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Count and

Non-count Nouns Lesson 18

Lesson 18 – Count and Non-count Nouns

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Nouns can be either countable or uncountable. Countable nouns (or count

nouns) are those that refer to something that can be counted. They have both

singular and plural forms (e.g. cat/cats; woman/women; country/countries).

In the singular, they can be preceded by a or an. Most nouns come into

this category.

a cat cats a woman women a country countries

A smaller number of nouns do not typically refer to things that can be counted

and so they do not regularly have a plural form: these are known as uncountable

nouns (or mass nouns). Examples include: rain, flour, wine, or wood.

Uncountable nouns can't be preceded by a or an. Many abstract nouns are

typically uncountable, e.g. happiness, truth, darkness, humor.

flour wind rain happiness darkness truth

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Count nouns are nouns that can be quantified or counted with a number.

Tests for Count Nouns:

Count nouns can be quantified by a number.

They have singular and plural forms.

They can use a, an, or one as a modifier.

They can use "many" as a modifier.

Non-count nouns (also called Mass nouns) are uncountable by a number.

Mass nouns are quantified by a word that signifies amount.

Tests for Non Count Nouns:

Mass nouns are quantified by an amount rather than a number.

They have only one form (singular).

They cannot have "a," "an," or "one" before them as modifiers.

They can use "much" as a modifier.



Anything that cannot be counted is an uncountable noun. Even though

uncountable nouns are not individual objects, they are always singular and

one must always use singular verbs in conjunction with uncountable nouns.

Notice that singular verbs are always used with uncountable nouns.

There is no more water in the pond.

Please help yourself to some cheese.

I need to find information about Pulitzer Prize winners.

You seem to have a high level of intelligence.

Please take good care of your equipment.

Let’s get rid of the gar age.

Uncountable nouns can be paired with words expressing plural concept. Using

these words can make your writing more specific.

There are nine bags of garbage on the curb.

She gave me a useful piece of advice.

A couch is a piece of furniture.

Please buy a loaf of bread.

A couch is a piece of furniture

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Underline all the count nouns and encircle all the non-count nouns in the

story.

Though you can make the decision on purely economic grounds, buying a

computer is often more like joining a religious cult. Buy an Apple, for example, and

almost by default you join Apple chairman Steve Jobs in his crusade against IBM.

Every machine has its "users' groups" and a band of loyal enthusiasts who tout its

merits. That makes it all the more difficult for the uninitiated to decide what

machine to buy. Students have a huge advantage, however. The computer

companies are so eager for students' business (it builds "brand loyalty") that many

offer huge discounts.

In the past six months, IBM, Apple, and others have brought out new

computers, and the fierce competition has forced prices down. Also, time is on your

side: next year at this time you'll have even more choices and more computing

power and features for the same price. On the other hand, this will probably be true

for many years. So for those who need or want a computer now, it's a great time to

buy one.


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Pluralizing The Rules

Count nouns can be pluralized by adding a final -s to the nouns.

Non count nouns cannot be not pluralized at all.

Exception: Certain nouns in English belong to both classes: they have both a non-

count and a count meaning. Normally, the non-count meaning is abstract and

general, and the count meaning is concrete and specific.

Count Non-count

The researcher had to overcome some

specific problems to collect the data.

The researcher had no problem finding studies that

supported his view.

The political arguments took the nation to a

situation of political instability.

The author's argument was unsupported and

stereotypical.

There were bright lights and harsh sounds. Light travels faster than sound.

Special Case: A special case is the use of the mass/count distinction for the purpose

of classification. The nouns which function both ways mainly denote foods and

beverages: food(s), drink(s), wine(s), bread(s), coffee(s), and fruit(s).

Units Mass

Several types of French wines are

grown in the French Riviera.

The crops of Columbia coffee are more resistant to dry

climate than are the crops of Brazilian coffee.

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Revision of the Rules: The exceptions require that the rule for pluralizing be revised:

count nouns and nouns used in a count sense can be pluralized; noncount nouns and

nouns used in a noncount sense cannot.

Pluralizes with -s Does not Pluralize

Count Noun X

Count Use X

Noncount Noun X

Noncount Use X

Nouns that Take Articles : Choosing which article to use with a noun is a complex

matter because the range of choices depends on whether the noun in question is count

or non-count, singular or plural.

A/An The This/That These/Those

Count Singular X X X

Plural X X

Noncount Singular X X

Plural

Note: Non-count nouns are always singular.

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Are these nouns countable or

uncountable?

1. water ____________

2. fruit ____________

3. coconut ____________

4. bread ____________

5. DVD ____________

6. meat ____________

7. ball ____________

8. snack ____________

9. glasses ____________

10. pen ____________

11. milk ____________

12. chair ____________

13. gasoline____________

14. table ____________

15. cream ____________

16. money ____________

17. oil ____________

18. insect ____________

19. sofa ____________

20. yogurt ____________

21. school ____________

22. bus ____________

23. food ____________

24. chocolate____________

25. ship ____________

Use a or a if e essary.

