Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Nouns are names of things, place, person or ideas etc. Nouns may be countable or uncountable. In this article you will know about countable and uncountable nouns with examples.

• There are few boys in the class.
• Are there many books on the table?
• There are several tigers in the zoo.

 Do you know how to use few many some several etc. Read the full article to know which word is used before countable or uncountable noun.

Kinds of noun

Nouns are classified into different types for examples

Rita is a pretty girl.

London is a big city.

In this two sentence Rita, London is proper noun and Girl, and city is common noun. A common noun is a name given in general to every person or thing of the same class. Other types of nouns are countable noun, uncountable noun, proper noun. Please visit to know All Types of Noun in English grammar.

What is countable noun with example?

The noun which can be counted are called countable noun. For examples, one year, two years, a hundred years, a man, boxes, houses, shoes etc. are countable noun.

One the other hand, uncountable nouns is those nouns which can not be counted. For example gold, money, water, weather etc. We can not count them like one gold, four gold, one water, so these nouns are called uncountable noun.

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List of examples of countable and uncountable nouns

• Also read: Important Rules of Noun

Rules of countable and uncountable nouns

1. A and an article is used before countable noun.

For example

• This is an umbrella.
• This is an elephant.
• He gave me an orange.
• That is a tree.
• There is a box in the table. etc.

 2. Article a and an can not be use before uncountable noun.

For example

• Gold is a precious metal.
• Water is a liquid.
• Milk is a complete food.
• I want some tea.
• Sugar is sweet.

A countable noun can be singular as well as plural on the other hand; an uncountable noun is always singular. Uncountable noun do not have their plural form. Some examples are mention below-

Uncountable noun has no plural form. For examples-

• Some boys are playing volleyball.
• There is some water in the glass.

In the above sentence, some boys are playing volleyball. A boy is countable noun. On the other hand; in the next sentence there is some water in the glass. Water is uncountable noun.

Some examples of uncountable nouns

• Milk
• Water
• Knowledge
• Education
• Wastage
• Luggage
• Information
• Hair
• Postage
• Stationary
• Mischief
• Footwear
• Advice
• Food
• Furniture
• Crockery
• Scenery
• Poetry etc.

3. Few, a few many, the few, several, a large number of, etc are used only with countable noun. We can not use these with uncountable noun.

 For example

• There are few boys in the class.
• Are there many books on the table?
• There are several tigers in the zoo.

In the above sentence, few many and several is used before boys, books, and tigers. Because boys, books, and tigers are countable noun. Thus, Few, a few many, the few, several, a large number of takes place before countable noun.

4. On the other hand; little, a little much, the little, quality of etc. Is used before uncountable noun. For example

• There hasn’t much sugar in that jug.
• A large quality of rice was found in the godown.
• There is a little water in that pot. etc.

5. Some, enough, plenty of, a lot of, any, take place before the countable and uncountable noun.

For examples

• There are some girls in the classroom. (Countable).
• We found some sand in this box. (Uncountable).
• I don’t have any pen. (Countable).
• Have you any money? (Uncountable).
• They have a lot of books in their room. (Countable).
• There is a lot of water in that pond. (Uncountable).

Thus, some, any, enough, lot of etc. Are used before countable noun as well as uncountable noun.

uncountable and countable noun

uncountable nouns sentences

• The question is still under discussion.
• Hemlet is a great character of shakespear.
• I have a lot of work to do.
• This table is made of wood.

Bread is uncountable or countable

Bread is uncountable noun for examples.

• A loaf of bread
• Slice of bread
• A piece of bread
• Piece of poetry
• A stroke of luck
• Shower of rain.etc.

Thus, bread, luck, laughter, poetry, gold is uncountable noun.

Pity is uncountable noun

• It’s a pity that he failed the examination.
• What a surprise!
• He has a good knowledge of India.

Knowledge, pity surprise, honour, love shame etc are uncountable noun. More uncountable noun

Conclusion

Nouns identify names of things, place, persons, ideas etc. There are 8 types of nouns in English grammar. Among them we have discussed about countable and uncountable nouns with examples. Countable nouns can be counted and uncountable nouns like love, honour, sugar, water which we can’t count them. There are many rules to use of countable and uncountable nouns appropriately. And some important rules mentioned above. Know more about noun.