Count and Uncount Nouns
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Nouns can be divided into countable (count) nouns and uncountable (uncount) nouns.
Countable nouns can take the plural form and follow a cardinal number. We can count countable nouns.
Duck and pumpkin are countable noun (a duck, one duck, two ducks, three ducks; one pumpkin, two pumpkins).
Water, sugar and butter on the other hand, cannot not take plural forms and follow cardinal numbers. And we cannot count them, per se; they are uncountable.
Examples of Count and Uncount Nouns
|
Count Nouns, Singular |
Count Nouns, Plural |
Uncount Nouns |
|---|---|---|
| one banana | two coconuts | food |
| a chair, one table | three sofas | furniture |
| a personal computer | four laptops | hardware, software |
| a chocolate bar | five cups of hot cocoa | chocolate |
| one spoonful of sugar | six teaspoons of sugar | sugar |
| a glass of milk | seven liters of milk | milk |
| a secret | 21 secrets of success | top secret |
| a banknote, one euro | a million dollars | money |
More Examples
|
Count Nouns, Singular |
Count Nouns, Plural |
Uncout Nouns |
|---|---|---|
| an eggplant (aubergine) | two zucchinis | a little produce |
| one car | three rockets | some transportation |
| a shrub, one tree | lots of shrubs and trees | much vegetation |
| a course, a lesson | 21 classes | lots of education |
| one liter of yoghurt | twelve cups of yoghurt | a little yoghurt |
| a glass of juice | several glasses of juice | enough juice |
| a sound | Top 40 Songs | too much noise |
| a painting | seven sculptures | not enough art |
