assignments countable or uncountable noun

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Is "homework" countable?

I was wondering if "homework" is countable? I remember it is an uncountable noun when I learned English in middle school.

Suppose now I would like to ask my teacher to hand back my graded "homeworks" of last three times. How shall I ask him?

• uncountable-nouns
• countable-nouns

4 Answers 4

"Homework" is uncountable since it is treated as a general meaning not a particular item, like "work", "money" etc.

In your case, use "assignment" instead.

May I have my last three graded assignments back please?

• Both 'work' and 'money' are countified and have well-documented plural forms. 'Homeworks' has not got the same pedigree, though some dictionaries license it with caveats. –  Edwin Ashworth Commented Jun 22, 2019 at 18:44

While I've seen the word homeworks used, I've never seen anything legitimate to indicate that it's correct. In any case, you can use the term homework assignments to refer to multiple homework items. That's a fairly common term, at least in American English.

• Thanks! But I don't ask my teacher for assignments, but my homework that I have worked out and handed to my teacher, and the homework is from last three times. How shall I ask him? –  Tim Commented May 22, 2011 at 1:39
• 1 @Tim: In American English, assignments is used for what you describe. In British English, homeworks is at least marginally acceptable — we used it at at least one school I went to, although I do remember it feeling awkward/slangy to me at first. –  PLL Commented May 22, 2011 at 8:10
• What I’ve seen to indicate it is correct is its frequent use by native speakers –  Casey Commented Nov 20, 2021 at 22:37

Traditionally, it is not countable, and most dictionaries list it as such.

However, the Merriam-Webster thesaurus (although not the Merriam-Webster dictionary) does have an entry for homeworks . Moreover, the plural form is used by at least some groups of educated native speakers.

One's best bet is to try to find out if one's audience belongs to a group that tends to use homeworks . If yes, then go ahead and use that word yourself. If not, rephrase as homework assignments or something similar.

Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

Notice that the Merriam-Webster thesaurus has the following entry :

homeworks noun plural of homework Synonyms of homeworks as in schoolwork Synonyms & Near Synonyms for homeworks schoolwork assignments, lessons, reading lectures drills, exercises, practices (also practises ) études, studies

(Interestingly, the Merriam-Webster dictionary entry does not give a plural form for homework .)

Examples of usage by educated native speakers

Such examples are not hard to find at all. For instance, American professors of linguistics, physics, and mathematics, at least, use the word homeworks quite frequently.

All of the examples below are from native speakers, as best as I can tell.

Here are five examples from linguistics professors:

Final grades will be calculated as follows: 30% for homeworks, 20% for the midterm, … Penny Eckert and Ivan A. Sag , Linguistics 1: Introduction to Linguistics (Syllabus), 2011, here . Late assignments are not accepted, but your two lowest-scoring homeworks will be dropped. Adam Jardine , Introduction to Linguistic Theory (Honors) (Syllabus), 2018, here . Homeworks are due at the beginning of class on the days indicated. Emily M. Bender, Linguistics 461: Introduction to Syntax (Syllabus), here . If turned in ​complete​, the homeworks will be graded 8 (well below average), 9 (average), or 10 (well above average​); but 0 if not done. Anthony C. Woodbury, Linguistics 306: Introduction to the study of language (Syllabus), here . Homeworks: 25% (lowest score dropped) Dani Byrd and Toby Mintz , Ling 275: Language & Mind (Syllabus), 2006, here .

