Countable Nouns & Uncountable Nouns

Countable Nouns & Uncountable Nouns

You probably already know that are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. You might also know that we can categorise nouns based on certain features that they share.

For instance, we can divide nouns into proper nouns and common nouns. Another way that we can classify nouns is by whether or not they are countable or uncountable, and that’s the topic of this exciting lesson!

The definitions of these types of nouns are exactly what you would think they would be!

 

Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted.

cracker, plant, painting

Since countable nouns can be counted, they can be singular (one) or plural (more than one). Notice that we can say cracker (singular) or crackers (plural), and they both make sense.

We can also say How many before them, but not How much.

How many crackers would you like? 

How many plants did you buy?

Uncountable nouns are nouns that can’t be counted.

water, homework, luggage

Uncountable nouns can’t be made plural. Why? Because we can’t count them! We can say homework, but we wouldn’t say homeworks. (Psst! Treat uncountable nouns as singular.)

We can say How much before them, but not How many.

How much water should I use? 

How much homework do you have?

If you’re a native English speaker, you most likely absorbed this lesson when you were a child, without anyone pointing it out to you. In fact, you can probably figure out yourself which nouns are countable and which are uncountable just by adding an –s to the end of the word and testing to see if it “sounds right.”

Plants, a countable noun, just “sounds right.” Luggages, an uncountable noun, just “sounds wrong.”

Why This Matters (Fewer vs. Less)

Determiners are a category of adjectives. (They describe nouns.) There are many determiners. Here are just a few.

a, the, some, many, every

Some determiners can be used with all nouns whether they are countable or uncountable. For example, the word some can be used with either type of noun.

I would like some crackers. –> Yes (crackers = countable)

He would like some food. –> Yes (food = uncountable)

However, other determiners can only be used with countable nouns and some can only be used with uncountable nouns. For example, the word a can be used with singular countable nouns, but it can’t be used with uncountable nouns.

I would like a cracker. –> Yes (cracker = countable)

I would like a food. –> No (food = uncountable)

I would like some food. –> Yes (food = uncountable)

Look at this sentence and see if you can you explain why it’s incorrect.

10 item or Less

Do you have an answer? Good! Here’s the scoop:

Less is a determiner that is used only with uncountable nouns. Fewer is a determiner that is used only with countable nouns.

The noun being modified here is items. Since items is a countable noun, the correct determiner is fewer.

Some Nouns Can Function As Either

Some nouns can function as countable or uncountable. They are usually treated as countable when you’re referring to varieties of the thing. For instance, cheese is usually an uncountable noun, but you can use it as a countable noun if you are referring to varieties of cheese.

I love cheese! (uncountable)

I bought many cheeses for the party. (countable)

Uncountable Nouns & Measurements

We can’t count uncountable nouns, so you’ll often see units (cups, bottles, slices) used along with the noun in order to refer to certain amounts.

 cups of water

 slices of cake

bottle of milk

A Short List of Uncountable Nouns

I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty easy to come up with countable nouns. Uncountable nouns, however, are a bit harder to generate. Because of that, I thought I’d provide you with a little list of uncountable nouns just to get your wheels turning. 🙂

advice, air, courage, food,
furniture, happiness, homework,
information, luggage, milk, music,
rice, sand, snow, water, weather, wine

Some nouns have both countable and uncountable meanings:

Countable meaning	Uncountable meaning
Substances
I need an iron to press my trousers.	Steel is made from iron.
My grandma raises chickens.	Would you prefer chicken or turkey?
A rolling stone gathers no moss.	Different kinds of stone can be used for different purposes.
We found ourselves in the middle of the wood.	All the desks in here are made of wood.
A glass of beer, please.	Glass does not conduct electricity well.
Would you like a coffee?	Would you like some coffee?
Activities
I had an interesting thought yesterday.	Eastern thought is characterised by dualism.
Simon got a basketball for Christmas.	Basketball is played by teams of five.
Mr Pit runs a business selling recyclable diapers.	Online business is thriving these days.
No war is a just war.	I’ve just read War and Peace by Tolstoy.
My literature professor’s cats usually get their names from Shakespeare’s works.	How was work today?
Abstract notions
This boy is a real help around the house.	I need some help to finish this essay.
Languages can become extinct.	Language is a human instinct.
Those apples are real beauties.	Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
It’s always good to do small kindnesses for each other.	I thanked her for her kindness.
The play was a success.	Success is often only the result of hard work.
Emotions
And now, some of my worries about the project.	Worry is usually a destructive emotion.
He was torn between two loves.	All you need is love.
I have a fear of heights.	Aristotle’s definition of catharsis is based on experiencing pity and fear.
There are hopes of finding a remedy for your disease.	Hope dies last.
It is a pleasure to have met you.	Pat finds great pleasure in nursing.

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AGH /Jan 2020