Countable and uncountable nouns

A noun names a person, place, thing or idea. Teacher, station, bag and advice are nouns. Some nouns name separate items that we count; others describe an amount or an idea without dividing it into items.

The question is how English uses the word. Money is uncountable in its usual meaning, although you can count coins. An idea is countable, although you cannot hold it in your hand. Whether something is physical does not decide its grammar.

A singular countable noun means one item. In an ordinary sentence, it normally needs a word such as a, an, the, my or this before it. An adjective can sit between that word and the noun, but the adjective does not replace it.

For more than one item, use a plural noun. A number makes the quantity clear. You can also use some with a plural when the exact number does not matter. A and an only go with singular countable nouns.

Many nouns add -s in the plural: desk becomes desks. After endings such as -ch, -sh, -s and -x, common nouns add -es: watch becomes watches and box becomes boxes. If a noun ends in a consonant plus y, change y to ies, as in city and cities.

Some frequent plurals have their own forms. One child becomes two children; one person usually becomes two people. Learn an irregular plural with the noun. A plural ending counts items; an apostrophe does not make a noun plural.

Water, rice, information and advice are usually uncountable in their everyday meanings. Use the noun without a plural -s. Some information can include several facts, but the English noun information still describes an amount.

Do not put a or an directly before an uncountable meaning. You can use some, a little or a lot of when you want to describe a quantity. A dictionary's C and U labels can help: C means countable, and U means uncountable. Check the entry for the meaning you need.

An uncountable noun can still have a measured quantity. Put a countable unit before of: a bottle of water, a slice of bread, a piece of information. The unit tells the reader what you are counting.

Make the unit plural after a number greater than one. The uncountable noun keeps its form. Choose a unit that fits the thing: a slice suits bread, while a bottle suits a drink. A piece of is useful for some nouns, but it is not a test that works for every noun.

Use many and a few with plural countable nouns. Use much and a little with uncountable nouns. A few means a small number, while a little means a small amount. The question forms how many and how much follow the same distinction.

A lot of works with both groups. In ordinary positive sentences, a lot of often sounds more natural than much on its own. Much is common in questions and negatives, including not much. Many is also possible in positive sentences, especially in a more formal style.

Some often introduces an unspecified quantity in a positive sentence. Any is common in negatives and in questions where you are checking whether something exists or is available. Both can go with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.

Questions do not always need any. Use some naturally when offering or asking for something, or when you expect a positive answer. Choose according to the purpose of the question, rather than changing every some to any when you see a question mark.

A word may be countable in one meaning and uncountable in another. Chicken can name an animal that you count, or the meat as a food. Glass can mean the material or a drinking container.

A drink can also be counted when you mean servings. Two coffees in a cafe usually means two cups or orders of coffee. These uses do not mean you can make every uncountable noun plural. Learn the ordinary countable meaning with the situation in which people use it.

A plural countable subject takes a plural verb: the bags are heavy. An uncountable subject normally takes a singular verb: the luggage is heavy. Do not choose the verb from the number of real objects you imagine.

When the subject names separate containers or pieces, look at the unit. One bottle of water is one item; three bottles of water are three items. The nearby word water does not make bottles singular. This check also helps with there is and there are.