Countable / Uncountable Nouns
There are two types of nouns in English:
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns are nouns that we can count as one, two, three, etc. We can use "a/an" before singular countable nouns, and we can make them plural.
Examples:
an apple
three books
some cars
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are nouns that we cannot count as one, two, three, etc. They are usually things like liquids, substances, or ideas. We do not use "a" or "an" before uncountable nouns, and we do not make them plural.
Examples:
water
sugar
information
The table below shows the differences between countable and uncountable nouns to help you understand them better.
| Countable | Uncountable |
|---|---|
| an apple | an information |
| apples | informations |
| three apples | three informations |
| some apples | some informations |
| two kilos of apples | two kilos of sugars |
| two bags of apples | two bottles of waters |
Some nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on the context, but their meaning changes.
Examples:
I ate some chicken for lunch. ("Chicken" is uncountable in this sentence. It refers to the meat that we eat.)
There are three chickens in the yard. ("Chicken" is countable in this sentence. It refers to the animal.)
RELATED TOPICS
Exercises
Choose the correct expression printed in italics.
1There is some milk / are some milks on the table.
There is some milk on the table.
2I bought two bottles of water / two waters at the store.
I bought two bottles of water at the store.
3We need some rice / some rices to cook dinner.
We need some rice to cook dinner.
4There are two dogs / is two dog in the garden.
There are two dogs in the garden.
5We have some furniture / some furnitures in the living room.
We have some furniture in the living room.
6Don't you have any homework / any homeworks to do?
Don't you have any homework to do?