English nouns fall into two groups. Countable nouns name things we see as separate units: a book, two books, ten books. Uncountable nouns name things we see as a mass or an idea, with no clear units: water, rice, music, information. The difference matters because it changes the words around the noun: a or an, the plural -s, much or many, a few or a little.
The tricky part is that the grammar does not always follow logic. Money is uncountable, but dollars and coins are countable. And some nouns that are countable in many other languages, such as advice, information, furniture, news, luggage and homework, are uncountable in English. Learn these as a list, and use a unit word like a piece of when you need to count them.
How to use countable and uncountable nouns
Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form (one chair, two chairs). Uncountable nouns have only one form, and they take a singular verb: The furniture is new. Money isn't everything.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Countable: singular | a/an, the, one, my, this... + noun | a chair, an egg, the bus, my phone |
| Countable: plural | noun + -s/-es, with some, any, many, a few | two chairs, some eggs, many buses, a few friends |
| Uncountable | no a/an and no plural, with some, any, much, a little | some water, a little money, not much time, any news |
| Both kinds | the, some, any, a lot of, lots of, no + noun | a lot of eggs, a lot of milk; some apples, some bread; no chairs, no time |
| Counting uncountable nouns | a/an or a number + unit word + of + noun | a piece of advice, two cups of coffee, a slice of bread, a bottle of water |
| Questions | How many + plural noun? / How much + uncountable noun? | How many brothers do you have? How much milk is there? |
- Some and any: use some in positive sentences, offers and requests (Would you like some tea?) and any in negatives and most questions (We don't have any eggs. Is there any milk?).
- Much or a lot of: in positive sentences, a lot of usually sounds more natural than much (I drink a lot of coffee). Much is common in negatives and questions (I don't drink much coffee. How much coffee do you drink?) and after too and so (too much sugar, so much noise).
- Common uncountable nouns: advice, information, furniture, luggage, baggage, homework, equipment, traffic, weather, work, money, bread, rice, water, music and fun. News is uncountable too: it ends in -s, but it takes a singular verb (The news is good).
- Unit words: a piece of advice, information, furniture, luggage or news; a slice of bread, pizza or cake; a cup of tea; a glass of milk; a bottle of water; a bowl of soup; a bag of rice; a can of soda. For homework, American English usually says a homework assignment; a piece of homework is more common in British English.
- Some nouns can be countable or uncountable with a different meaning: chicken (the meat) and a chicken (the animal); time (minutes and hours) and a time (an occasion: I've been there three times); hair (all the hair on your head) and a hair (one single hair).
When to use countable and uncountable nouns
1. Countable nouns: a/an, numbers and plurals
Countable nouns are people, animals and things that we can count one by one. A singular countable noun needs a word like a, an, the, my or this in front of it. Plurals usually add -s or -es.
- I have a sister and two brothers.
- Is there an ATM near here?
- We need three more chairs for the guests.
2. Uncountable nouns: no a/an and no plural
Uncountable nouns are usually liquids, materials and food (water, wood, sugar), things you can't touch (love, help, fun) and groups of things that English treats as one mass (furniture, luggage). They have no plural and take a singular verb.
- Fresh air is good for you.
- I found some useful information on their website.
- Our new furniture is arriving on Friday.
3. Some and any
Use some and any with plural and uncountable nouns when the exact number or amount is not important. Use some in positive sentences, offers and requests, and any in negatives and most questions.
- There are some cookies in the jar, but there isn't any milk.
- Do you have any questions?
- Would you like some more rice?
4. Many, much and a lot of
Use many and how many with plural countable nouns, and much and how much with uncountable nouns. A lot of and lots of go with both. In positive sentences, a lot of usually sounds more natural than much.
- How many people came to the party?
- How much money do you need?
- There isn't much time, but there are a lot of things to do.
5. Small amounts: a few and a little
Use a few with plural countable nouns and a little with uncountable nouns. Both mean a small number or amount, with a positive feeling. Without a, few and little sound negative and mean not many or not much: Few tourists visit the village in winter.
- I have a few friends in Boston.
- Could I have a little sugar in my tea?
- We only have a few minutes, so let's hurry.
6. Counting uncountable nouns: a piece of, a cup of...
To count an uncountable noun, put a unit word or a container in front of it, such as a piece of, a slice of, a cup of or a bottle of. The unit word is countable, so it can be plural.
