by adding “s” – Example: I have two apples.

We can count countable nouns because it is clear to see they are separate units.

In the singular form, we can use the indefinite article (“a” / “an”).  Example : I am eating an apple.

Examples of countable nouns: cat, lemon, desk, bus, bowl, sandwich, radio and many more.

Uncountable nouns

An uncountable noun is not a separate object or unit. We cannot count uncountable nouns. It is a large solid mass or liquid without clear boundaries. An example is “water” We cannot count water. We do NOT say “I have 3 waters” – It does not make sense. Water is a liquid and is just one big amount all together.

Uncountable nouns are therefore names of materials, gases, liquids, concepts, collections, mass objects without boundaries.

Examples : sugar, butter, oxygen, rice, pasta, salt, bread, milk, water

Example sentences :

More examples of uncountable nouns:

advice, air, alcohol, blood, butter, cheese, coffee, education, flour, food, furniture, grass, ice, information, luggage, meat, milk, money, music, news, oxygen, paper, pepper, rain, rice, salt, sand, snow, sugar, toothpaste, wine, wood and many more.

As you can see, “advice”, “information” and “news” are all uncountable in English. This often confuses ESL students because, in many other languages, these words are countable. Example, in French we say “des informations” and “un conseil” But in English, they are considered uncountable and do NOT have a plural form. “news” has a letter “s” on the end, but it is in fact  singular.

Here are some examples showing the correct and incorrect versions:

Some nouns are both countable and uncountable.

Some nouns can be considered as either countable or uncountable. It depends on the situation and context.

Example with the noun “chocolate”

Situation 1 – Imagine a box of chocolates.

There are lots of separate chocolates inside the box. They are individual entities. I can count them. “chocolate” in this context is countable. We say: “Do you want a chocolate?” “I ate three chocolates. They were delicious.”

Situation 2 – A bar of chocolate.

It is a mass of chocolate. Not separate. We cannot count this. “chocolate” in this context is uncountable. We say: “Do you want some chocolate?” “I ate some chocolate.”

Using a countable unit with an uncountable noun

Sometimes, we can use a “countable unit” with an uncountable noun. It is a way of sort of dividing up the uncountable noun. We can then put the countable unit in its plural form to express an amount of the uncountable noun.

Example : “water” Water is an uncountable noun because it is a liquid. We cannot count water. We say: “Do you want some water?

But, we can use a “countable unit” – Example: “glass”

Now we can say “Do you want a glass of water?”

Please understand that “water” is still an uncountable noun. That has not changed. But we are able to use the countable units (glass, jug, litre) to express a quantity of that water.

Other examples of this: bowl of rice slice of bread piece of cheese

More lessons

Plural forms of English nouns SOME and ANY (determiners) MUCH and MANY (determiners) Idioms about colours Vocabulary: BESIDES, EXCEPT and APART FROM

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Reader Interactions

Anna Francesca V. Sorbito says

25th June 2018 at 5:06 am

I will study this on saturday

kalinkan says

27th January 2020 at 9:09 am

you can study this on any time who cares it….

Jarrad Harries says

14th March 2020 at 7:06 pm

Oops. “Water” is both countable and uncountable:

“The waters of different oceans vary greatly in average salinity.”

In fact, the majority of the examples in your list of uncountable nouns can be both, albeit to a greater or lesser degree. Alcohol, cheese, meat, pepper… most so-called “uncountable nouns” can act as either!

Shambhavi says

1st August 2020 at 8:49 am

Aditya says

28th June 2019 at 6:18 am

Trees in forest are countable

1st August 2020 at 8:46 am

No trees in the forests are not countable .

1st August 2020 at 8:51 am

Yes trees in forest are countable.

Lance Vance says

2nd July 2019 at 7:07 pm

What about countable and uncountable nouns used together in a sentence? E.g., “English movies and TV [is/are] usually subtitled in Norway”.

I realize you can avoid the issue by using “TV shows” instead of just “TV”, but that doesn’t solve the issue.

Grammar Sage says

2nd September 2020 at 2:42 pm

Two nouns joined by ‘and’ always take a plural verb. Hence, English movies and TV are usually subtitled in Norway.

klinkan says

27th January 2020 at 9:05 am

okkk,is good but need to be more concept. And having some more live examples

Khushi says

1st July 2020 at 12:25 pm

M.Ganesh Adithya says

13th December 2020 at 5:24 pm

Hello sir /mam, Uncountable noun is always a singular form. But sometimes we say for example: Ana carries 2 pencils. Here pencils is plural form. Pencil is material noun how can a material noun be in plural form.