Here are five examples from physics professors:

Some homeworks are 'secret' assessment exercises: General GRE, Praxis and Major Field Tests Richard Robinett, Penn State Physics Undergraduate Program Better Practices, 2010, p. 12 here . Homeworks are like sports practice Tom Moore , Teaching General Relativity with Tensors, 2006, here . These concepts can be introduced to students through labs, homeworks, and discussion questions. Brianna Billingsley and Cory Christenson, Incorporating Non-Western Contributions Into the Intro Physics Curriculum, 2019, here . With their flexible design, PhET sims are used in many ways—as demos, homeworks, or inexpensive, accessible lab alternatives—and getting started is easy with our database of over 500 activities. Katherine K. Perkins, Teaching Physics with PhET Simulations: Engaging Students and Increasing Learning (Abstract) 2012, p. 58 here . In this talk, we will outline the reforms—including consensus learning goals, “clicker” questions, tutorials, modified homeworks, and more—and present evidence of the effectiveness of these reforms relative to traditional courses. Katherine K. Perkins, Steven Pollock, Stephanie Chasteen, Steve Goldhaber, Rachel Pepper, Michael Dubson, and Paul Beale, Colorado's Transformed Upper-Division E&M and QM courses: Description and Results (Abstract) 2010, p. 119 here .

And here are five examples from mathematics professors:

Homeworks 1-3 David Blecher, here . There will be two midterm exams, weekly homeworks, and a final exam. Scott Sutherland, MAT 141: Honors Calculus 1 (syllabus), 2012, here . MIT 3.016 Homeworks W. Craig Carter, Mathematics for Materials Science and Engineers, MIT 3.016 (syllabus), 2011, (here) . Click on the link 'Problem Sets and Solutions'; you will reach this page , which is where the word homeworks appears (in the page heading). Homeworks (41/42 Track); Homeworks (51 Track) Andrew Schultz, SSEA 2006: Mathematics Track, 2006, here . All homeworks, except the first one, are due on Thursday at 3:30pm Mike Clancy and David Wagner, CS 70, Spring 2005: Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science, 2005, here .

In searching for examples, I also saw examples of similar usage by professors of comparative literature , philosophy, computer science, chemistry, and sociology.

• Even Wiktionary fails to concede the plural form as a possibility, but this is doubtless an ongoing countification (and 10 years is a substantial time for the evolution to progress). –  Edwin Ashworth Commented Nov 20, 2021 at 16:42
• American professors of physics and mathematics, at least, use the word homeworks... I wonder if I should take seriously pronouncements on quantum physics by English professors... –  Greybeard Commented Nov 20, 2021 at 18:18
• @EdwinAshworth I just looked at Wiktionary , and it says 'usually uncountable, plural homeworks '. The edit that added that note was on 5 October 2015‎. So indeed, things change in ten years! –  linguisticturn Commented Nov 21, 2021 at 17:18
• Whoops, I had SimpleWiktionary , which I didn't know existed. Obviously homeworks is harder. –  Edwin Ashworth Commented Nov 21, 2021 at 17:53
• @Greybeard Apologies if your comment was meant as a joke, but if it wasn't (and for the benefit of those who don't take it as a joke), the answer is, no you shouldn't. And indeed, conversely, if physics or math professors were to start making 'pronouncements' about whether a particular word is acceptable English, you shouldn't take that seriously, either. But that's not what's going on in my answer. My answer simply points out that there is a U.S.-wide, loosely connected group of educated native speakers who rather frequently and unselfconsciously use homeworks in day-to-day life. –  linguisticturn Commented Nov 21, 2021 at 18:38

Ask for "items" or "pieces" of homework.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged nouns uncountable-nouns countable-nouns or ask your own question .

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All you need to know about countable and uncountable nouns

What’s the difference between countable and uncountable nouns , and what grammar rules do you need to know to use them correctly?

Also known as  count and noncount nouns , this vocabulary point can trip you up when you’re learning English as a second language. It’s especially tricky because:

• There are no concrete rules for classifying nouns as countable or uncountable (although there are some general guidelines that we will explain later).
• Certain nouns that are countable in other languages may be uncountable in English, so you’ll have to un-learn what you know from your native language and learn a different set of rules for English words.

So, let’s take a detailed look at countable vs uncountable nouns, with plenty of examples showing how to use them with the correct articles, quantifiers, and other determiners.

The basics of countable and uncountable nouns

What is a countable noun.

A  countable noun (also called a count noun) is a noun naming something that can be counted using standard numbers. Countable nouns usually have singular and plural forms. 

Examples of countable nouns include chair, table, rabbit, page, part, and lemon .

