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Countable and Uncountable Nouns in English: How to Tell Them Apart
Countable nouns can be counted directly (one book, two books), uncountable ones can't (water, rice, money).
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
Countable nouns can be counted directly: one book, two books. Uncountable nouns have no plural and can't be counted one by one: water, rice, money. You never say "a water" or "two moneys."
Countable vs. uncountable
Uncountable nouns that surprise learners
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Practice countable and uncountable nouns with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Some and any work the same with both
Some and any don't change based on whether the noun is countable or uncountable: some apples (countable), some water (uncountable). What does change is the quantifier: many/few for countable, much/little for uncountable.
Common mistakes learners make
Words that are normally countable in many other languages ("an information," "a advice," "a furniture") are uncountable in English. Saying "an advice" or "an information" is incorrect; the correct form is "some advice," "a piece of advice," or just "information" with no article.
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Frequently asked questions
What are countable and uncountable nouns?
Countable nouns can be counted one by one and have a plural (book, books). Uncountable nouns have no plural and can't be counted directly (water, rice, money).
How do you know if a noun is countable or uncountable?
Ask yourself if you can count it with numbers: "one chair, two chairs" (countable). If it has no natural plural form, like water or rice, it's uncountable.
Can you use a/an with uncountable nouns?
No. A/an is only used with singular countable nouns: a book, an apple. Never "a water" or "an advice."
Is pizza countable or uncountable?
It depends on context: "I love pizza" talks about the food in general (uncountable), but "I ate a pizza" talks about one whole pizza (countable).
What are some examples of uncountable nouns?
Water, rice, money, information, advice, furniture, news, sugar, rain.
Why do information, advice, and furniture confuse learners?
Because they're normally countable in many other languages, but in English they're uncountable: you use "some" or "a piece of" instead of "a/an."
Practice countable and uncountable nouns with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.