The use of nouns in English has many nuances. But don’t be discouraged: as you know, nothing is impossible for a person with intelligence! Let's learn how countable and uncountable nouns combine with articles and adjectives, and how they form the plural.
Countable or uncountable?
To understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, you just need to try what they mean.
Countable nouns denote things that exist as separate units. Usually we can perceive such objects using our senses. For example: pen, car, wall, cat, sentence, building.
Uncountable nouns refer to things that cannot be counted or divided into parts. Typically, such nouns denote abstract or collective concepts. For example: water, oil, joy, happiness, collaboration, attitude, development, interaction.
Keep in mind that countable nouns in English may be uncountable nouns in other languages, and vice versa.
Formation of the plural
- I bought a car.
- Tom kicked the ball.
- Does he like this tall girl? No, Tom likes that girl of medium height.
- Jane likes to water the flowers.
- Did you plant these trees? No, I planted those trees.
Uncountable
- The paper is white.
- This bread is going dry.
- Progress is inevitable.
Collective words
The use of collective nouns is presented in the form of a table. Some of them can be used in combination: manymore, manyfewer, muchmore, muchless.
Let's look at examples of the use of nouns with different collective words:
Countable in the singular
- Jane has online lessons every day.
Countable in the plural
- Today most ESL students choose online courses by skype.
- Tom tried a couple of online lessons by skype and was pleased with them.
Uncountable
- He likes to take some milk for breakfast.
- The engine was producing little power so was delivered for repair.
Now you know how to use countable and uncountable nouns with articles and collective words. In addition, you learned what exceptions and special rules exist in the formation of the plural of nouns in English.
This topic is often found in entrance exams and will be useful to you.
Despite a considerable number of exceptions, many nouns in English can be divided into two categories: countable and uncountable. What is the difference between them? Let's figure it out.
Here are the main features by which countable nouns can be identified.
1) The presence of both singular and plural in this noun.
There is a book on the shelf. — There’s a book on the shelf.
Good books are very expensive. — Good books are very expensive.
I saw a little puppy in the park yesterday. — Yesterday in the park I saw a little puppy.
Puppies are so funny. - Puppies are so funny!
2) The possibility of using the indefinite article before this noun if it is singular.
Yesterday my husband presented me a little kitten. — Yesterday my husband gave me a little kitten.
I wanted a dog, not a cat! - I wanted a dog, not a cat!
If a countable noun begins with a vowel, then, in accordance with not having exceptions are the rule, before this word (which is singular, of course) is placed .
May I take an apple? -Can I have an apple?
I will add an egg to sauce. - I'll add an egg to the sauce.
3) Use only many (never much) before such nouns in the meaning “many/many”. In this case, these nouns are always in the plural.
Many students use cribs during exams. — Many students use cheat sheets during exams.
You must write many tests. - You have to write a lot of tests.
If the question is asked about the number of objects denoted by a countable noun, then this question begins only with how many.
How many children do you have? - How many children do you have?
How many cherries may I take? - How many cherries can I take?
4) Combination with few/a few (never little/a little) meaning “little/a little”.
It should be noted that if few is used, then the meaning will have a negative connotation - “very little”, and if before a countable noun - a few, then it simply means “a certain amount/several/a little”.
I found a few nice places of interest in your town. – I found very few beautiful sights in your city.
I must buy a few things in this shop. – I have to buy a few things (something) in this store.
5) Such nouns are countable, that is, they can be used with numerals.
I was in Paris two weeks ago. — I was in Paris two weeks ago.
May I buy three dresses in this shop, honey? —Can I buy three dresses in this store, dear?
The definition of uncountable nouns follows the principle of “by contradiction”.
1) Uncountable nouns (as a rule) do not have a plural.
I drink milk every day. — I drink milk every day.
My aunt never has luggage when she travels. — My aunt never has luggage when she travels.
2) Uncountable nouns are never preceded by an indefinite article, there are no exceptions.
All we need is love! - All we need is Love!
Water is so cold today, I want to stay at the hotel. — The water is so cold today, I want to stay at the hotel.
3) Use only much (never many) with these nouns if the meaning “many” is implied.
There is so much salt in this soup. — There is so much salt in this soup.
Much butter will not be useful for your health. — Too much oil will not be good for your health.
When asking about the quantity of something, if an uncountable noun is used, the sentence begins only with how much.
How much jam may I eat? – How much jam can I eat?
How much bread are you going to buy? - How much bread are you going to buy?
