Language/English/Grammar/Countable-and-Uncountable-Nouns

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

There are two kinds of nouns: countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Simple things you can count are countable nouns, for example, eggs. Countable nouns have plural forms, which usually end in -s. They also have singular forms. The singular nouns can have a or an before them.

Things you can´t count are uncountable nouns; for example, milk. You can´t count milk. With uncountable nouns, don´t use plural -s or a or an. For example, uncountable noun rice, it is not correct to say ´rices´ or ´a rice´.

Countable Nouns

Use "a/an" or plural "-s"

• I have an egg for breakfast everyday.

• I don´t eat bananas.

How many eggs do you eat a week?

• I eat a lot of eggs.

• I don´t eat many. (eggs)

• I don´t eat a lot of eggs.

Uncountable Nouns

Don't use "a/an" or plural "-s"

• I drink milk every morning.

• I don´t eat seafood.

How much milk do you drink a day?

• I drink a lot of milk.

• I don´t drink much. (milk)

• I don´t drink a lot of milk.