Did you know that some nouns in English can be both countable AND uncountable, depending on the situation? It’s true! For these words, the uncountable form usually refers to the general idea, and the countable form usually refers to a specific item.
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Here are some examples of words that can be both countable AND uncountable:
chicken
Countable: The animal
- We have ten cows and fifteen chickens on our farm.
Uncountable: The food
- Would you like some chicken?
paper
Countable: Individual documents
- I showed my papers to the immigration agent.
Uncountable: Paper in general
- I need to buy some paper – our printer is all out.
time
Countable: Specific events, moments in time
- We’ve been to Tokyo three times.
Uncountable: The general concept of time
- I didn’t have enough time to finish reading the book.
hair
Countable: Individual strands of hair
- The last time I was at that restaurant, I found two hairs in my food!
Uncountable: Hair in general
- My sister has blonde hair.
room
Countable: The specific places in a house, apartment, hotel, etc.
- Our house has five rooms: the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, and family room.
Uncountable: “Room” meaning “space” in general
- I’ll make some room for these new books in the bookshelf.
memory
Countable: Specific memories of past events
- I have fond memories of the volleyball games my friends and I used to play in college.
Uncountable: The ability to remember (in general)
- I have a terrible memory. I always forget people’s names!
coffee / water / beer / tea / soda
Countable: When asking for a specific number of these drinks
- Could you bring us three coffees with milk, and two herbal teas?
Uncountable: When talking about the drink in general
- I drink a lot of coffee, but I don’t drink very much beer.
In English language, nouns can have both countable and uncountable forms depending on how they are used in a sentence. Countable nouns refer to individual objects that can be counted, whereas uncountable nouns refer to substances or concepts that cannot be divided into separate units.
This article will explore the various nouns that can exist in both countable and uncountable forms and the different contexts in which they are used.
- iron
(iron = material)
Iron is hard.
(iron = electrical appliance)
The iron is hot.
- glass
(glass = material)
Bottles are made of glass.
(glass = container)
I drank a glass of milk.
- time
(time = length of an activity)
How much time do you need to eat lunch?
(time = number of instances)
How many times do you go to Mexico in one year?
- paper
(paper = material)
I need some paper to draw on.
(paper = a report or essay)
I wrote a paper for our literature class.
(paper = a newspaper)
I bought a paper this morning.
- light
(light = energy form)
I opened the door to let in some light.
(light = lamps / light bulbs)
Please turn off the lights.
- work
(work = an activity)
I have some work to do tomorrow.
(work = a product)
That painting is a work of art.
- chicken
(chicken = food)
I had some chicken for dinner.
(chicken = kind of animal)
There are three chickens in the farm.
….
List of Nouns that Can Be Countable and Uncountable
Here is a list of common nouns that can be countable and uncountable:
- Advice
- Bread
- Butter
- Cheese
- Coffee
- Cream
- Equipment
- Food
- Furniture
- Hair
- Information
- Jelly
- Juice
- Knowledge
- Money
- Music
- News
- Rice
- Salt
- Sugar
- Tea
- Water
- Wine
- Air
- Alcohol
- Beef
- Beer
- Blood
- Candy
- Chaos
- Chicken
- Chocolate
- Cloth
- Clothing
- Coal
- Confusion
- Copper
- Courage
- Data
- Damage
- Danger
- Darkness
- Delight
- Democracy
- Dessert
- Diamond
- Dirt
- Dust
- Energy
- Enthusiasm
- Excitement
- Experience
- Faith
- Fire
- Fish
- Flour
- Glass
- Gold
- Grain
- Grass
- Happiness
- Hatred
- Health
- Help
- Homework
- Honor
- Hope
- Ice
- Importance
- Income
- Inspiration
- Intelligence
- Iron
- Justice
- Laughter
- Leather
- Lettuce
- Luggage
- Machinery
- Magic
- Milk
- Nectar
- Oil
- Oxygen
- Pain
- Paper
- Peace
- Pepper
- Petroleum
- Plastic
- Pork
- Powder
- Power
- Pressure
- Pride
- Progress
- Protection
- Rain
- Research
- Respect
- Sand
- Satisfaction
- Science
- Shampoo
- Sheep
- Silk
- Silver
- Sleep
- Snow
- Soap
- Software
- Sound
- Steel
In conclusion, the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns is an important aspect of the English language and plays a crucial role in determining the meaning and structure of a sentence. Understanding the difference between these two forms of nouns allows one to use them accurately and effectively in communication.