So, we can have one chair, five tables, ten rabbits, twenty-three lemons, and three hundred pages .

You are probably already familiar with this pattern of counting things in English.

What is an uncountable noun?

An uncountable noun (also called a mass noun or a non-count noun) is a noun naming something that cannot be counted in English using standard numbers. These nouns cannot be made plural.

Examples of uncountable nouns include rice, money, advice, news, and happiness .

We cannot have one rice, five monies, two advices, or a happiness .

Instead, we must use different determiners to quantify these particular things: a cup of rice , a bag of money , and a piece of advice .

Now you know these basics, it’s time to take a deeper look at what this means in practice. You need to know whether you’re dealing with a countable or uncountable noun so you can select the correct determiners and plural forms in your writing and speech.

Rules for using countable nouns

We’ll begin by going over the rules for using countable nouns, since these are most straightforward.

Countable nouns:

• Can be separated into whole, individual, countable units
• Broadly refer to people, places, and things
• Have a singular and a plural form (with a few exceptions like sheep, deer, fish) – see this site for more about how to form plurals
• May take indefinite articles (a/an) as well as the definite article (the)
• May take other determiners such as this/that/these/those, some/any/few/many/several, my/your/his/her/our/their
• To form a question about a countable noun, we say ‘How many…’

Countable noun example sentences

Most of the nouns we use in English are countable. Here are some example sentences showing correct usage:

• I have two cats as pets .
• She bought a few books from the store .
• We went to the zoo and saw several giraffes .
• The school has six classrooms for different subjects .
• He has a collection of ten stamps .
• My father owns a few bikes .
• The store has a variety of balloons in different colors.
• He has five siblings : three brothers  and two sisters .
• There are many oranges in the fruit basket .
• The bakery doesn’t have any bread left.
• I would like to buy that handbag .
• How many meals should I order at  the restaurant ?

Read about the difference between few vs a few here.

Rules for using uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are used less often in English, and they:

• Are abstract ideas, qualities, or masses that can’t be separated and counted individually
• Do not have a plural form and are treated as singular nouns (and therefore take the singular form of the verb)
• May take the definite article (the) but do not take the indefinite articles (a/an)
• May take other determiners such as much/little/less/any/some and my/your/his/her/our/their
• Can be quantified with phrases that contain countable nouns (e.g. a bag of rice)
• To form a question about an uncountable noun, we say ‘How much…’

See also: What’s the difference between less and fewer?

Uncountable noun examples

We can group uncountable nouns into some broad categories. Although we cannot list them all here, the following groups are a general guide that may make it easier for you to identify others in the future:

This may seem like a long list of uncountable nouns; however, there are hundreds more. 

Quantifying an uncountable noun

Although we can’t quantify uncountable nouns using numbers, we can add a countable unit of measurement to refer to one or more quantities of these things. Below are some of the most common quantifiers we can use to refer to things that are uncountable.

• A piece of… advice, art, cheese, equipment, evidence, furniture, homework, information, luck, luggage, music, news, paper, poetry, publicity, rubbish, software
• A bottle of… beer, water, wine, sauce, salad dressing
• A carton of… juice, milk, cream
• A packet of… ketchup, rice, gum
• A plate/bowl of… cereal, pasta, rice
• A drop of… blood, oil, rain, water
• A game of… badminton, chess, football, soccer, tennis
• A ray of… hope, light, sun
• A grain of… sand, rice, sugar, dignity
• A cube of… ice, sugar
• A blob of… toothpaste, mayonnaise, glue
• A pane of glass
• A round of applause
• A bar of soap
• A mode of transport
• A bolt of lightning
• A blade of grass
• A rasher of bacon
• A sheet of paper

Determiners for count and noncount nouns

You’ll have seen from the examples above that certain determiners can only be used for one type of noun, whereas others can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Here’s a handy reference table for these, although this is not an exhaustive list.

Most other adjectives can modify both countable and uncountable nouns.

See also:  What’s the difference between advice vs advise?

