Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Useful Rules & Examples

Countable and Uncountable Nouns! If a noun can be counted, it is called a countable noun, however, if it cannot be counted, we refer to it as an uncountable noun. These types of nouns are very commonly seen in the English language and for this reason, it is important that you are aware of how they function.

In this section, we are going to be showing you a variety of countable and uncountable nouns as well as showing you how they work in both spoken and written English.

What are Countable Nouns? | Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Learn countable nouns vs uncountable nouns in English with useful grammar rules, list and example sentences.

Countable and Uncountablenounsvary from language to language. In some languages, there are no countable nouns (e.g., Japanese). In addition, somenounsthat are uncountable in English may be countable in other languages (e.g., hair or information).

• Countable nouns are individual objects, people, places, etc. which can be counted. (We usea/anora numberin front of countable nouns).

Examples:

an apple

a school

1 picture, 2 pictures, 3 pictures

2 men, 4 men, 8 men

• A countable noun can be both singular or plural. (Normally, we add-s/-esto make a countable noun plural.)

Examples:

apple – apples

tree – trees

box – boxes

• Use the singular form of the verb with a singular countable noun.

Examples:

Thereisa bookon the table.

That studentisexcellent!

• Use the plural form of the verb with a countable noun in the plural.

Examples:

Therearesome studentsin the classroom.

Those housesarevery big, aren’t they?

• We can usesomeandanywith countable nouns.

Examples:

Somepeople pretend to despise the things they cannot have.

Please put up your hand if you haveanyquestions.

• We only usemanyandfewwith plural countable nouns.

Examples:

Manystudents now see university as astepping stoneto a good job.

The country has relativelyfewcinemas.

• We can usea lot ofandnowith plural countable nouns.

Examples:

There isnofriend as faithful as a good book.

The store hasa lot ofregular customers.

What are Uncountable Nouns? | Countable and Uncountable Nouns

• Uncountable nouns are materials, concepts, information, etc. which are not individual objects and can not be counted.

Examples:

information

water

understanding

wood

cheese

• Uncountable nouns are always singular. Use the singular form of the verb with uncountable nouns.

Examples:

There is some water in that pitcher.

That is the equipment we use for the project.

• Normally we do not use a/an with uncountable nouns; instead we use expressions such asaglass of water (a water),a piece of music (a music).
• Uncountable nouns can appear without any determiner.

Example:

Can you hear music?

• We can usesome/any/much/littlewith uncountable nouns.

Examples:

I’ll put the kettle on and make ussometea.

Don’t dally along the way! We haven’t gotmuchtime.

• We only usemuchandlittlewith uncountable nouns.

Examples:

He doesn’t usually drinkmuchcoffee.

There islittleinformation about the weather.

• We can usea lot ofandnowith uncountable nouns.

Examples:

I havea lot of今天空闲时间。

It’s hard sailing when there isnowind.

可数名词和不可数名词的图像

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Useful Rules & Examples

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Nouns that Can Be Countable or Uncountable

Somenouns can be used asboth countable or uncountable, usually with a difference in meaning.

Examples:

Fire

• fire = element (Most animals are afraid offire.)
• fire = a burning pile (Firemen put outfires.)

Memory

• memory = the ability to remember (I have a very good visualmemory.)
• memory = specific memories of past events (He’s trying to block outmemoriesof the accident.)

Learn More:Nouns that are Count and Noncount

上次更新202年2月27日3