Countable nouns refer to something that can be counted, so they have both singular (one) and plural forms (more than one). Uncountable nouns cannot be counted and have no plural.
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| CC-BY-SA Nina Paley |
Michael Swan:
Countable nouns are the names of separate objects, people, ideas etc which can be counted. We can use numbers (three apples) and the article a/an (an elephant, a desk) with countable nouns; they have plurals.
Uncountable (or 'mass') nouns are the names of materials, liquids, abstract qualities, collections and other things which we see as masses without clear boundaries, and not as separate objects. We cannot use numbers with uncountable nouns, and most are singular with no plurals.
Some nouns that are uncountable in English are countable in other languages - advice, bread, furniture, cash, news, weather, rubbish, etc.
Some nouns that are uncountable in English are countable in other languages - advice, bread, furniture, cash, news, weather, rubbish, etc.
Countable & Uncountable at the same time
Some nouns can be countable and uncountable at the same time. However, they have different meanings:
GLASS, TIME, BUSINESS, HAIR, WORK, ROOM, LIFE...
- C: Can I have a glass of orange juice, please?
- U: This coffee table is made of glass.
- C: I've seen 'The Lord of the rings' five times. I love that film.
- U: Oh, no! We don't have enough time to finish all this.
- C: She quit her job to start a business selling hamburgers. (organization)
- U: We do business with a number of Spanish companies. (work)
- C: The cat has left white hairs all over the sofa. (mass of hair)
- U: She has beautiful, long hair. (a single piece of hair)
- C: Have you seen today's paper? (newspaper)
- Do you have a pen and paper?
- C: I've read the Collected Works of Shakespeare.
- U: He's been out of work for a few weeks.
- C: There are three rooms in my house.
- U: My room is so small that there isn't enough room for another bed.
- C:My grandmother had a hard life. (When we describe particular people)
- U: Life is complicated. (When we talk about life in general)
- C:I had some frightening thoughts in the night.
- Your plan needs more thought.
- C: I've got a toothache. (AmE)
- U: I've got toothache (BrE)
- C: Two coffees, please. (two cups)
- U: Would you like some coffee? (drink)