Some nouns can be countable and uncountable

You might often hear people say something like “I take two sugars in my tea”. What they really mean is “two teaspoons of sugar”, but the noun “sugar” has taken on that meaning and become countable.

In this way, uncountable nouns can sometimes be used as countable when referring to a complete unit or measurement of something, normally in relation to food and beverages. Here are some more examples:

• I’ll have three coffees , please. (three cups of coffee)
• I’ve had too many beers tonight! (glasses/cans/bottles of beer)
• Could I get two more ketchups ? (two sachets of ketchup)

Uncountable nouns may also be used as countable when they refer to a specific type, example, or category of something . For example:

• You should have at least five different cheeses on your cheese board.
• The best wines in the world are produced in France.
• We used three woods to make this beautiful box.
• They encountered a lot of difficulties while completing the project.
• These juices are all freshly squeezed.

These plural countable nouns are exceptions to the rule given earlier.

Nouns with different countable and uncountable meanings

To make things even more confusing, certain nouns in English have two or more meanings. When a noun refers to different things, one countable and one uncountable, you must remember which is which in order to form a correct sentence. Here are some common examples of words with dual meanings:

As you can see,  English can be hard to learn . Fortunately, you can always check in a dictionary to see whether a noun is countable or uncountable. Some dictionaries, such as  Oxford Dictionaries , specify this in the definition.

We hope this information about countable vs uncountable nouns has been helpful. It can be quite a tricky English grammar topic to get right because, even once you have mastered the rules of count and noncount nouns, there is still no hard-and-fast way to know which words are which, unless you look them up.

Leave a comment below if you have any more questions about this topic or want to check your understanding of a particular point we’ve mentioned.

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns (List, Examples & Exercise)

Countable and uncountable nouns.

The nouns are the names of things, people, or places. The nouns have different classifications. Countable and uncountable nouns are types of nouns. These can be counted or not. Let’s discuss their usage with the help of examples and exercise.

Countable Nouns

Uncountable nouns.

Uncountable nouns are the things that we cannot count. For example, sand, advice and yoga etc. These words are in singular form.

Some words are used with the Countable Nouns only such as few, a few, many

10 Examples of Countable Nouns

20 examples of uncountable nouns, list of uncountable nouns (a-z).

You can find here list of uncountable nouns with meaning and sentences.

Exercise / Worksheet

Read the bold words in the given sentences and point out whether it is a countable noun or uncountable noun.

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Count on Us To Teach You the Difference Between Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns have a few differences. One of them is obvious; the others aren’t. Read on to learn more.

What Are Countable and Uncountable Nouns?

A countable noun , like apples and bottles , can be counted. An uncountable noun , like love and oxygen , cannot be counted. Countable nouns can be preceded by the indefinite article “a” or “an,” or by a number, whereas uncountable nouns cannot.

Countable Nouns vs. Uncountable Nouns

What do puppies , dinosaurs , giraffes , and donuts have in common?

They’re countable nouns —meaning they can be counted. Their counterparts are uncountable nouns , which, as you may have guessed, are nouns that cannot be counted: happiness, air, water, research, advice, etc .

There’s a bit more to the difference between countable and uncountable nouns , which we’ll examine thoroughly below.

What Are Countable Nouns?

Countable nouns (also known as count nouns ) differ from uncountable nouns in that they: can be counted, can be preceded with the articles “a,” or “an,” or a number, and usually have singular and plural forms.

Sloane was looking for a jacket .

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

I read ten books this past summer.

There were a total of 15 doctors at the national conference.

In the examples above, jackets , apples, books, and doctors are countable nouns.

Examples of Countable Nouns

Remember, nouns that can have singular and plural forms are countable nouns. A few examples are:

• penny/pennies, horse/horses, color/colors, candle/candles, key/keys, alarm/alarms, flower/flowers

What Are Uncountable Nouns?

Uncountable nouns (also known as non-count or mass nouns ) can’t be counted, can’t be used with “a,” “an,” or a number, and usually only have a singular form. These tend to include things like liquids and abstract ideas, but also nouns like bread and rice.

