Practice
English practice: countable and uncountable nouns
Sign in to saveDo you need a tomato, some tomatoes, or some tomato soup? The noun's meaning tells you which phrase fits.
Choose noun phrases that show whether a noun is countable or uncountable, including a, an, some, much, many, and common unit phrases.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
a piece of cake /ə piːs əv keɪk/
The short answer
Use a or an with one countable thing. Use a plural form with a number or many. Use an uncountable noun without a plural ending, often with some or much. Add a unit phrase when you need to count an uncountable thing.
We need two bottles of water for the walk.
Why it works: Water is uncountable here, but bottles are countable, so two can describe the bottles.
6 more examples
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There are three oranges in the bowl.
Oranges are separate items, so the plural noun can follow a number.
Not this:There is
some orange juicein the bottle. What changes: Orange juice is treated as an amount, so use some rather than a number directly before the noun. -
I bought an umbrella because it was raining.
Umbrella is one countable item, and its first sound is a vowel sound, so an fits.
Not this:I bought
some umbrellasfor the guests. What changes: Umbrellas is plural, so an cannot introduce it. Some gives an unspecified number. -
There is some useful information on the noticeboard.
Information is normally uncountable, so it does not take a plural ending in this meaning.
Not this:The noticeboard has
three useful notices. What changes: Notices are separate countable items, so a number can describe them. -
How many emails did you send this morning?
Emails are countable and plural, so many is the quantity word in this question.
Not this:
How much timedid you spend on email this morning? What changes: Time is uncountable when it means an amount of available duration, so use much. -
Could I have a piece of cake, please?
Cake is uncountable when it means food in general. Piece is countable and names one portion.
Not this:Could I have
two pieces of cake, please? What changes: Two counts the pieces, not cake itself. -
We do not have any milk for breakfast.
Milk is uncountable, and any is common in a negative sentence.
Not this:We have
some milkfor breakfast. What changes: Some is common in a positive sentence about an unspecified amount.
Read the full guide
Before choosing a word, ask whether you mean separate items or an amount. Then check whether the sentence is positive, negative, or a question. That combination helps you choose a, an, some, any, much, many, or a unit phrase.
Start with the meaning of the noun
First decide whether the noun means separate things or an amount. Separate things are usually countable. Materials, food, ideas, and general quantities are often uncountable.
There are four chairs around the table.
Chairs are separate items, so four can count them.
There is furniture in the waiting room.
Furniture describes the items as a group, so it is normally uncountable.
Which noun can follow a number directly: chairs or furniture?
Chairs can follow a number directly because chair is countable. Use a unit or a different countable noun to count furniture.
Use a or an for one countable item
A singular countable noun usually needs a word before it. Use a or an when you mean one nonspecific item. Choose an before a vowel sound, as in an umbrella or an hour.
She has a new phone.
Phone is one countable item, so a introduces it.
He took an early train.
Early begins with a vowel sound, so an is the natural article.
Choose the natural phrase: an advice or some advice?
Use some advice. Advice is uncountable when it means guidance in general.
Use plural nouns for more than one thing
Use a plural countable noun after a number. You can also use many when the number is not stated, especially in questions and negatives. Do not use a or an before a plural noun.
The shop has six tables outside.
Tables is plural and follows the number six.
Are there many buses after midnight?
Buses are countable and plural, so many fits the question.
Which phrase is correct: a books or some books?
Use some books. Books is plural, and a is only used with one singular countable noun.
Use some, any, much, and many
Some is common in positive sentences with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns. Any is common in questions and negatives. Use much with uncountable nouns and many with plural countable nouns.
We need some clean towels.
Towels are plural countable items, and some gives an unspecified number.
Is there any coffee left?
Coffee is uncountable, and any fits this question about an amount.
There are not many spaces near the entrance.
Spaces are plural countable items, so many is used in the negative sentence.
Complete the question: How ___ luggage do you have?
How much luggage do you have? Luggage is uncountable, so use much.
Count an uncountable noun with a unit
When you need an exact number for an uncountable noun, count a unit. Common units include a bottle of water, a piece of advice, a bowl of soup, and a slice of bread.
Please buy two loaves of bread.
Bread is uncountable, but loaves are countable units.
Our teacher gave us three pieces of advice.
Advice stays uncountable. Pieces carries the plural ending and the number.
How can you count water for a recipe?
Use a unit that suits the situation, such as two cups of water or one bottle of water.
Check for a change of meaning
A few nouns can be countable in one meaning and uncountable in another. Read the whole phrase before choosing the form. The grammar follows the meaning in that context.
We ordered two coffees after lunch.
Coffees means two servings of coffee, so the noun is countable in this café order.
I do not drink much coffee in the evening.
Coffee means the drink in general, so it is uncountable here.
Why can chicken have different forms in two sentences?
Chicken can mean food as an uncountable noun or animals as countable nouns. The surrounding words show which meaning is intended.
Before you go
Remember this
Count separate things with a number, a plural noun, and words such as many. Treat materials, ideas, and general amounts as uncountable, often with some or much. When you need to count an uncountable noun, count a unit such as a bottle, piece, or bowl.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: countable and uncountable nouns"
What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
Countable nouns name separate items, so they can usually have singular and plural forms, such as one orange and three oranges. Uncountable nouns name an amount or general idea, such as orange juice or information, and they do not usually take a plural ending.
There are three oranges in the bowl.
When do I use a or an with a noun?
Use a or an with one singular countable noun when the item is not specific. Say a new phone or an umbrella. The choice depends on the first sound: use an before a vowel sound and a before a consonant sound.
There is some orange juice in the bottle.
When should I use much and many?
Use many with plural countable nouns, as in How many emails did you send this morning? Use much with uncountable nouns, as in How much time did you spend on email this morning? Both are common in questions and negative sentences.
I bought an umbrella because it was raining.
How can I count an uncountable noun?
Use a countable unit before the uncountable noun. For example, say two bottles of water, a piece of cake, or three pieces of advice. The number describes the bottle or piece, while water, cake, and advice remain uncountable.
I bought some umbrellas for the guests.
Can a noun be countable and uncountable?
Yes. Some nouns change with the meaning. Coffee is uncountable when it means the drink in general, but two coffees can mean two servings. Chicken can mean food as an uncountable noun or separate animals as countable nouns.
There is some useful information on the noticeboard.