Countable Nouns and Uncountable Nouns

Countable Nouns
Countable nouns (also called count nouns) are things, animals, people, places, etc. which can be counted: books, pictures, stations, men, Italians, shops, etc. Countable nouns have both singular and plural forms. For example: a friend a tree an apple a child an analysis friends trees apples children analyses

Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns (also called noncount nouns) are materials, concepts, information, etc. which are abstract things or things that do not have a definite shape. They normally cannot be counted and do not have a plural form. Abstract things: happiness, knowledge, wisdom, health, etc. Things that do not have a definite shape: water, wood, salt, sugar, etc.

The Use and Non-Use of a/an with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
1. Use a/an with countable nouns that are singular: I have a horse. (Horse is a countable noun.) Tom is a very intelligent young man. (Man is a countable noun.) 2. It is usually wrong to use a/an with uncountable nouns:

Wrong: That is a very useful information. (Information is uncountable) Right: That is useful information. Right: That is a piece of useful information. Wrong: I just heard an interesting news. (News is uncountable) Right: I just heard an interesting piece of news. Many uncountable nouns in English are countable in other languages. Speakers of those languages can easily make a mistake because of the difference. Here is a list of some of the uncountable nouns that may confuse students of English: advice baggage bread equipment furniture garbage information knowledge luggage money news research travel work homework scenery mail Many uncountable nouns can be counted by naming the container, shape, weight, etc. in which they are measured. These measurements are countable: watera glass of water/soda/orange juice equipmenta piece of equipment cheesea slice of cheese/bread/cake/lemon Here are some of the most common quantity expressions for these uncountable nouns: breada slice of bread, a loaf of bread sugara cube of sugar, a spoon/spoonful of sugar salta spoon/spoonful of salt, a pinch of salt, a sprinkle of salt meata piece of meat, a slice of meat, a pound of meat buttera bar of butter cheesea slice of cheese, a chunk of cheese, a piece of cheese snowa flake of snow icea cube of ice toothpastea tube of toothpaste soapa bar of soap advice a piece of advice, a word of advice baggagea piece of baggage equipmenta piece of equipment, a bit of equipment furniturea piece of furniture garbagea piece of garbage informationa piece of information luggagea piece of luggage newsa piece of news, an incident, an event researcha piece of research, a research project

sanda grain of sand

Some uncountable nouns can be replaced by countable nouns that have the same meaning if you want to express a countable concept. For example: worka job, a position, a task homeworkan assignment knowledgea fact moneya bill (note), a coin travela journey, a trip Wrong: Im looking for a work. Wrong: Im looking for work. Right: Im looking for a job. Wrong: Did you enjoy your travel to Paris? Right: Did you enjoy your trip to Paris? Wrong: The math teacher gave us another homework today. Right: The math teacher gave us another (homework) assignment today. Wrong: A shocking news happened on this street yesterday. Right: A shocking incident/event happened on this street yesterday. Right: Something shocking happened on this street yesterday. Right: There was a robbery/fire/fight on this street yesterday. Wrong: Ive got five homeworks to do tonight, so I cant go out with you. Right: Ive got five homework assignments to do tonight, so I cant go out with you. 3. Countable nouns should either be preceded by a/an or be used in the plural: Wrong: How much is ticket for the movie? Right: How much are tickets for the concert? Wrong: I see star in the sky. Right: I see stars in the sky. Right: I see a star in the sky. 4. Countable nouns can be preceded by such words and phrases as many, a lot of,

lots of, a (large) number of, few, a few, plenty of, but not with much, a great deal of, little (=not much) and a little (a small amount of): Wrong: He has much friend. Right: He has many friends. Right: He has a lot of friends.

Uncountable Used as Countable Nouns Many uncountable nouns can sometimes or often be used as countable nouns. When an uncountable noun is used as a countable noun (used with a/an or in the plural), its meaning is slightly or very different from what it means when it is used as an uncountable noun. Compare the following sentences:
I bought a new TV (=TV set) yesterday. Whats on TV (=television broadcasting) tonight? My son likes to eat pizza (=pizza as a type of food) I ordered a pizza (=a pizza pie). I need a pen and some paper (=material for writing on). Im writing a paper (=a piece of school work) for my history class. To stay healthy, you should drink lots of water (=the clear liquid we use for drinking and washing). They fished in the shallow waters (=a large body of water) of the Gulf of Mexico. Ill never forget his kindness (=kind behavior toward someone) to me. I want to thank you for all your kindnesses (=kind acts). From personal experience (=knowledge or skill), I know how hard it is to be a good teacher. The man wants to write a book about his experiences (=things that happen to a person) as a firefighter. She cant sleep if she drinks too much coffee (=coffee as a drink). Two coffees (=cups of coffee) and a tea, please.

Countable Nouns Used as Uncountable Nouns Some countable nouns are at times used as uncountable nouns (used in the singular form without a/an). This usage is usually found in idioms. For example:
This is one of the most interesting places I have visited. (Place is normally a countable noun.) Please keep this key in a safe place. The chairs are all in place. (In place is an idiom.)

The old man has two houses. (The word house is normally a countable noun.) My uncle has just bought a new house. His sister used to keep house for him. (Keep house is an idiom.) I gave my little sister five pens as a birthday gift. (Pen is a countable noun) I cant writeI dont have a pen. Please fill out this form in pen. (In pen is an idiom.)
Nouns Used as Adjectives When nouns, whether countable or uncountable, are used as adjectives, they are usually singular: Right: The writer has two pen names. (Pen is an adjective). Wrong: The write has two pens names. Right: I looked for his telephone number in a telephone book. (Telephone is an adjective.) Wrong: I looked for his telephone number in a telephones book. Occasionally countable nouns are in the plural when used as adjectives: A weapons carrier is a truck for transporting weapons. (Weapons is in the plural.)