Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns uncountable nouns what's the difference

Countable and uncountable nouns English grammar lesson

This lesson you will learn how to tell the difference between a countable and uncountable noun 

How to tell if it is a countable or uncountable noun?

If there is a “a”/“an” in front of the word or “s” at the end of a word, then this word will be a countable noun.

Example of telling what is a countable noun

If you see “a motorbike” or “motorbikes”, the word “motorbike” must be countable.

Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns	Uncountable nouns
oranges, carrots, onions, pineapples, pears,  bananas, sweets, noodles, tomatoes, mushrooms,  grapes, strawberries, apples, eggs, snacks, potato   chips, vegetables, cakes, pounds	bread, lettuce, milk, cheese, rice, beef, oil, garlic, meat, salt, ice-cream, sugar, pork, food, water, chicken(meat), butter, soup, tea, coffee, money
Sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable
egg, ice-cream, lettuce, coke, chocolate, chicken,
Words used with countable nouns	Words used with uncountable nouns
many, a few, few(close to zero), fewer	much, a little, little(close to nothing), less
Words used with both countable and uncountable nouns
some, a lot of (=lots of) , plenty of, enough, any, more

How to count the uncountable nouns

When we want to count the uncountable nouns, you have to put a phrase in front of the word.

Examples:

a bar of  white chocolate,   3 bars of white chocolate

a bottle of milk / juice,   four bottles of milk / juice

A jar of coffee / jam, three jars of coffee / jam

a carton of milk / juice,   4 cartons of milk / juice

a bowl of ice,   a few bowls of rice

** HINT **

“Milk” and “jam” are uncountable, but “carton”, “bottle” and “jar” are countable.

You cannot say 1 milk, 2 milks, but you can say “1 bottles”, “two jars”.

Countable and uncountable nouns

 

Talking about countable and uncountable nouns

Sing = singular

pl = plural