By being aware of the various nouns that can exist in both countable and uncountable forms, one can expand their vocabulary and improve their ability to express themselves in English. Overall, this article highlights the versatility and flexibility of the English language, and the importance of paying attention to the usage of nouns in order to communicate effectively.
Nouns That Can Be Countable and Uncountable | Images
In the first post of this series we looked at 10 nouns which can be both countable and uncountable depending on the meaning. Now, let’s look at another 10…
#10. HAIR
This noun is countable only when it means a single piece of hair:
I’ve got a few grey hairs.
Don’t ever pluck nasal hairs.
The cat has left white hairs all over the sofa.
Otherwise, it is uncountable:
Her hair was short and dark.
He’s a short fat man with no hair on his head.
I’m having my hair cut tomorrow. (Read about the construction “have something done” here.)
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#9. GLASS
Glass is uncountable when it means the transparent solid substance for making windows, bottles, etc. (1), and when it means objects made of the substance (2):
Sand is used in the production of glass. (1)
There is a priceless collection of Venetian glass in the museum. (2)
A glass is a container used for drinking made of glass (1), or the amount of a drink contained in a glass (2):
I’ll get you a clean glass. (1)
She poured a glass of wine. (2)
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#8. PAPER
Paper is uncountable when it means thin, flat material used for writing on, covering things in, etc. (1) It is countable if it means a newspaper (2) or a piece of writing about a particular subject written by someone who has been studying that subject (3):
He wrote his phone number on a scrap of paper. (1)
I buy a paper every morning. (2)
She’s just published a paper on language acquisition. (3)
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#7. WORK
The noun “work” can be countable only when it means something produced by a writer, painter, musician, or other artist:
This is a minor but moving work of literature.
Some of the youthful works of the artist are gathered in this room.
In most of its meanings, “work” is an uncountable noun:
Communities in which people are working are much healthier than communities where work is scarce.
What kind of work do you do?
Further reading: “Work vs. Job”
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#6. ROOM
“Room” is uncountable if it means the amount of space that is needed for a particular purpose (1), or the possibility for something to exist or happen (2):
There isn’t much room in here. (1)
There’s no room for doubt as to who did this. (2)
Otherwise, the noun is countable:
On the second floor were two large empty rooms.
I need to book a single room.
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#5. TIME
The noun “time” is mostly uncountable, but it can be countable when it means an occasion (1), an experience (2), a particular amount of time (3), or when it’s used for saying how often something happens (4):
Do you remember the times when we smiled at one another, when we laughed together? (1)
It’s my job to make sure the guests have a good time. (2)
She left a short time ago. (3)
Check the temperature two or three times a day. (4)
More often than not though, “time” is uncountable:
She left the bar a few minutes before closing time.
It was six o’clock in the morning, Pacific Standard Time.
Time is money.
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#4. MEMORY
“Memory” is a variable noun if it means the ability to remember (1), but it’s countable if it means something that you remember:
She has a photographic memory. (1)
Complete loss of memory is called amnesia. (1)
I don’t have very fond memories of my school days. (2)
Remember the following phrases:
- from memory: He recited the poem from memory.
- in memory of sb.: They built a statue in memory of those who died in the fire.
- in living memory: No one in living memory has come back from that place alive.
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#3. BEAUTY
A beauty is a beautiful woman (1) or something that you think is very good or a good example of its type (2):
The girl is such a beauty. (1)
That last goal was a beauty. (2)
The beauties of something are the features of something that are beautiful to look at:
He painted the beauties of the sea his whole life.
The beauties of nature are innumerable.
Compare the meaning of “the beauties of” and “the beauty of:”
The beauty of working at home is that you don’t have to travel to work. (= the advantage; the beauties of…)
I shall not attempt to describe the majestic beauties of the mountains. (= the beautiful features, = the majestic beauty of…)
More often than not, the noun is uncountable:
She had brains and beauty.
