COUNTABLE vs. UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

 

COUNTABLE NOUNS
Countable nouns have two forms:
• the singular form, which is used to talk about one person or thing
• the plural form, which is used to talk about more than one person or thing.
Some countable nouns have the same form for both singular and plural forms. Many of these nouns refer
to animals or fish.
Before countable nouns we can use a / an, few / fewer, a few, many, not many, several.
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Uncountable nouns are not used with
• numbers
• articles (the / a / an).
Example: advice, baggage, furniture, hair, homework, information, knowledge, luggage, money, news, progress, research, spaghetti, traffic.
Before uncountable nouns we can use some, any, (quite) a lot o f lots o f plenty o f a lack of, much.

EITHER COUNTABLE OR UNCOUNTABLE
• nouns we think of as single things or substances
Can you buy a chicken from the supermarket? Let’s have chicken for dinner.
• normally uncountable nouns which are used to refer to particular varieties
Would you like some more bread? They sell a delicious rye bread in that shop.
• words for drinks such as coffee, tea and beer.
Uncountable nouns can be modified by countable nouns:
• a glass o f a cup o f a bottle o f a plate o f etc.
I prefer tea to coffee. Many people have a cup o f tea or a bottle o f beer with their fish and chips.
• time, space, room
We had a really good time at the restaurant.
Some and a lot of can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.