1. ____ money

2. ____ group of

ponds

3. ____ cup of tea

4. ____ sugar

5. ____ bar of

chocolate

6. ____ ice-cream

7. ____ rice

8. ____ glass of

water

9. ____ coffee

10.____ cake

11.____ eggs

12.____ orange

13.____ bunch of

grapes

14.____ coins

15.____ apple

16.____ salt

17.____ pinch of

pepper

18.____ bundle of

rice

19.____ sack of

cement

20.____ university

21.____ elbow

22.____ ocean of

paradise

23.____ bucket

24.____ closet full of

clothes

25.____ clothes


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1. Rowan had meat, rice, vegetable, and some milk for dinner.

2. It is good to drink water when you are thirsty.

3. The students learned a lot of new vocabulary in class today.

4. We ate some sandwich for lunch.

5. I have a lot of homework to do tonight.

6. I like to dream about tropical beach!

7. Rodolfo took some great picture at the family reunion last week.

8. Milton has made a lot of progress on his project since he started Monday.

9. Encyclopedia contain lots of information.

10.I learn more new word in English class every day.

11.The new mansion costs six million dollars. I wish I had million of dollars!

12.Carrie bought some new clothing today. I bought some new jewelry.

13.Carrie bought a new pair of shoe. I bought a new set of earring.

14.Tommy is twenty-two year old. I am thirty. I like being a thirty-year old.

15.At rush hour, there are a lot of car on the highway. It usually takes us about twenty minute to

get to school. During rush hour, it takes us much more because there is so much traffic.

Add –s/-es to the italicized noun if necessary. If the noun does not need

to be changed leave it be. Rewrite the new sentences.


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Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Most of the time, this doesn't matter with adjectives. For example, you can say,

"The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a

countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives, such as

"some/any," "much/many," and "little/few."


1. Some/Any: Some and any countable and uncountable nouns.

"There is some water on the floor."

"There are some students here."

"Do you have any food?"

"Do you have any apples?"

2. Much/Many: Much modifies only uncountable nouns. Many modifies only

countable nouns.

"We don't have much time to get this done."

"Many Americans travel to Europe."

3. Little/Few: Little modifies only uncountable nouns.

"He had little food in the house."

"The doctor had little time to think in the emergency room."

4. Few modifies only countable nouns.

"There are few doctors in town." "Few students like exams."

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Other basic rules

1. A lot of/lots of: A lot of/lots of are informal substitutes for much and many. They

are used with uncountable nouns when they mean much and with countable

nouns when they mean many.

"They have lots of (much) money in the bank."

"A lot of (many) Americans travel to Europe."

"We got lots of (many) mosquitoes last summer."

"We got lots of (much) rain last summer."

2. A little bit of: A little bit of is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

"There is a little bit of pepper in the soup." "There is a little bit of snow on the ground."

3. Enough: Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

"There is enough money to buy a car." "I have enough books to read."

4. Plenty of: Plenty of modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

"They have plenty of money in the bank." "There are plenty of millionaires in Switzerland."

5. No: No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

"There is no time to finish now." "There are no squirrels in the park."

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Some or Any


1. I'd like ___ ice cream.

2. Here are ___ Ietters for you.

3. Are there ___ students in the

classroom?

4. There's ___ strawberry shake for

you.

5. You must buy ___ new pencils.

6. I took ___ nice photographs of

your house.

7. Are there ___ eggs in the fridge?

8. I'm sorry, we haven't got ___

postcards at the moment.

9. She always throws ___ coins into

the eggar’s hat. 10.Are ’t there ___ sa d i hes left?

1. I ha e _______ ater left. There’s e ough to share. 2. I ha e _______ good frie ds. I’ ot lo ely. 3. He has _______ edu atio . He a ’t read or rite,

and he can hardly count.

4. There are _______ people she really trusts. It’s a it sad.

5. We’ e got _______ ti e at the eeke d. Would you like to meet?

6. Julie gave us _______ apples from her garden. Shall

we share them?

7. She has _______ self-confidence. She has a lot of

trouble talking to new people.

8. There are _______ women politicians in the UK.

Many people think there should be more.

9. It’s a great pity, ut hospital has _______ edi i e. They a ’t help a y people.

10. I’ e got _______ akes to gi e a ay. Would you like one?

A little / little / a few / few

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1. I do ’t ha e __________ hair, ut I ha e ______ ars. 2. She has too __________ corn and too __________ cups.

3. I ha e too _____ ho e ork! A d I do ’t ha e ______ ti e to do it!

4. We do ’t ha e _______ o ey, ut e ha e ________ frie ds!

5. I waited for _______ hours.

6. She was won _______ awards.

7. How _______ do you need?

8. There are ’t _______ houses i this area. 9. She has got _______ friends.

10.You did ’t eat _______ reakfast. 11.She can speak _______ languages.

12.I do ’t k o _______ a out o puters. 13._______ has been written about the causes of poverty and unemployment.

14.You have made too _______ mistakes in this essay.

15.I like him very _______.

Write a y or u h i the la ks elow.


The End

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