I always enjoy the beauty of her poetry.
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#2. FAILURE
Failure is a situation in which someone or something does not succeed, and a failure is someone or something that does not succeed:
His fear of failure was holding him back. (uncountable)
All my life I’ve felt like a failure. (countable)
“Failure” is a variable noun if it means a situation in which something does not work, or stops working as well as it should:
All trains were delayed due to a power failure.
Heart failure occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
Further reading: “Idioms about Success & Failure”
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#1. GOSSIP
Gossip is conversation or reports about other people’s private lives that might or might not be true, and a gossip is someone who likes to talk about other people’s private lives:
That was an interesting piece of gossip. (uncountable)
My uncle Michael was a great gossip. (countable)
A gossip can also mean an occasion on which people gossip:
He liked a good gossip when he arrived at the office.
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Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, usually with a different meaning for each. This page lists the most common such nouns. Click on each noun for more information, including countable and uncountable meanings, example sentences and a quick test.
You can also choose one of the following fun quizzes to test your understanding. Each quiz has ten questions.
accommodation
uncountable: a place to live in or stay at
countable: an agreement between opposing people or organisations
aid
uncountable: money or help given to those who need it
countable: something that helps you to do something
air
uncountable: the mixture of gases surrounding the earth
countable: (old-fashioned) a tune or a melody
art
uncountable: paintings, sculpture, drawings, etc.
countable: an activity that needs special training or knowledge
ballet
uncountable: a style of dancing that tells a story
countable: a particular work of classical dance
beauty
uncountable: the quality that makes someone or something beautiful
countable: a beautiful woman, or an excellent thing
beer
uncountable: an alcoholic drink made with malt and hops
countable: a glass of beer
blood
uncountable: the red liquid inside our bodies
countable: (old-fashioned) a rich man who likes to show off
bread
uncountable: a common food that’s made from wheat or other grains
countable: a particular variety or type of bread
business
uncountable: the activity of making, buying or selling things for money
countable: a particular company or other commercial organisation
cheese
uncountable: a solid dairy food
countable: a particular kind or variety of cheese
cinema
uncountable: the making and marketing of films and movies
countable: a place in which films are shown on a big screen («movie theater» is more common in American English)
coffee
uncountable: a drink made with ground, roasted seeds
countable: one cup of coffee
currency
uncountable: the banknotes and coins used in a country
countable: the monetary unit of a particular country
danger
uncountable: the possibility of something very bad happening
countable: a person or thing that can harm or kill
delight
uncountable: a feeling of great happiness
countable: something or someone that makes us happy
depression
uncountable: a feeling of great sadness that can require medical treatment to cure
countable: a period of little economic activity when many people lose their jobs
dessert
uncountable: sweet food eaten at the end of a meal
countable: a particular type or category of dessert
distribution
uncountable: the transportation and delivery of goods to shops and buyers
countable: the geographic range of a species, a language, a disease, etc.
employment
uncountable: the giving of work to someone, or the state of having work
countable: an exchange of labour for payment, usually under contract
enjoyment
uncountable: the pleasure you get from something
countable: an activity or experience that gives pleasure
entertainment
uncountable: films, concerts, sports, TV shows, etc. that an audience can enjoy
countable: a particular performance or activity that people enjoy
failure
uncountable: lack of success in doing something
countable: a person or thing that is not successful
faith
uncountable: strong belief in someone or something
countable: a particular religion
food
uncountable: things that people or animals eat
countable: a particular type or category of food
freedom
uncountable: the state of being free to do what you want
countable: the right to do what you want to do
fruit
uncountable: food that contains seeds, like apples, oranges, pears, etc.
countable: a particular kind or category of fruit
fuel
uncountable: something that’s burned for heat or power, like wood, oil, gas, etc.
countable: a particular kind of fuel
gas
uncountable: any substance like air that’s neither solid nor liquid
countable: a particular type of gas
glass
uncountable: the material used to make windows, bottles, fishbowls, etc.
