Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are nouns which can be counted, even if the number might be extraordinarily high (like counting all the people in the world). Countable nouns can be used with a/an, the, some, any, a few, and many.

Here is a cat.

Cat is singular and – obviously – countable.

Here are a few cats.

Here are some cats.

Some more examples of countable nouns would be house, idea, hand, car, flower, and paper.

Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns which come in a state or quantity which is impossible to count; liquids are uncountable, as are things which act like liquids (sand, air) They’re always considered to be singular, and can be used with a, some, any, a little, and much.

An I.Q. test measures intelligence.

Intelligence is an uncountable noun.

Students don’t seem to have many homework these days.

Because homework is an uncountable noun, it should be modified by much or a lot of.

Students don’t seem to have much homework these days.

A lot of equipment is required to play hockey safely.

Some more examples of uncountable nouns would be water, soil, love, literature, and dust.

Both Countable and Uncountable

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable: e.g. light, hair, room, gear, art, and science.

Did you have a good time at the party?

Here, time is countable (a time).

I don’t think I have time to do my hair before I leave.

In this sentence, time is uncountable.

There is some juice on the table.

There are some juices on the table.