Please clarify my doubt.

Peter precious says

21st April 2021 at 3:28 pm

Wow,I love your teaching it amazing now I understand on how to differentiate uncountable band countable noun

I enjoyed your teaching

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• Countable And Uncountable Nouns

Countable and Uncountable Nouns - Meaning, Definition, Usage and Examples

Nouns , as you already know, are words that are used to name a person, place, animal, thing or idea. Having learnt about the types of nouns, singular nouns and plural nouns, you might be wondering what countable and uncountable nouns are. Is it any different from singular and plural nouns? Well, let’s find out. Go through the article to learn all about it, the meaning and definition of countable and uncountable nouns, and how they are formed and used in sentences along with examples.

Table of Contents

List of countable nouns, list of uncountable nouns, using countable nouns and uncountable nouns in sentences, examples of countable and uncountable nouns, check your understanding of countable and uncountable nouns, frequently asked questions on countable and uncountable nouns, what is a countable noun – meaning and definition.

A countable noun, as the name suggests, refers to nouns that can literally be counted. The number or quantity of countable nouns can be quoted exactly. To identify if a noun is countable, you can ask the question ‘how many’. A countable noun, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “a noun that has both a singular and a plural form and names something that can be counted because there can be one or more of it”. The Macmillan Dictionary defines a countable noun as “a noun that has singular and plural forms. In the plural, countable nouns usually add an ‘s’ or ‘es’, for example ‘mistakes’, ‘problems’, and ‘buses’. When it is singular, a countable noun usually comes after a determiner such as ‘a’, ‘this’, ‘any’, or ‘a lot of’, for example ‘this house, ‘a week’, and ‘the way’.”

A countable noun is also defined as “a noun (such as bean or sheet) that forms a plural and is used with a numeral, with words such as many or few, or with the indefinite article a or an”, by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and “a noun such as ‘ bird’, ‘ chair’, or ‘ year’ which has a singular and a plural form and is always used after a determiner in the singular” by the Collins Dictionary.

Here is a list of a few countable nouns and its plural forms for your reference.

You can check out the articles on singular nouns and plural nouns for more examples.

What is an Uncountable Noun? – Meaning and Definition

Any noun that cannot be counted can be classified as an uncountable noun. Nouns like water, rice, oil, etc. belong to this category. Unlike countable nouns, uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. If the noun in a sentence does not have a specific quantity and answers the question ‘how much’, then it can be considered an uncountable noun. The definition of an uncountable noun according to the Cambridge Dictionary is “a noun that has one form with no plural and names something that there can be more or less of but that cannot be counted”. According to the Macmillan Dictionary, an uncountable noun is “a noun that has no plural form” and also those that “usually refer to abstract things such as ‘advice’, ‘luck’, and ‘information’, or to substances such as ‘milk’, ‘blood’, and ‘smoke’.” Furthermore, “a noun such as ‘ gold’, ‘ information’, or ‘ furniture’ which has only one form and can be used without a determiner” is classified as an uncountable noun by the Collins Dictionary.

Here is a table with some uncountable nouns for your reference.

Once you know what countable and uncountable nouns are, the next step is to learn how to use them in sentences. There is just one fact that makes the usage of countable and uncountable nouns different from each other. Countable nouns are always used with a determiner. Determiners include articles (a, an, the) and quantitative adjectives such as a number, collective nouns that indicate a particular number such as a dozen (12), a pair (2), a score (20), a baker’s dozen (13), etc. and words like a few, lots of, a number of, etc. On the other hand, uncountable nouns can appear with or without a determiner as there is no specific number being referred to. However, there are instances where you can combine an uncountable noun with a countable noun to indicate the exact quantity of the particular noun.

Let us look at a few examples of both countable and uncountable nouns and the different ways in which they are used in sentences.

First, let us look at how countable nouns work.

• I have a dog.
• My mom bought half a kilo of oranges and apples on her way to visit my grandmother in the hospital .
• I had to pick up two of my friends on the way.
• Banu found a few books that could help our research.
• Jason bought a dozen eggs .

Let us now check how uncountable nouns are used in sentences.

• Would you like to have some milk before you go to bed?
• Firoz asked his son to throw out the garbage before he went to college.
• Sanu had blood on her hand; nobody including her knew what had happened.
• Is there any water left in the jug?
• We were asked to collect information about the new education policy before noon.