countable: a drinking vessel made of glass
gold
uncountable: a valuable metal that’s used to make jewellery
countable: a gold medal, or a colour that’s similar to gold
gossip
uncountable: stories about other people’s private lives, often untrue or exaggerated
countable: a person who likes telling and hearing gossip
grammar
uncountable: the rules of a language
countable: a book that describes the rules of a language
grass
uncountable: a common plant that’s eaten by horses, cows, sheep, etc.
countable: any particular type of grass
ground
uncountable: the surface of the Earth
countable: an area of land used for a particular purpose
hair
uncountable: the mass of fibres on your head
countable: a single strand of hair
heat
uncountable: the quality of being hot
countable: a qualifying race or game at the start of a competition
height
uncountable: how high something is, or how tall someone is
countable: a high place or position
ice cream
uncountable: a sweet frozen food made from milk
countable: a small amount of ice cream on a stick, in a cone, or in a small container
injustice
uncountable: unfair treatment or mistaken legal judgement
countable: a particular action, judgement or situation that’s unfair
intelligence
uncountable: the ability to understand and think about complex ideas
countable: a particular type or class of intelligence
iron
uncountable: a strong, hard metal
countable: a household appliance for smoothing out wrinkles in clothes
irony
uncountable: humour in which someone says the opposite of what they really mean
countable: an event or situation that involves a contradiction of some sort
jam
uncountable: sweet food that’s made from fruit and usually spread on bread or toast
countable: many vehicles stuck together in traffic, or a difficult situation
jealousy
uncountable: unhappiness felt when you think someone you like wants somebody else, or when someone else has something you want
countable: an action or comment that shows jealousy
joy
uncountable: a feeling of great happiness
countable: something that makes you feel very happy
juice
uncountable: liquid that’s squeezed from fruit or vegetables
countable: one glass of juice, or a particular kind of juice
kindness
uncountable: the quality of being kind to people or animals
countable: a kind act
land
uncountable: the earth’s surface, or part of this surface
countable: a country or region
love
uncountable: a strong affection for someone
countable: a person, thing or activity that you love
marble
uncountable: a type of stone often used in buildings
countable: a small glass ball used for playing games
meat
uncountable: animal or bird flesh eaten as food
countable: a particular type of meat
metal
uncountable: a solid material that can be mined, like iron, tin, gold, etc.
countable: a particular kind or category of metal
nature
uncountable: all living things and the habitats that sustain them
countable: the basic character of a person or an animal, or a basic feature of something
noise
uncountable: loud or unpleasant sound
countable: a particular sound
oil
uncountable: a thick liquid, such as the dark liquid from underground that’s used to make fuel, or a thick liquid that’s used for cooking food
countable: a particular type of oil
paper
uncountable: a material that’s used for writing on, printing on, or wrapping things in
countable: a newspaper
passion
uncountable: very strong feeling or emotion
countable: a very strong interest in something or someone
power
uncountable: the ability to control people, places or things
countable: a country with a lot of political, economic or military power
pride
uncountable: positive emotion felt when you or someone you know achieves something special
countable: a group of lions
production
uncountable: the process of making or growing things
countable: a film, play, television or radio programme
pronunciation
uncountable: the sounds made when speaking a language or saying a word
countable: a particular way of pronouncing a word or a language
quality
uncountable: the standard of something, or how good it is
countable: a particular feature of someone or something
quantity
uncountable: the amount of something
countable: a particular amount of something or number of things
room
uncountable: the space needed for something
countable: a space inside a building with walls, a floor and a ceiling
salad
uncountable: raw vegetables like lettuce, tomato, cucumber, etc. mixed together
countable: one serving of salad, or a particular type of salad
satire
uncountable: humour used to criticize someone or something
countable: a movie, book, play, etc. that uses satirical humour
silence
uncountable: total quiet, or no sound at all
countable: a period of time when nobody’s speaking
sleep
uncountable: a natural state of rest
countable: a particular period of sleep
smoke
uncountable: clouds that rise from fires, chimneys, etc.