I need to buy honey at the market.

He asked for some advice .

Happiness is running through me.

She showed a great display of bravery .

You have probably heard someone say, “Can I have a water?” And although you most likely understood them, what they meant was, “Can I have a bottle of water?”

The only way the amount or quantity of an uncountable noun can be determined is if a quantifier like much or a little comes before it.

I needed a milk .

I needed a bit of milk .

He was asking for informations .

He was asking for information .

He was asking for a lot of information .

Examples of Uncountable Nouns

Other examples of uncountable nouns include:

love, hate, envy, snow, oxygen, information, humanity, cooperation, furniture

Nouns That Can Be Countable and Uncountable

There are nouns that can be countable and uncountable, depending on the meaning of the word and the context of the sentence . Take the word light as an example.

When I went outside, the bright light of the sun took me by surprise.

They switched on the lights of the cabin.

Because the light of the sun is something that cannot be counted, it’s considered an uncountable noun in the first sentence. However, in the second sentence, light refers to lamps or light bulbs, things that can be counted.

Count on LanguageTool

Knowing if a noun is countable or uncountable is important because it can help you correctly construct a sentence and helps you determine whether to use words like fewer or less and many or much .

If you want to be certain whether a noun is countable or uncountable, you can always check the dictionary, or you can simply use LanguageTool as your intelligent writing assistant. Not only will the multilingual spelling and grammar error ensure you’re using nouns correctly, but it can also check for various types of errors and help rephrase your sentences.

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Nouns: countable and uncountable

Countable nouns.

Some nouns refer to things which, in English, are treated as separate items which can be counted. These are called countable nouns. Here are some examples:

a car , three cars

my cousin , my two cousins

a book , a box full of books

a city , several big cities

Singular and plural

Countable nouns can be singular or plural. They can be used with a/an and with numbers and many other determiners (e.g. these, a few ):

She’s got two sisters and a younger brother .

Most people buy things like cameras and MP3-players online these days .

These shoes look old now.

I’ll take a few magazines with me for the flight .

Determiners ( the, my , some , this )

Singular and plural nouns

Uncountable nouns

In English grammar, some things are seen as a whole or mass. These are called uncountable nouns, because they cannot be separated or counted.

Some examples of uncountable nouns are:

Ideas and experiences: advice, information, progress, news, luck, fun, work

Materials and substances: water, rice, cement, gold, milk

Weather words: weather, thunder, lightning, rain, snow

Names for groups or collections of things: furniture, equipment, rubbish, luggage

Other common uncountable nouns include: accommodation, baggage, homework, knowledge, money, permission, research, traffic, travel .

These nouns are not used with a/an or numbers and are not used in the plural.

We’re going to get new furniture for the living room.

Not: We’re going to get a new furniture for the living room . or We’re going to get new furnitures for the living room .

We had terrible weather last week.

Not: We had a terrible weather last week .

We need rice next time we go shopping.

Some nouns always have plural form but they are uncountable because we cannot use numbers with them.

I bought two pairs of trousers .

Not: I bought two trousers .

Other nouns of this type are: shorts, pants, pyjamas, glasses (for the eyes), binoculars, scissors .

Some nouns which are uncountable in English are countable in other languages (e.g. accommodation, advice, furniture, information ):

They can give you some information about accommodation at the tourist office.

Not: They can give you some informations about accommodations at the tourist office .

Can you give me some advice about buying a second-hand car?

Not: Can you give me some advices about buying a second-hand car?

A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a noun is countable or uncountable.

Quantity expressions ( a bit/piece )

To refer to one or more quantities of an uncountable noun , expressions such as a bit of, a piece of , an item of or words for containers and measures must be used:

He bought a very expensive piece of furniture for his new apartment.

Maggie always has some exciting bits of news when she comes to see us.

I think we’ll need five bags of cement for the patio.

There’s a litre of milk in the fridge for you. And I bought you a bar of chocolate .