4) Use in the meaning of “little” with uncountable nouns - only with little/a little (respectively, never with few/a few).
As with countables, little gives a negative meaning to the statement. To deepen the negative connotation, you can add very to little. A little has a neutral meaning – “a certain amount/little”.
I speak little (very little) English, I cannot translate it. – I speak English poorly (very poorly), I can’t translate it.
There is a little water in this bottle, drink it. – There is some water in this bottle, drink it.
5) It is unacceptable to use numerals with uncountable nouns.
If this fact occurs, then it is considered illiterate vernacular. When it is necessary to indicate the quantity of something that is denoted by an uncountable noun, then it is necessary to mention the object/capacity with which this concept can be measured.
- One tea (one tea) - illiterate.
- A cup of tea (cup of tea) - competently.
- Two beers (two beers) - incorrect.
- Two bottles of beer (two bottles of beer) - correct.
In this moment, by the way, there is a coincidence with a similar situation in the Russian language. It happens that they say “two teas/two breads,” but according to strict rules this is a colloquial and illiterate option. It would be correct - “two cups of tea / two loaves (slices) of bread.”
Expression a piece of with uncountable nouns it means “piece/piece of something”.
I want a piece of bread, nothing more! - I want a piece of bread, nothing more!
Christ, I can see a piece of human’s bone! - Oh my God, I see a piece of human bone!
Sometimes this phrase with uncountable nouns is used in a very interesting meaning, and then it is impossible to translate the sentence word for word.
Can you give me a piece of advice? – Can you give me some advice?
To tell the truth, he is a piece of trash. – To tell the truth, he is a rare bastard (if translated literally, it will turn out to be “a piece of garbage”).
Basic groups of uncountable nouns
Determining an uncountable noun can be more difficult than a countable one, so when studying this aspect it is useful to remember groups of words, which mainly contain only uncountable nouns.
Abstract concepts, emotions or feelings, life phenomena
- love (love),
- happiness (happiness),
- friendship (friendship),
- traffic (road traffic),
- heat (heat).
Liquids, bulk or solid substances, materials for production
- water (water),
- wine (wine),
- milk (milk),
- sugar (sugar),
- dust (dust),
- iron (iron),
- wood (wood),
- gold (gold),
- wool (wool),
- silk (silk).
Food
- coffee (coffee),
- meat (meat),
- rice (rice),
- soup (soup),
- oil (vegetable oil),
- bread (bread),
- butter (butter),
- cream (meaning “sour cream”).
Perfumery products
- soap (soap),
- powder (powder),
- perfume (perfume),
- cream (meaning “cream”).
Sciences or theories
- maths (mathematics),
- mechanics (mechanics),
- politics
Groups that unite people/other living beings based on specific characteristics
- police (police),
- poultry (poultry),
- clergy (clergy),
- cattle (cattle).
Games, sports
- chess (chess),
- darts (darts),
- gymnastics (gymnastics).
Possessive
At first glance, the rule regarding this point is the same for both types of nouns: if either of them is in , then an apostrophe and s are added to it.
My sister’s room is very large. – My sister’s room is very large.
Milk's color is white. – Milk is white.
However, since countable nouns can be plural, but uncountable nouns cannot, the situation in these cases is different. The possessive case simply does not exist for uncountable plural nouns. Countables in the plural, if they end in s, have only an apostrophe at the end, and if they end in another letter, as in the singular, they have an apostrophe and s.
Dogs' legs - dogs' paws.
Women's shoes - women's shoes.
A lot of/some/any
A lot of
The expression a lot of in the meaning of “many” can be freely used with both groups of nouns, you just need to remember that the first will be in the plural, the second in the singular. Moreover: if there are doubts about the use of many or much, then this expression, a lot of, will help avoid mistakes if you use it.
There are a lot of (many) trees in my garden. – There are many trees in my garden.
There is a lot of (much) sugar in your pie. - There is a lot of sugar in your pie.
Some
Some in the meaning of “a certain amount / a little / several (for countable)” can also be used with all nouns, but only if the statement is positive.
I wanna buy some apples for our salad. – I want to buy some apples for our salad.
You must add some rice. – You should add a little (some amount) of rice.
Any
When asking a question with nouns from any group, any is used if the question is about the presence of the object/subject of interest.
Do you have any books about China? – Do you have books about China?
Do you have any milk for us? – Do you have milk for us?
If any is in a positive sentence, then any in all cases means “any/whatever”. Countable nouns can also be in the plural, the meaning will be the same.