countable: a cigarette, or the act of smoking
soil
uncountable: the top layer of earth in which plants can grow
countable: a particular type or category of soil
sorrow
uncountable: a feeling of great sadness
countable: an event that causes great sadness
space
uncountable: empty area, or the unused part of something
countable: a particular area that has nothing in it
speed
uncountable: how fast something or someone moves
countable: a particular speed
spelling
uncountable: the ordering of letters to form a word
countable: a particular way of spelling a word
sport
uncountable: physical activities in which players compete individually or in teams
countable: a particular kind of sport
strength
uncountable: physical power, or how strong someone or something is
countable: an important ability or feature
success
uncountable: the achievement of a goal
countable: a successful person, event or result
sugar
uncountable: sweet crystals added to drinks like tea and coffee
countable: one teaspoon of sugar, or a particular type of sugar
tea
uncountable: a drink made by adding boiling water to dried plant parts
countable: one cup of tea, or a particular type of tea
time
uncountable: duration as measured by clocks
countable: a particular occasion or time when something happened
toast
uncountable: sliced bread that’s been heated and browned in a toaster
countable: the act of drinking to someone’s happiness or success
trade
uncountable: the buying and selling of goods and services
countable: a type of skilled work, or a particular type of business
trust
uncountable: the belief that someone or something is honest or won’t cheat you
countable: a legal arrangement or organization that manages someone’s money or property
understanding
uncountable: comprehension of the facts about something, or comprehension of someone’s situation or feelings
countable: an informal agreement
usage
uncountable: the way that words are used in spoken or written language
countable: a particular meaning or usage of a word
vision
uncountable: the sense of sight, or the ability to see
countable: an idea of what the future could be like
weight
uncountable: how heavy someone or something is
countable: a heavy object that’s used to build muscle mass and strength
whisky
uncountable: a strong alcoholic drink
countable: one glass of whisky
width
uncountable: how wide something is
countable: a measured piece of cloth, or the width of a swimming pool
wine
uncountable: an alcoholic drink made from grapes, or a similar drink made from rice, elderberries, etc.
countable: a glass of wine, or a particular type of wine
wood
uncountable: the hard material in trees
countable: a particular type of wood
work
uncountable: a job done for money, or any productive activity
countable: something created by a writer, painter, musician, or other artist
youth
uncountable: the time in someone’s life when they’re young
countable: a young man
Contributor: Matt Errey
В английском языке имена существительные делятся на исчисляемые (Countable) и неисчисляемые (Uncountable), и если с исчисляемыми существительными вопросов не возникает, то употребление неисчисляемых подразумевает наличие множества интересных нюансов, которые мы собираемся рассмотреть.
Неисчисляемые существительные
Неисчисляемыми существительными являются названиями материалов (materials), жидкости (liquids), абстрактных качеств (abstract qualities), совокупности чего-то (collections) и других предметов, которые мы не можем расценивать в качестве отдельных предметов. Большинство неисчисляемых существительных всегда в единственном числе и не имеют множественного, например: зерно (wheat), песок (sand), погода (weather), вода (water), шерсть (wool), молоко (milk). Мы не можем сочетать числа, а также неопределенный артикль с неисчисляемыми существительными: aid (помощь), behavior (поведение), clothing (одежда), employment (работа), equipment (оборудование), furniture (мебель), help (помощь), information (информация), pollution (загрязнение), software (программное обеспечение), transport (транспорт):
- Such behavior is below standards. – такое поведение недопустимо.
- Your clothing is out of fashion. – ваша одежда не модная.
- This furniture is of famous trademark. – эта мебель известной торговой марки.
Существительные, оканчивающиеся на «–ing», и описывающие какую-то деятельность или активность, также являются неисчисляемыми: advertising (реклама), farming (фермерство), shopping (покупки), swimming (плавание), training (обучение) и т.д.
- Swimming is good for health – плавание хорошо для здоровья.
- You can do the best shopping in the central mall. – в этом торговом центре вас ждет лучший шопинг.
Некоторые существительные могут использоваться как исчисляемые, так и неисчисляемые, в зависимости от контекста:
- You have no work experience in this field of activity – у вас нет опыта работы в этой сфере деятельности.
- Staying overtime isn’t a pleasant experience. – Сверхурочная работа — не самая приятная практика.