Determiners ( my, some, the )

Uncountable nouns can be used with certain determiners (e.g. my, her , some, any , no , the, this, that ) and expressions of quantity (e.g. a lot of, (a) little ):

They gave me some information about courses and scholarships and things.

Have you heard the news ? Fran’s getting engaged.

She’s been studying hard and has made a lot of progress .

There’s no work to do here, so you can go home if you like.

This milk ’s a bit old, I’m afraid.

Countable phrases for uncountable nouns

We can sometimes use countable noun phrases to talk about an individual example of the thing an uncountable noun refers to.

Finding a place to live is difficult if you’re a student and you’ve got no money. (or Finding accommodation … )

Not: Finding an accommodation …

She brought two big suitcases and a rucksack with her.

Not: She brought two big luggages …

I read a poem once about someone riding a horse at night.

Not: I read a poetry …

We went on a trip to the Amazon when we were in Brazil.

Not: We went on a travel …

Countable and uncountable nouns with different meanings

Some nouns can be used either countably or uncountably, but with different meanings.

Uncountable nouns used countably

Measures and examples.

Sometimes uncountable nouns are used countably, to mean ‘a measure of something’ or ‘a type or example of something’:

Can I have two teas and one coffee , please? (two cups of tea and one cup of coffee …?)

A: How many sugars do you want in your tea? (How many spoonfuls/lumps of sugar?) B: Just one, please .

To some degree we tend to eat the foods that we ate as children. (i.e. types of food)

Abstract nouns

Some abstract nouns can be used uncountably or countably. The uncountable use has a more general meaning. The countable use has a more particular meaning.

Nouns of this type include: education, experience, hatred, help, knowledge, life, love, sleep, time, understanding .

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Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

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The Basic Rules: Adjectives

A countable noun is usually something you can count quantitatively. Countable nouns can be expressed in plural form, usually by adding an “s” to the singular form. For example, "cat--cats," "season--seasons," "student--students."

Usually, you can add a numerical quantity to such nouns, like “two cats” or “two students”. If you aren’t sure whether a noun is countable or not countable, try attaching a number to it. He had “two respects” wouldn’t work, so “respect” is an uncountable noun .

An uncountable noun is a noun that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. It is not something you can quantify. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food" are uncountable nouns. Usually, you can't say, "He had many moneys." or “The airs smelled good this morning.”

Milk and water are uncountable nouns . However, you may hear someone say, “Can I have two milks?” or “You should get two waters.” In these particular cases, the person has simply dropped off the countable part of the phrase: “Can I have two [ cartons of] milk?” or “You should get two [ bottles of] water.” In these cases, adding an “s” to milk and water is accepted in verbal speech, but you wouldn’t normally do so in a writing class.

Most adjectives can modify both countable and uncountable nouns . For example, you can say, "The cat was gray" or "The air was gray." However, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun does matter with certain adjectives , such as the following:

• a lot of/lots of
• a little bit of

"Much" modifies only uncountable nouns.

• "They have so much money in the bank."
• "The horse drinks so much water ."

"Many" modifies only countable nouns.

• " Many Americans travel to Europe."
• "I collected many sources for my paper."

Much or Many?

Incorrect Examples:

• “She wears so much rings ” should be written as, “She wears so many rings .”
• “You deserve some many needed rest ” should be, “You deserve some much needed rest .”
• “Much trees line the street.” should be written as, “ Many trees line the street.”
• “I have done many research in that field” should be, “I have done much research in that field.”

A lot of/lots of

"A lot of" and "lots of" are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean "much" and with countable nouns when they mean "many."

• "They have lots of (much) money in the bank."
• "A lot of (many) Americans travel to Europe."
• "We got lots of (many) mosquitoes last summer."
• "We got a lot of (much) rain last summer."

"Little" modifies only uncountable nouns.

• "He had little food in the house."
• "When I was in college, there was little money to spare."

"Few" modifies only countable nouns.

• "There are a few doctors in town."
• "He had few reasons for his opinion."

Little or Few?