- Let me give you a piece of advice.
- I'd like two cups of coffee and a slice of cake, please.
- She brought three pieces of luggage for a weekend trip.
Words that go with countable and uncountable nouns
- many
- a few
- few
- fewer
- how many
- much
- a little
- little
- less
- how much
- some
- any
- a lot of
- lots of
- plenty of
- no
Many, a few, few, fewer and how many go with plural countable nouns. Much, a little, little, less and how much go with uncountable nouns. Some, any, a lot of, lots of, plenty of and no go with both. In careful English, use fewer with plurals (fewer cars) and less with uncountable nouns (less traffic).
Examples
Positive
- There are a lot of good restaurants in this neighborhood.
- We bought a new sofa and two lamps.
- Add a little salt and a few tomatoes.
- She gave me some great advice about my interview.
Negative
- There isn't much traffic on Sundays.
- I don't have many friends in this city yet.
- We don't have any bread, so I'll get some on the way home.
- He didn't bring much luggage, just a small backpack.
Questions
- How many languages do you speak?
- How much sugar do you take in your coffee?
- Is there any news from the hospital?
- Could I have a glass of water, please?
Countable or uncountable?
Some words have a similar meaning but different grammar. If you want to use a, an, a number or a plural, choose the countable word on the left. The uncountable word on the right takes some, much, a lot of or a unit word like a piece of.
| Countable | Uncountable |
|---|---|
| a suggestion, two tips | advice: some advice, a piece of advice |
| a fact, three details | information: some information, a piece of information |
| a job, two jobs | work: some work, a lot of work |
| a suitcase, two bags | luggage: some luggage, two pieces of luggage |
| a dollar, twenty dollars | money: some money, a lot of money |
Common mistakes
- WrongLet me give you an advice.RightLet me give you a piece of advice.
Advice is uncountable, so it can't take a or an; say a piece of advice or some advice.
- WrongI need some informations about the course.RightI need some information about the course.
Information is uncountable, so it has no plural form.
- WrongThere were much people at the concert.RightThere were a lot of people at the concert.
People is a plural countable noun, so use many or a lot of, not much.
- WrongWe bought new furnitures for the living room.RightWe bought new furniture for the living room.
Furniture is uncountable, so it never takes -s; to count it, say pieces of furniture.
- WrongThe news are really good.RightThe news is really good.
News ends in -s, but it is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
- WrongI have a few money left.RightI have a little money left.
Money is uncountable, so use a little, not a few.
Packing for a camping trip
Examples of countable and uncountable nouns are highlighted.
This weekend, my friends and I are going camping, so last night we made a shopping list. We don't need much equipment, because Marco has a big tent and a few sleeping bags. But we need a lot of food. We have some pasta, but we don't have any rice. We need two loaves of bread, a few onions, some cheese and a little butter. How many bottles of water should we bring? How much coffee do four people drink in two days? Probably too much! My sister gave me a good piece of advice: "Don't bring too much luggage. Bring warm clothes and a lot of patience."
Countable and Uncountable Nouns quiz
8 questions. Choose an answer to see if it is right and why.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns: questions and answers
What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
Countable nouns name things you can count one by one, so they have a plural and can take a or an (a cup, two cups). Uncountable nouns name things that English treats as one mass, such as liquids, materials and ideas, so they have no plural and don't take a or an (water, music, advice).
Why can't I say "advices" or "informations"?
In English, advice and information are uncountable, even though the same words are countable in many other languages. Say some advice or a piece of advice, and some information or a piece of information.
When do I use much and when do I use many?
Use many with plural countable nouns (many books) and much with uncountable nouns (much time). Much is most common in negatives and questions; in positive sentences, a lot of usually sounds more natural: I have a lot of work this week.
What is the difference between a few and a little?
A few goes with plural countable nouns (a few friends), and a little goes with uncountable nouns (a little help). Both mean a small number or amount. Without a, few and little are negative and mean not many or not much: Few people came.
Can a noun be both countable and uncountable?
Yes, often with a change in meaning. Glass is a material, but a glass is something you drink from; paper is a material, but a paper can mean a newspaper; and coffee is the drink, but two coffees means two cups of coffee.