Grammar
Countable and uncountable nouns: a practical guide
You can count apples: one apple, two apples. You cannot usually count water in the same way. This difference helps you choose the words before a noun.
Choose a countable or uncountable noun pattern and use a, an, some, any, much, many, or a quantity phrase that fits the meaning.
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
countable and uncountable nouns /ˈkaʊntəbəl ən ʌnˈkaʊntəbəl naʊnz/
The short answer
Use a or an with one singular countable noun, such as a chair or an egg. Use some with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns when the amount is not exact. Use a container or measure word when you need to count an uncountable noun.
We need some milk for breakfast.
Why it works: Milk is uncountable here, so some can describe an amount without naming a number.
4 more examples
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I bought two apples at the market.
Apples are separate items, so the noun can take a number and a plural ending.
Not this:I bought
some fruitat the market. What changes: Fruit can be used as an uncountable noun when the exact pieces are not named. -
There is a chair by the window.
Chair is one countable item, so a is possible before the singular noun.
Not this:There are
three chairsby the window. What changes: A number needs the plural countable form chairs. -
Mina gave me useful information about the course.
Information is uncountable in standard English, so it does not normally take a or a plural ending.
Not this:Mina gave me
three useful factsabout the course. What changes: Facts are countable items, so you can count them separately. -
Do you have any questions about the plan?
Questions are plural countable nouns, and any is common in this kind of question.
Not this:Do you have
any adviceabout the plan? What changes: Advice is uncountable, but any can also be used in a question with an uncountable noun.
Read the full guide
Ask one question first: can you count this noun as one, two, three, and so on? If yes, it is often countable. If English treats it as a substance or a general idea, use an uncountable pattern. A few nouns can use both patterns when their meaning changes.
Count items that are separate
Countable nouns name separate things. They can usually have a singular form and a plural form. Use a number when you want to say how many there are.
She has one ticket and two bags.
Ticket and bag are countable because each one is a separate item.
Which noun can you count: chairs or water?
Chairs are countable. Water is usually uncountable.
Use a or an with one item
Use a or an before one singular countable noun. Choose a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. Do not use a or an before a plural noun or an uncountable noun.
An egg is on the plate.
Say an egg for one item, but say some eggs for more than one.
Treat substances and ideas as uncountable
English usually treats words such as water, rice, bread, information, and advice as uncountable. They do not usually take a plural ending when they have these meanings. Use some when you mean an amount that is not exact.
There is some rice in the cupboard.
Rice is uncountable, while bowls are countable. You can count the bowls, not the rice grains in this sentence.
Add a measure word for an amount
Use a countable container, piece, or measure word when you need to count an uncountable noun. Common phrases include a glass of water, two pieces of advice, and three loaves of bread.
Please bring two bottles of water.
Water stays uncountable. Bottles is the countable word that tells us the number.
Choose the correct phrase: two advices or two pieces of advice?
Use two pieces of advice. Advice is uncountable in this meaning.
Choose some or any by sentence type
Some is common in positive statements with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns. Any is common in questions and negative statements. The noun type still matters: use a plural noun for countable things and a singular form for uncountable things.
We do not have any eggs or any cheese.
Eggs is plural and countable. Cheese is uncountable. Any can be used with both in this negative sentence.
Notice nouns with two meanings
A few nouns can be countable or uncountable, depending on what you mean. Use the sentence to decide. When coffee means the drink in general, it is uncountable. When coffees means cups, it is countable.
They ordered two coffees after dinner.
Two coffees means two cups of coffee. Some coffee names an amount of the drink.
Before you go
Remember this
Use a or an with one singular countable noun. Use numbers and plural forms for countable items. Use some, much, a little, or a quantity phrase with uncountable nouns. In questions and negatives, any can work with both types of noun.
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 "Countable and uncountable nouns: a practical guide"
What is a countable noun?
A countable noun names separate items that you can count. It can usually be singular or plural, as in one apple and two apples. You can use a number, a few, or many with a countable noun.
I bought two apples at the market.
What is an uncountable noun?
An uncountable noun usually names a substance, a material, or an idea that English treats as a whole. Milk, bread, information, and advice are common examples. Use some or a quantity phrase when you need to describe an amount.
I bought some fruit at the market.
Can I use a or an with an uncountable noun?
Do not usually use a or an directly before an uncountable noun. Say some milk, not a milk, when you mean the drink in general. Use a countable measure word when needed, such as a bottle of milk.
There is a chair by the window.
How can I count advice or information?
Use a countable phrase before the uncountable noun. You can say a piece of advice, two pieces of advice, or three facts. For information, use a piece of information when you mean one item.
There are three chairs by the window.
When do I use some and any?
Use some often in positive statements, such as some fruit or some chairs. Use any often in questions and negative statements. Both words can work with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
We need some milk for breakfast.