Please, buy any car for me, I need a car! – Please buy me any (at least some) car, I need a car!
I am going to wear any dresses, long or short, red or white, and I will not listen to you! - I will wear any (whatever) dresses, long or short, red or white, and I won’t listen to you!
I can eat any food, I have no problems with my health. – I can eat any (any) food, I have no health problems.
Differences from Russian
As already mentioned, it is impossible to completely focus on Russian analogues in the study of countable and uncountable nouns. A striking example of this is “grapes” in Russian and the English version. In English there is the word grapes, which is similar to the Russian word “grape” to denote the type of berry, but at the same time as grapes there is also grape, which means “one grape”. These are not the singular and plural of the same noun, but completely different words.
Tasty late harvest grapes grows in South Africa. (Delicious late grapes grow in South Africa.)
I found a grape in my salad. (I found a grape in my salad.)
In Russian, as we know, “grapes” does not have a plural form, but to designate one little thing of this berry there is another word – “grape/grape”.
A large group of English nouns is special in that they can be countable or uncountable depending on the situation. They are classified as a special group of homonyms: even if spelled the same, they will have different meanings. Here are some examples of such cases.
I hate fish, I eat only meat! (I hate fish, I only eat meat!) – Fish as a food product is uncountable.
Yesterday I bought a new fish for my aquarium. (Yesterday I bought a new fish for my aquarium.) – Fish as one living creature, in this case a countable noun.
We decided to cook potato. (We decided to cook potatoes.) - In this sentence, potato is a food product, uncountable.
I'm a big potato. (I ate a large potato.) - Already countable, since it is used in the meaning of “one piece.”
I cannot eat so much salad. (I can’t eat that much salad.) – The type of dish mentioned is uncountable.
We made four salads. (We prepared four salads/four types of salads.) - Countable.
Some uncountable nouns in English require a definite article. Example - weather: this word always comes with a definite article if there is no adjective before it.
If the weather is fine, we will go to the village. – If the weather is good, we will go to the village.
The weather in Paris was very good last week. – The weather in Paris last week was very good.
The word news has become a “talk of the town” among linguists in terms of inconsistency with the Russian version. This uncountable noun has a grammatical meaning of singular if it has a plural ending.
Bad news is that you will stay at home! – The bad news (singular) is that you will stay at home!
However, news in the same form can also become countable if we are talking about several news items. In this case, the word is considered to be in the plural.
Some news are not truthful in this magazine. – Not all the news (plural) in this magazine is true.
Another unique uncountable noun is money. In modern Russian, the word “dengi” does not have a singular number, although the word “denga” once existed (now it is considered dead). But in English money, on the contrary, is used only in the singular and never had a plural.
I think, money solves all problems. – I think money solves all problems.
For those who prefer to learn by video, we made a short video on the topic of countable and uncountable nouns:
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In English there are countable and uncountable. To put it briefly, countable things can be counted with a finger, but uncountable ones cannot. In this article, we'll look at the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, and when a noun can fall into both categories.
What are countable nouns
Countable nouns(countable nouns) denote objects, phenomena, concepts that can be counted in the speaker’s mind. For example: egg (egg), house (house), suggestion (offer), minute (minute). Countable nouns in English can be used in both the singular and:
I have a puppy. - I have puppy.
My sister has puppies. - My sister has puppies.
Other examples of countable nouns:
I have a few questions. - I have some questions.
There is an old tree in the valley. - There is something old in the valley tree.
May I have a donut?- Can I donut?
Take any umbrella you want. - Take any umbrella, whichever one you want.
This is my sister's photo.- This photo my sister's.
As you can see, countable nouns are combined with words that in their meaning are suitable specifically for “piecemeal” rather than abstract objects, for example, with an article: we can say “a donut”, which is literally perceived as “one donut”, the article itself is “a” \an” already implies “piecemeality”, “separateness” of the object. We can say “a few questions” - “a few questions”, because questions are, although not solid, tangible objects, but still something that can be counted.
Uncountable nouns cannot be combined with such words.
What are uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns(uncountable nouns) denote objects, substances, concepts that cannot be counted. These include the names of abstract concepts, substances, various masses, bulk materials and products, liquids: art- art, oil– oil, petroleum, salt- salt, tea- tea. Uncountable nouns are used only in the singular:
We ran out of sugar. - We've run out sugar.
Art is immortal. – Art immortal.
Oil is flammable. – Oil highly flammable.
Other examples of uncountable nouns:
- Abstract concepts:
Kids have a lot of energy.- Children have a lot energy.
