English Learner

Countable and uncountable nouns

A2 to B1 About 10 minutes

The key idea

Countable nouns can have numbers and plurals. Use a unit to count an amount of an uncountable noun.

Read the rulesTry the quiz

Some English nouns can be counted: one chair, two chairs. Others cannot: furniture, but not "two furnitures". The difference decides which article, which quantity word and which verb form you use.

By Michael Lip

The basic difference

The basic difference
FeatureCountableUncountable
Plural formYes: a book, two booksNo: information, not Incorrect example. informations
A or anYes: an appleNo: some rice, not Incorrect example. a rice
NumbersYes: three chairsNo: three pieces of furniture
VerbSingular or plural: The book is here. The books are here.Always singular: The news is good.

Common uncountable nouns

These nouns are countable in many other languages, so learners often get them wrong. In English they have no plural and no "a" or "an".

advice, information, news, furniture, luggage, baggage, equipment, homework, housework, money, traffic, weather, knowledge, research, progress, evidence, software, bread, rice, music, luck, fun

  • Correct example. The news is on at ten. "News" ends in "s" but takes a singular verb.
  • Correct example. I have a lot of homework. Not Incorrect example. many homeworks.
  • Correct example. We need more information. Not Incorrect example. more informations.

How to count an uncountable noun

Add a unit word and "of".

  • a piece of advice, two pieces of advice
  • a piece of furniture, a piece of luggage, a piece of information
  • a slice of bread, a loaf of bread
  • a glass of water, a cup of tea, a bottle of milk
  • a kilo of rice, a bar of chocolate

Quantity words

Quantity words
With countable nounsWith uncountable nounsWith both
manymucha lot of, lots of
a few, fewa little, littlesome, any
fewerlessmore, enough
How many?How much?no, plenty of
  • How many eggs do we need? How much sugar do we need?
  • There aren't many chairs. There isn't much space.
  • In positive sentences, "a lot of" sounds more natural than "much" or "many": She has a lot of friends. He has a lot of money.

Some and any

  • Use "some" in positive sentences: I bought some apples and some bread.
  • Use "any" in negatives and most questions: I didn't buy any milk. Do you have any questions?
  • Use "some" in offers and requests: Would you like some tea? Can I have some water?

A few and a little compared with few and little

With "a", the meaning is positive and describes a small number or amount. Whether it is enough depends on context. Without "a", the meaning is negative and describes almost none.

  • I have a few friends here. Some friends. That is good.
  • I have few friends here. Almost no friends. That is sad.
  • “There is a little milk left.” A small amount. It may be enough for a coffee, depending on how much you need.
  • “There is little milk left.” Almost none.

Nouns that can be both

Some nouns are uncountable for the material or the general idea, and countable for one item or one kind.

Nouns that can be both
UncountableCountable
I don't drink coffee.Two coffees, please. (two cups)
The window is made of glass.Can I have a glass of water?
I need some paper to write on.I bought a paper. (a newspaper)
She has long hair.“There is a hair in my soup.”
I don't have much time.I have been there three times.
He has a lot of experience in sales.The trip was a great experience.
We had chicken for dinner.They keep six chickens in the garden.

Common mistakes

Incorrect

She gave me a good advice.

Correct

She gave me some good advice.

Advice is uncountable.

Incorrect

The furnitures are new.

Correct

The furniture is new.

Furniture has no plural here and takes a singular verb.

Incorrect

How much people came?

Correct

How many people came?

People is plural and countable.

Incorrect

I have many works to do.

Correct

I have a lot of work to do.

Work is uncountable here.

Incorrect

The news are bad.

Correct

The news is bad.

News takes a singular verb.

Incorrect

We have less students this year.

Correct

We have fewer students this year.

Use fewer with countable students in standard writing.

Note: "less" with a plural noun is common in informal speech, but "fewer" is the standard form in writing and in exams.

Try the quiz

Choose the correct word.

  1. How (much / many) money do you have?
  2. There are only (a few / a little) tickets left.
  3. Can you give me (an advice / some advice)?
  4. The news (is / are) very good today.
  5. We don't have (much / many) time.
  6. I'd like two (breads / slices of bread), please.
  7. She did (a research / some research) on the topic.
  8. (Few / A few) people came, so the room looked empty.
  9. Is there (any / some) milk in the fridge?
  10. All my (luggage is / luggages are) in the car.

Check one question at a time

Try the same ten questions here. Check each answer and read the explanation.

Show all answers
  1. much. "Money" is uncountable.
  2. a few. "Tickets" is countable.
  3. some advice. "Advice" is uncountable.
  4. is. "News" takes a singular verb.
  5. much. "Time" is uncountable here.
  6. slices of bread. Use a unit word to count bread.
  7. some research. "Research" is uncountable.
  8. Few. Almost none, which is why the room looked empty.
  9. any. A normal question.
  10. luggage is. No plural, singular verb.

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Next step

Practise nouns and quantity wordsRead about present perfect and past simple
Read about a, an, theVocabulary quiz