اللغة الإنجليزية — Countable and Uncountable Nouns — 1ثانوي — شعبة آداب — Algerian Curriculum

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Nouns in English can be countable or uncountable. Countable nouns can be counted (one book, two books), while uncountable nouns cannot (water, milk, rice).

Countable Nouns

Have singular and plural forms. Use a/an with singular. Examples: a cat, two cats; an apple, three apples. Use “many” and “few” with them.

Uncountable Nouns

Have only one form. Cannot use a/an. Examples: water, information, advice, furniture, news, money. Use “much” and “little” with them.

Nouns that can be both

• Chicken (food – uncountable) / a chicken (animal – countable)
• Glass (material – uncountable) / a glass (container – countable)
• Paper (material – uncountable) / a paper (newspaper – countable)

Quantity expressions

Countable: How many? A few, several, a number of. Uncountable: How much? A little, a bit of, a great deal of.

Exercises

1. Identify countable/uncountable: rice, chair, information, student, money.

2. Complete: How ___ books? How ___ water?

See also Quantifiers and Prepositions of Time and Place.