You can't stop progress.- Can't be stopped progress.
- Liquids, solids, food:
I mean food products, when we are talking not about one, say, stick of sausage, but about sausage in general as a product.
I spill milk.- I spilled milk.
This jar holds two pounds of sugar.– This jar holds two pounds Sahara.
My girlfriend doesn't eat meat.– My girlfriend doesn’t eat meat.
- Languages, games, academic disciplines
Sorry, amigo, I don’t speak Spanish.- Sorry, amigo, I don't say in Spanish.
I can't play volleyball- I don't know how to play volleyball.
We have chemistry now, and then math.- We have now chemistry, and then mathematics.
- Metals, natural resources, gaseous substances
This pendant is made of iron and gold.– This pendant is made from gland And gold.
We don't have that much wood.– We don’t have that much wood.
I couldn't see anything in the bathroom because of steam.– Nothing was visible in the bathroom because pair.
The list can be continued, adding, for example, natural phenomena (thunder), but I think that the general meaning is clear: uncountable nouns appear to us as something NOT “piecemeal”, as something that cannot be counted with a finger, as something generalized .
Uncountable nouns cannot be in the plural, they are not combined with, implying that we are talking about something separate, countable, and such pronouns as “a few” - several. Although in a certain context a word that is usually uncountable can become countable.
When an uncountable noun becomes countable
Sometimes a noun is used as a countable noun in one context and as an uncountable noun in another. For example, if we talk about coffee in general, as a drink in general, then coffee is an uncountable noun:
Do you like coffee?- Do you like coffee?
If we talk about coffee as a portion of a drink, meaning one cup or glass, then coffee is already a countable noun.
May I have a coffee, please? – Can I have some coffee, please? (Cup of coffee)
Note: in English it so happens that not every drink can be said “a + drink”, meaning a glass of drink. You can say “a coffee”, “a tea”, “a whiskey”, but about water they usually say “a glass of water” - a glass of water.
“A Piece of Advise” and other ways to make the uncountable countable
When we are talking about a separate part, portion, element of something uncountable, established combinations are used. There is something similar in the Russian language. For example, when talking about a “portion”, one unit of chocolate, we usually say “chocolate bar”, because chocolate is usually sold in the form of bars, the very phrase “chocolate bar” for us is something familiar, established, like “a cup of tea” or “piece of furniture.” Here are the “portioned” combinations in English:
- a bar of chocolate- chocolate bar
- a bar of soap- a piece of soap
- a loaf of bread– roll/loaf of bread
- a slice of pizza– a slice of pizza (slice – a piece cut with a knife)
- a bottle of whiskey– a bottle of whiskey
- a cup of tea- Cup of tea
- a piece of furniture- piece of furniture
- a tube of tooth paste– a tube of toothpaste
I will highlight separately:
- a piece of advice- advice
In English, the word “advice” is uncountable, so you can’t say “an advice”.
Why is it necessary to divide nouns into countable and uncountable?
What is the practical benefit of knowing that “milk” is an uncountable noun and “table” is a countable noun? The benefit is that sometimes the choice of word to go with a noun depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.
1. Articles.
If any is possible before a countable noun, then “a\an” cannot be placed before an uncountable noun, since it implies piecework.
There is a table in the room. - There is a table in the room.
It takes courage to follow your heart. “It takes courage to follow your heart.”
2. Pronouns denoting quantity.
About countable objects we can say many, but you can't say much. And vice versa. This is a bit strange for us, because both many and much in Russian mean “many,” and in Russian “many” is combined with both countable and uncountable nouns. In English, many is “a lot of countable things,” and much is “a lot of uncountable things.”
We don't have much time! - We don't have much time!
I've never seen so many people. – I have never seen so many people.
She has many friends who have much power. – She has many friends who have a lot of power.
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Nouns are a group of words that deserve special attention when learning any language. In English, the most important rule regarding nouns is to be able to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns. It's not as difficult as it might seem. This lesson will provide the most complete explanation of this topic. You will be presented with examples of both countable and uncountable nouns, as well as very important and necessary expressions with translation into Russian.
Let's start in order, let's understand the terminology.
Countable nouns represent objects that we can count.
How many museums are there in Paris?
There are 10,000 paintings in the Louvre.
