Countable and uncountable nouns

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

In English grammar, words that refer to people, places, or things are called nouns. They can be classified in many ways.

One way to classify nouns is according to whether they can be counted or not. Many English mistakes are related to this point. By reading through this page, you will understand:

• what countable and uncountable nouns are

• how to use them correctly in a sentence

COUNTABLE (OR COUNT) NOUNS are words which can be counted. They have a singular form and a plural form. They usually refer to things. Most countable nouns become plural by adding an ‘s’ at the end of the word. (Example: chair - CHAIRS)

UNCOUNTABLE (OR NON-COUNT) NOUNS are words which cannot be counted. Therefore, they only have a singular form. They have no plural forms. These words are thought of as wholes rather than as parts. They usually refer to abstractions (such as confidence or advice) or collectives (such as equipment or luggage).

Using Countable & Uncountable Nouns When using countable or uncountable nouns, pay attention to articles and adjectives! Some articles and adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. However, others can be used with only countable or only uncountable nouns.

USED WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS ONLY

A a doctor, a pen, a meal, a class, a college

MANY many cups, many books, many libraries, many flights

FEW few questions, few tables, few apples, few holidays, few countries

A FEW a few questions, a few problems, a few issues, a few issues

USED WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS ONLY

MUCH

much money, much time, much food, much water, much energy

LITTLE little trouble, little equipment, little meat, little patience

A LITTLE BIT OF a little bit of confidence, a little bit of sleep, a little bit of snow

USED WITH COUNTABLE & UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

the countable the monkeys, the schools, the teachers, the boats, the bananas

uncountable the cheese, the machinery, the luggage, the grass, the knowledge

some countable some tables, some stores, some grapes, some cities, some nurses

uncountable some time, some news, some bread, some salt, some mail

any countable any forks, any socks, any bathrooms, any waiters, any beliefs

uncountable any advice, any soap, any transportation, any gold, any homework

no countable no magazines, no chocolates, no pilots, no rings, no markers

uncountable no trouble, no grass, no scenery, no money, no furniture

a lot of countable a lot of animals, a lot of coins, a lot of immigrants, a lot of babies

uncountable a lot of help, a lot of aggravation, a lot of happiness, a lot of fun

lots of countable lots of computers, lots of buses, lots of parties, lots of colleges

uncountable lots

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