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1) Uncountable nouns: Substances or things that cannot be divided. Ex: music, love, news (but
you say a piece of news), bread (but I want to buy 2 loaves of bread please), advice,
countryside, accomodation, damage, information, furniture, luggage (BE), baggage (AE),
rice (but you say a grain of rice), sugar, butter, water, electricity, gas, power, money.

Ex: -I don’t have much money left. I only have 2 dollars.

-Have you had any news of Patrick?

-Bring your luggage up here

-I need your valuable advice. Give me some tips please.

Countable Uncountable
Dollar, bill (AE), note (BE) money
Song music
Suitcase Luggage(BE) , baggage (AE)
Table furniture
Battery electricity
Glass/ bottle Water, wine… (any liquid)
Report Information
Tip Advice
Trip / journey Travel (the activity of travelling)
job work
view Scenery
A piece/ a bit of News - equipment
*Making some uncountable nouns countable:

2) Nouns that are always in plural. We have scissors, savings, pants (AE), trousers (BE),
clothes, glasses (referring to what you wear), contacts, amends, smithereens (small pieces),
damages (amount of money that a court decides should be paid to repair damage), papers
(documents with info in them), binoculars, headphones, pajamas (AE), pyjamas (BE), boxers,
etc.

Ex: -He was ordered to pay damages totaling $30000

- His desk was covered with papers
-The bomb blew the car to smithereens
-I’m wearing red pants / a pair of red pants
-She tried to make amends for what she had said and bought some flowers to her mother.

3) Collective nouns

They refer to a group, but are used as a singular noun. Ex: audience, band, class, crowd, dozen,
family, public, staff, team, jury, etc.

-“The family is very important for the automatic system that we call society”. -Caleb
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4) Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable:

Uncountable Countable
tea In general Cups of tea
Ex: I want to drink some tea Ex: Two teas, please= 2 cups of tea
coffee In general Cups of coffee
Ex: I love coffee Ex: Two strong black coffees, please
beer In general Glass, bottle or can of beer
Ex: You drink beer every weekend Ex: Shall we have a beer?
Ice cream The food in general Ice cream on a stick, in a cone, or in a
Ex: Desserts are served with ice small container
cream Ex: Who wants an ice cream?
cheese In general, not specific Type of cheese
Ex: Let’s buy some cheese Ex: A selection of French cheeses
room Space a space inside a building with walls, a
Ex: There’s not enough room in here floor and a ceiling
Ex: This house has 3 rooms
experience The knowledge you have gained An activity/ event that affects you in
Ex: Do you have any previous some way
experience? Ex: An exciting experience
paper Material used for writing, wrapping Newspaper
Ex: I need some paper Ex: A Sunday paper
time Duration A particular occasion
Ex: There’s no time left. I won’t finish Ex: I have visited my aunt 3 times this
my exam. week.
work In general A particular work
Ex: Teaching is a lot of work, and you Ex: That picture is a work of art.
need a lot of patience.
beauty Quality that makes sth/sb beautiful A beautiful woman
Ex: The beauty of the sunset Ex: Diana is such a beauty!