On the contrary, we cannot count. These words include:
food and drinks: bread, butter, meat, tea, coffee, milk, oil, pasta, salt, rice
substances: water, oil, air, oxygen, metal, cotton, wood, plastic, paper
school subjects and languages: geography, art, music, English, Spanish
concepts and feelings: education, work, advice, beauty, love, knowledge, fun
activity : shopping, cycling, swimming
groups of similar things: furniture, luggage, money
Differences between countable and uncountable nouns
We list the features of each group of words in the table:
| Countable nouns | Uncountable nouns |
| They have both singular and plural forms: one shop - two shops s |
Usually do not have a plural form: petrol - two petrols - some petrol |
| Used with singular and plural verbs: That painting is beautiful. Those paintings were expensive. |
Used only with a singular verb: Swimming is a popular sport. That petrol was expensive. |
| The articles a/an and this/that are singular: Is there a museum here? Where's the museum? This museum is enormous! |
The article a/an is not used before uncountable nouns. You can use "some" or this/that: This table is made of a plastic. This table is made of plastic. Can you give me an advice? Can you give me some advice? This rice isn't cooked! |
| In the plural, the articles the, these/those are used with countable nouns: I'd like some apples, please. Those books look interesting. |
Examples of nouns that can be either countable or uncountable:
| We keep six chickens* in our garden. (animal) | Do you like chicken and rice? (food) |
| A coffee and two teas, please. (Cup of tea) | Sam prefers lemon tea. (drink) |
| Did you get a paper today? (newspaper) | I need some writing paper. (paper - material) |
| Those were easy exercises. (tasks) | Do you do much exercise? (physical activity) |
| I had some interesting experiences on holiday. (cases that happened to me) | Experience is more important than qualifications. (knowledge accumulated through experience) |
| The gallery has two works by Goya. (paintings) | My work is really interesting. (Job) |
| I'd love a coffee**, please. (a cup of coffee) | Do you drink coffee? (liquid) |
| This is an amazing drawing by Leonardo. (painting) | My son is very good at drawing. (activity - drawing) |
| Someone threw a stone at our window. (separate stone) | The road crosses a flat landscape of scrub and stone. (material) |
*
- this rule applies to all drinks: tea/a tea, cola/a cola, lemonade/a lemonade
**
- not all nouns of this type can represent both categories at the same time:
a beef, a mutton a duck/duck, a fish/fish, a lamd/lamb
an art, a poetry a painting/painting, a sculpture/sculpture
a wool, a cotton a paper/paper, a rock/rock
Sometimes an uncountable noun “turns” into a countable noun when it is necessary to designate individual varieties:
Our new skincare cream contains several essential oils. Our new skin cream contains several essential oils.
This is a soft cheese from the Pyrenees. This is a soft cheese from the Pyrenees mountains.
How can you count uncountable nouns?
In order to somehow quantify uncountable nouns, you can use various expressions:
parts, elements: a bar of soap (a piece of soap), a bit of information/fun (a little information/joy), an item of news (news fragment), a loaf of bread (loaf of bread), a piece of furniture/luggage/paper(piece of furniture/luggage/piece of paper), a sheet of paper (sheet of paper), a slice of bread/cake/meat (slice of bread/cake/piece of meat)
containers: a bottle of water, a can/tin of soup, a carton of milk, a cup of coffee, a glass of orange juice, a jar of jam, a packet of sugar, a tub of butter/margarine, a tube of toothpaste
units:half a kilo of meat (half a kilo of meat), a liter of petrol (liter of gasoline), two meters of silk (two meters of silk)
I also suggest watching a video tutorial that will help you consolidate the acquired knowledge in your head. With this video you can learn to say how much cheese, water, etc. you have, for example. And most importantly, you will see the difference in the use of the words little, a little, much, many, a lot of and so on with countable and uncountable nouns.
We talk about how much we have of something (note the differences in the negative and affirmative forms of sentences):
| Countable | Uncountable | ||
| How many pencils do you have? | How much flour do you have? | ||
| I have five pencils. I have very few pencils. I have a few pencils. I have some pencils. I have many pencils. |
I don't have five pencils. I don't have too few pencils. I don't have any pencils. I don't have that many pencils. I don't have many pencils. |
I have a little flour. I have very little flour. I have some flour. I have a lot of flour. |
I don't have any flour. I don't have much flour. I don't have a lot of flour. |
Now you know how to say, for example, that you bought a pack of butter, a carton of milk and a loaf of bread. As you can see, the topic of nouns in English is very broad, and it takes a lot of time to understand all the features. Today we have dealt with one of the most difficult issues, so you can breathe a sigh of relief. See you in the next lesson!
