Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns are things you can count: ⟦one apple, two apples⟧. Uncountable nouns are things you can't count one by one, like ⟦water⟧, ⟦rice⟧ or ⟦advice⟧: they have no plural and never take ⟦a⟧ or ⟦an⟧. The kind of noun decides which words go with it.

Key facts

  • Countable nouns have a singular and a plural and can take ⟦a⟧ or ⟦an⟧: ⟦an egg⟧, ⟦three eggs⟧.
  • Uncountable nouns have no plural and take a singular verb: ⟦The milk is cold.⟧ ⟦The news is good.⟧ ⟦Advice⟧, ⟦information⟧, ⟦furniture⟧, ⟦homework⟧ and ⟦luggage⟧ are uncountable in English.
  • ⟦many⟧ and ⟦a few⟧ go with plural countable nouns; ⟦much⟧ and ⟦a little⟧ go with uncountable nouns: ⟦many books⟧, ⟦much water⟧, ⟦a few eggs⟧, ⟦a little sugar⟧.
  • Ask ⟦How many…?⟧ for countable nouns and ⟦How much…?⟧ for uncountable nouns.
  • ⟦some⟧ and ⟦any⟧ go with both: ⟦some⟧ in positive sentences, offers and requests, ⟦any⟧ in most questions and negatives: ⟦I've got some rice.⟧ ⟦Is there any milk?⟧
  • To count an uncountable noun, use a container or a piece: ⟦a glass of water⟧, ⟦a loaf of bread⟧, ⟦a piece of advice⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Choose: ⟦How (much / many) money do you have?⟧

  1. We count coins, but we can't say ⟦two moneys⟧: ⟦money⟧ is uncountable.
  2. Uncountable nouns take ⟦much⟧: ⟦How much money do you have?⟧

Answer: ⟦How much money do you have?⟧

Example 2

Correct the mistake: ⟦She gave me some good advices.⟧

  1. ⟦Advice⟧ is uncountable in English, so it has no ⟦-s⟧.
  2. ⟦She gave me some good advice.⟧ For one, say ⟦a piece of advice⟧.

Answer: ⟦She gave me some good advice.⟧

Example 3

Fill the gap with ⟦a few⟧ or ⟦a little⟧: ⟦We have ___ eggs.⟧

  1. ⟦Eggs⟧ is a plural countable noun.
  2. ⟦a few⟧ goes with countable nouns: ⟦We have a few eggs.⟧

Answer: ⟦a few⟧