As already mentioned, uncountable nouns can be combined with countable nouns at times. Let us look at some examples to see how it can be done.

• The doctor has asked me to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
• We had only two packets of oil left.
• I guess I added an extra teaspoon of sugar to it.
• Veronica needed one more piece of equipment to work on her project.
• I found five packs of unused paper stashed in the top row of my shelf.

Go through the following sentences and identify if the underlined nouns are countable or uncountable.

1. All successful candidates will be notified within a week.

2. I don’t prefer to have tea in the morning.

3. Does anyone have an extra blue pen?

4. The students who had not completed their homework were asked to stay back after class and complete it.

5. My mom’s watch stopped working.

6. The soil used has to be really fertile if you want the plants to grow well.

7. Chitra broke her spectacles while playing volleyball.

8. You have to saute all the vegetables and add rice only after the vegetables are half cooked.

9. How many apples did you buy?

10. Will the food be enough for our guests?

Let us find out if you identified the nouns correctly. Check out the answers given below.

Candidates – Countable, Week – countable

Tea – Uncountable

Blue pen – Countable

Students – Countable

Watch – Countable

Soil – uncountable, Plants – Countable

Spectacles – Countable

Vegetables – – Countable, Rice – uncountable

Apples- Countable

Food – Uncountable

What is a countable noun?

A countable noun, as the name suggests, refers to nouns that can literally be counted. The number or quantity of countable nouns can be quoted exactly. To identify if a noun is countable, you can ask the question ‘how many’.

What is an uncountable noun?

Any noun that cannot be counted can be classified as an uncountable noun. Nouns like water, rice, oil, etc. belong to this category. Unlike countable nouns, uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. If the noun in a sentence does not have a specific quantity and answers the question ‘how much’, then it can be considered an uncountable noun.

Give some examples of countable nouns.

Nouns such as elephant, man, girl, baby, watermelon, tomato, onion, plant, bus, train, ticket, pencil, book, page, peacock, etc. are some examples of countable nouns.

Give some examples of uncountable nouns.

Rice, soil, oil, water, advice, hair, air, pressure, blood, pain, luggage, smoke, data, etc. are a few examples of uncountable nouns.

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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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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)

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Definition of class noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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• acquire/get/lack experience/training/(an) education
• receive/provide somebody with training
• develop/design/plan a curriculum/course/program/syllabus
• give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
• hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
• moderate/lead/facilitate a discussion
• sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons
• go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
• be in the first, second, etc. grade (at school)
• study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
• finish/drop out of/quit school
• graduate from high school/college
• be the victim/target of bullying/teasing
• skip/cut/ ( informal ) ditch class/school
• cheat on an exam/a test
• get/be given a detention (for doing something)
• be expelled from/be suspended from school
• do your homework/a project on something
• work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/a paper
• finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies
• hand in/turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
• study/prepare/review/ ( informal ) cram for a test/an exam
• take/ ( formal ) sit for a test/an exam
• grade homework/a test
• do well on/ ( informal ) ace a test/an exam
• pass/fail/ ( informal ) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject
• apply to/get into/go to/start college
• leave/graduate from college (with a degree in computer science)/law school
• study for/work towards a law degree/a degree in physics
• major/minor in biology/philosophy
• earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a Ph.D. in economics
• 3 [ countable ] ( also classes [ plural ] ) a series of classes on a particular subject synonym course I've been taking classes in pottery. Are you still doing your French night class?
• 4 [ countable ] a group of students who finish their studies at a school or college in a particular year the class of 2008 He graduated at the top of the class .
• 5 [ countable ] one of the groups of people in a society that are thought of as being at the same social or economic level the working/middle/upper class The party tries to appeal to all classes of society. the professional classes
• 6 [ uncountable ] the way that people are divided into different social and economic groups differences of class, race, or gender the class system a society in which class is more important than ability
• 8 [ uncountable ] an elegant quality or a high level of skill that is impressive She wouldn't make a scene in public. She has class . Some fresh flowers would add a touch of class to this room.
• 9 [ countable ] ( especially in compounds ) each of several different levels of comfort that are available to travellers in a plane, etc. He always travels business class. The first-class compartment is situated at the front of the train. see economy class syndrome , second-class , third-class , tourist class
• 10 [ countable ] a group into which animals, plants, etc. that have similar characteristics are divided, below a phylum compare family , genus , species

Other results

Nearby words.