Practice
Nouns exercise: identify countable and uncountable nouns
Sign in to saveAt a shop, you can count three apples, but you cannot usually count three milks. English treats apples and milk differently, and that difference changes the words before them.
Identify common countable and uncountable nouns and choose a suitable determiner or container phrase.
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 advice /ə piːs əv ədˈvaɪs/
The short answer
Use a or an with one countable singular noun, use numbers and many with countable plurals, and use some or much with most uncountable nouns. Add a container phrase when you need to count an uncountable thing.
We need two bottles of water for the walk.
Why it works: Water is uncountable, but bottles are countable.
5 more examples
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There are four notebooks on the table.
Notebook is countable, so it has a plural form and a number.
Not this:There is
some paperon the table. What changes: Paper is uncountable when it means material, so a number does not go directly before it. -
Could I have a glass of orange juice?
The glass is counted; orange juice is the uncountable drink inside it.
Not this:Could I have
an orange? What changes: Orange is countable when it means one piece of fruit. -
We do not have much time before the bus leaves.
Time is uncountable when it means an available period.
Not this:We have
many appointmentsthis week. What changes: Appointments are separate events, so the plural countable form works with many. -
Mina gave me two useful pieces of advice.
Advice is uncountable; pieces makes separate advice items countable.
Not this:Mina gave me
two useful suggestions. What changes: Suggestion is countable, so it can take a plural ending and a number. -
There is a little sugar left in the jar.
Sugar is treated as a substance, so it is uncountable here.
Not this:There are
a few biscuitsleft in the jar. What changes: Biscuits are individual items, so use a few with the plural countable noun.
Read the full guide
Start by asking a practical question: can this noun normally be counted as separate items? If the answer is yes, it is probably countable in that meaning. If the answer is no, try some, much, or a phrase such as a piece of or a bottle of.
Find the thing you can count
Countable nouns refer to individual people or things. They can be singular or plural, and you can put a number before the plural form.
I bought one ticket and two maps.
Ticket and map are separate items, so one, two, and a plural ending are possible.
The classroom has six windows.
Each window is one unit that can be counted.
Choose the countable noun: luggage or suitcase?
Suitcase is countable. You can say one suitcase or two suitcases. Luggage is usually uncountable.
Recognise nouns treated as a mass or idea
Uncountable nouns often name substances, materials, activities, or abstract ideas. They normally do not have a plural form in ordinary use.
There is milk in the fridge.
Milk is a substance here, not a set of separate objects.
The website gives useful information.
Information is an uncountable noun in standard English, even when there is a lot of it.
Which word fits before information: an or some?
Use some information. Do not usually say an information.
Match the determiner to the noun
The word before a noun gives a useful clue. A and an need one singular countable noun. Many and a few go with countable plural nouns. Much and a little go with uncountable nouns.
We need an umbrella because it is raining.
Umbrella is singular and countable, so an is possible.
There is a little cheese in the sandwich.
Cheese is uncountable when it means food as a substance.
Complete the phrase: many ___ . Choose books or furniture.
Choose books. Books is a countable plural noun; furniture is usually uncountable.
Count a unit when the noun is uncountable
A container or measure word lets you count an uncountable noun. The countable word changes to plural, while the uncountable noun usually stays in the same form.
Please buy three loaves of bread.
Loaves are counted; bread remains uncountable.
The teacher gave us two pieces of homework.
Pieces divides homework into countable tasks.
Which phrase is natural: two advices or two pieces of advice?
Use two pieces of advice. Advice does not usually take a plural ending.
Let the meaning decide in flexible nouns
Some nouns can be countable or uncountable, depending on what they mean. The surrounding words show the intended meaning.
We had chicken with rice for dinner.
Chicken means food in this sentence, so it is uncountable.
A chicken crossed the road.
A chicken means one animal, so it is countable.
In a café, what does two teas usually mean?
It usually means two cups or servings of tea. The shop context supplies the implied units.
Check your choice in a full sentence
Before you answer an exercise, look at both the noun and the phrase around it. A correct word may sound wrong if its noun form does not match.
How many bags do we need?
Many asks about a countable plural noun, so bags is the right form.
How much luggage do we need to carry?
Much asks about an uncountable noun, so luggage stays singular.
Read the noun after the blank before you choose a, some, much, or many.
That quick check prevents common errors such as much books or an advice.
Before you go
Remember this
Count individual objects with a, an, numbers, many, or a few. Use some, much, or a little for a substance or general idea that is not divided into individual units. When you need a number with an uncountable noun, count a unit such as a cup, bottle, piece, or bag.
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 "Nouns exercise: identify countable and uncountable nouns"
What is a countable noun?
A countable noun names separate people or things that can be counted. It has a singular and usually a plural form, such as chair and chairs. You can use a number with its plural form: three chairs.
There are four notebooks on the table.
What is an uncountable noun?
An uncountable noun usually names a substance, material, activity, or idea seen as a whole. Common examples include water, rice, furniture, information, and advice. It does not normally take a or an directly before it.
There is some paper on the table.
When do I use much and many?
Use many with countable plural nouns, as in many questions. Use much with uncountable nouns, as in much traffic. In everyday affirmative sentences, some or a lot of is often more natural than much.
Could I have a glass of orange juice?
How can I count an uncountable noun?
Count a unit, container, or measure phrase instead of the uncountable noun itself. You can say a cup of tea, two bags of rice, or several pieces of information. The first noun carries the number and plural ending.
Could I have an orange?
Can a noun be countable and uncountable?
Yes. The meaning can change the grammar. Chicken is uncountable when it means food, but countable when it means an animal. In a café, coffees can mean separate servings, even though coffee is usually uncountable.
We do not have much time before the bus leaves.