Countable and Uncountable Nouns, Definition and Examples

English Countable and Uncountable Nouns, Definition and Examples

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English Countable and Uncountable Nouns, Definition and Examples


COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Nouns can be countable or uncountable. Countable nouns can be counted, for example a banana, two bananas, three bananas, etc. Uncountable nouns cannot be counted, for example rice, air, water, etc.

COUNTABLE

They have a single and a plural form. The single form can use the determiner “a” or “an”.

Singular                         Plural

one cat                         two cats

one fish                        two fishes

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one man                       two men

one idea                       two ideas

one dress                     two dresses

 

Examples

  • There are at least twenty Germany restaurants in Little Germany.
  • Jason took a lot of photographs when he went to the Grand Canyon.
  • Your notebook is on the kitchen table.
  • How many confectionery are on that birthday cake?
  • I have several paintings to study in art appreciation class.
  • There’s a big white dog running around the neighborhood.
  • There’s a woman at the door.
  • I have some relatives in New York.
  • I don’t have a bird.
  • She has three fish.
  • I own a plane.
  • I would like four books please.
  • How many magazines do you have?



UNCOUNTABLE

We cannot use a/an with these nouns. Use a word or expression like a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, 2kg of, 5L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a week of. If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, ‘’How much’’ is important question.

Examples

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  • There has been a lot of research into the causes of that ill.
  • He gave me a great deal of comment before my interview.
  • Can you give us some information about uncountable nouns?
  • She did not have much sugar left.
  • Measure 2 cup of water, 250g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
  • How much nuts do you want?
  • There’s some coffee in the fridge.
  • There isn’t any tea.
  • There is no more water in the pool.
  • Please help yourself to some puzzle.
  • You need to find information about Pulitzer Prize winners.
  • She seems to have a high level of intelligence.
  • Please take good care of yourself.
  • Let’s get rid of the bag.

Notice: Although some names are classified as names that can be counted in other languages, they are included in the class of those that cannot be counted in English. Uncountable nouns can be paired with words expressing plural form. Using these words can make your writing more specifical. Here are some examples with uncountable nouns. For example;

Work – Work included in the uncountable class and is used with the words we use in uncountable names. After 11 hours of work.

Garbage – There are five bags of garbage on the car.

Water – Try to drink at least nine glasses of water each day.

Advice – She gave me a easy piece of advice.

Bread – Please buy a loaf of bread.

Furniture – Study desk is a piece of furniture.

Equipment – Some issues are an expensive piece of equipment.

Cake – Please bag ten slices of cake for me.

Notice: Hair can be used both countable and uncountable


Countable and Uncountable Nouns List
Uncountable Nouns Countable Nouns
flour bill
food bird
forgiveness boat
fresh air book
furniture bottle
gold road
grass room
work day
money deskpath
lightning animal
literature answer
love apartment
luck doctor
luggage dog
meat door
milk picture
mist ring
jam village
juice walk
knowledge wall
lamb week
pork window
power woman
wool year
ground dream
happiness dress
coffee box
confusion boy
cotton bridge
education brother
electricity bus
art bush
beef camp
blood captain
pressure car
rain card
rice eye
sadness face
salt factory
sand farm
shopping case
silver castle
snow cat
space chair
trousers chapter
vinegar chest
washing up child
washing up liquid cigarette
water girl
weather group
wine gun
wood hall
speed hand
noise river
oil city
oxygen class
paper adult
patience election
pay engine
peace father
peanut butter field
pepper film
petrol finger
plastic foot
steam friend
sugar game
advice page
air park
experience party
fiction club
sunshine plane
tea plant
tennis problem
time product
toothpaste programme
traffic project
entertainment coat
history college
homework computer
honey corner
hope country
ice crowd
information cup
handle
hat
head

 

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