Nouns - Countables and uncountables

There are countable and uncountable nouns in English.

Countable nouns:
Most of the nouns are countable. You can combine them with numbers, e.g one, two or three. Here is an example:

one pencil
two pencils
three pencils
etc.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uncountable nouns:
These nouns can't be combined with numbers. Here is an example:

water

If you want to express a quantity, you have to use a special phrase e.g. a glass of water.

NOTE:
Some nouns can be either countable or uncountable. We recommend to use a good dictionary. Here is an example, too. hair - hairs

You've got some hairs on your T-shirt. (There might be 5 or 6 of them.)
Your hair looks lovely. (Here you think of the hairstyle.)

• A book, two books, three books .....
  
• An apple, two apples, three apples ....
  

• Water
  
• Work
  
• Information
  
• Coffee
  
• Sand
  

Countable (use a/an or a number in front of countable nouns)Uncountable (there is no a/an or number with uncountable nouns) Add (s) to make a countable noun pluralThere is no plural form for an uncountable noun

An Apple / 1 Apple	Rice
I eat an apple every day.	I eat rice every day. (not I eat a rice every day.)
apples	rice
I eat an apple every day. Apples are good for you.	I eat rice every day. Rice is good for you.
A computer= Computers are fun.	To make uncountable nouns countable add a counting word, such as a unit of measurement, or the general word piece. We use the form "a ....... of ......."
An elephant=Elephants are large.	Rice=a grain of rice
	Water=a glass of water
	Rain=a drop of rain
	Music=a piece of music
You can use some and any with countable nouns. Some dogs can be dangerous. I don't use any computers at work.	You can use some and any with uncountable nouns. I usually drink some wine with my meal. I don't usually drink any water with my wine.
You only use many and few with plural countable nouns. So many elephants have been hunted that they are an endangered species. There are few elephants in England.	You only use much and little with uncountable nouns. I don't usually drink much coffee. Little wine is undrinkable though.
You can use a lot of and no with plural countable nouns. No computers were bought last week. A lot of computers were reported broken the week before.	You can use a lot of and no with uncountable nouns. A lot of wine is drunk in France. No wine is drunk in Iran.

• A piece of information.
  
• 2 glasses of water.
  
• 10 litres of coffee.
  
• Three grains of sand.
  
• A pane of glass.
  

best regards

ALHAMARE