- How much time do you need to download this file? – сколько времени тебе нужно, чтобы загрузить этот файл?
- How many times have you travelled abroad? – сколько раз вы путешествовали за границу?
- At week-end we often go to the country. – На выходные мы часто едем за город.
- He travels a lot and has visited many countries. – Он много путешествует и посетил множество стран.
Исчисляемое или неисчисляемое?
Иногда нелегко понять, какое перед нами существительное, например, «travel» считается неисчисляемым, тогда как journey – исчисляемое. Невозможно всегда знать наверняка, однако следующие правила, несомненно, помогут разобраться.
Названия болезней обычно считаются неисчисляемыми в английском, например, chickenpox (ветряная оспа), measles (корь), cancer (рак), diabetes (диабет), flu (грипп) и т.д. Однако слова, перед такими словами, как «a headache» и «a cold» сопровождаются артиклем.
Некоторые неисчисляемые существительные относятся к множественному числу. У них нет единственного числа, и они не используются с числительными: trousers (брюки), jeans (джинсы), pyjamas (пижама), pants (брюки), scissors (ножницы), spectacles (очки), glasses (очки), arms (оружие), goods (товар), customs (таможня), groceries (бакалея), clothes (одежда), thanks (спасибо).
- Have you bought the groceries? – вы купили продукты?
- Many thanks for your coming. –благодарю за то, что вы пришли.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLhuS6V7gbY[/youtube]
Список неисчисляемых существительных в английском языке
Вот список самых распространенных слов, относящихся к неисчисляемым, а рядом указаны соответствующие исчисляемые выражения.
- Accommodation (жилье) —> ( a place to live)
- Advice (совет) —> (a piece of advice)
- baggage (багаж)—> (a piece of baggage; a bag, a case)
- bread (хлеб)—> (a piece of bread; a loaf; a roll)
- chess (шахматы)—> (a game of chess)
- chewing gum (жевательная резинка)—> (a piece of chewing gum)
- equipment (оборудование) —> (a piece of equipment; a tool)
- furniture (мебель)—> (a piece/article of furniture)
- information (информация)—> (a piece of information)
- knowledge (знание)—> (a fact)
- lightning (освещение)—> (a flash of lightning)
- luck (удача)—> (a bit/stroke of luck)
- luggage (багаж) —> (a piece of luggage; a bag)
- money (деньги) —> (a note; a coin; a sum)
- news (новости)—> (a piece of news)
- poetry (поэзия)—> (a poem)
- thunder (гром)—> (a clap of thunder)
- travel (путешествие)—> (a journey/trip)
- work (работа)—> (a job; a piece of work)
- milk (молоко)—> a glass of milk
- coffee (кофе) —> a cup of coffee
- chocolate (шоколад)—> a bar of chocolate
- rice (рис)—> a kilo of rice
- honey (мед) —> a spoon of honey
- cheese (сыр)—> a slice of cheese
- dust (пыль) —> a cloud of dust
- sugar (сахар)—> a particle of sugar
- sand (песок)—> a grain of sand
- scissors (ножницы) —> a pair of scissors
- air (воздух) —> a breath of fresh air
- petrol (бензин) —> a litre of petrol
- salt (соль) —> a pinch of salt
- ice (лед) —> a sheet of ice / paper
- water (вода) —> a drop of water
- grass (трава) —> a blade of grass
- paper (бумага) —> a sheet / piece of paper
Для закрепления материала предлагаем пройти небольшой тест.
Countable / uncountable nouns
1. You can buy here children’s ….
a) Clothing
b) Clothings
2. I have 10 years of …
a) Experiences
b) Experience
3. Microsoft sells computer …
a) Softwares
b) Software
4. You must take this medicine three … a day.
a) Times
b) Time
5. We can’t arrange … of drinks and cigarettes as it is prohibited.
a) Advertisings
b) Advertising
6. You can go there using public …
a) Transports
b) Transport
7. It has excellent facilities, with all the latest …
a) Equipments
b) Equipment
8. I am fond of …
a) Poetries
b) Poetry
9. In future … will be successfully cured.
a) Cancers
b) Cancer
10. Some … will make you good.
a) Training
b) Trainings