• “Yesterday, I had few reason to complain” should be, “Yesterday, I had little reason to complain.”
• “The teacher gave me few feedbacks on my paper” should be, “The teacher gave me little feedback on my paper.”
• “I had a few bread for dinner” should be written as, “I had a few slices of bread.”
• “She had little bathrooms in her house” means that the bathrooms themselves are small, not that she had a small number of bathrooms.
• The sentence, “She had few bathrooms .” means that there are a small number of bathrooms.

A little bit of

"A little bit of" is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

• "There is a little bit of pepper in the soup."
• "There is a little bit of snow on the ground."
• However, the example, “There is a little bit of cards on the table” doesn’t work because card is a countable noun. The correct phrasing would be, “There are a few cards on the table.”

Both "some" and "any" can modify countable and uncountable nouns.

• "There is some water on the floor."
• "There are some people already here."
• "Do you have any food ?"
• "Do you have any apples ?"

Even though “some” and “any” can modify both countable and uncountable nouns, both should be used with the plural form if there is one.

• For example, you wouldn’t say, “I have some cat at home.”
• The correct sentence is, “I have some cats at home.”
• You also wouldn’t say, “Are there any apple on the table?”
• The correct sentence is, “Are there any apples on the table?” Note that the verb and noun are both plural.

"Plenty of" modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• "They have plenty of money in the bank."
• "There are plenty of millionaires in Switzerland."

Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• "There is enough money to buy a car."
• "I have enough books to read."

No modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• "There is no time to finish now."
• "There are no squirrels in the park."

Here is a chart that summarizes which adjectives modify countable or uncountable nouns.

• English Grammar
• Parts of Speech
• Countable And Uncountable Nouns

Countable and Uncountable Nouns - Meaning, Definition, Usage and Examples

Nouns , as you already know, are words that are used to name a person, place, animal, thing or idea. Having learnt about the types of nouns, singular nouns and plural nouns, you might be wondering what countable and uncountable nouns are. Is it any different from singular and plural nouns? Well, let’s find out. Go through the article to learn all about it, the meaning and definition of countable and uncountable nouns, and how they are formed and used in sentences along with examples.

Table of Contents

List of countable nouns, list of uncountable nouns, using countable nouns and uncountable nouns in sentences, examples of countable and uncountable nouns, check your understanding of countable and uncountable nouns, frequently asked questions on countable and uncountable nouns, what is a countable noun – meaning and definition.

A countable noun, as the name suggests, refers to nouns that can literally be counted. The number or quantity of countable nouns can be quoted exactly. To identify if a noun is countable, you can ask the question ‘how many’. A countable noun, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “a noun that has both a singular and a plural form and names something that can be counted because there can be one or more of it”. The Macmillan Dictionary defines a countable noun as “a noun that has singular and plural forms. In the plural, countable nouns usually add an ‘s’ or ‘es’, for example ‘mistakes’, ‘problems’, and ‘buses’. When it is singular, a countable noun usually comes after a determiner such as ‘a’, ‘this’, ‘any’, or ‘a lot of’, for example ‘this house, ‘a week’, and ‘the way’.”

A countable noun is also defined as “a noun (such as bean or sheet) that forms a plural and is used with a numeral, with words such as many or few, or with the indefinite article a or an”, by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and “a noun such as ‘ bird’, ‘ chair’, or ‘ year’ which has a singular and a plural form and is always used after a determiner in the singular” by the Collins Dictionary.

Here is a list of a few countable nouns and its plural forms for your reference.

You can check out the articles on singular nouns and plural nouns for more examples.

What is an Uncountable Noun? – Meaning and Definition

Any noun that cannot be counted can be classified as an uncountable noun. Nouns like water, rice, oil, etc. belong to this category. Unlike countable nouns, uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. If the noun in a sentence does not have a specific quantity and answers the question ‘how much’, then it can be considered an uncountable noun. The definition of an uncountable noun according to the Cambridge Dictionary is “a noun that has one form with no plural and names something that there can be more or less of but that cannot be counted”. According to the Macmillan Dictionary, an uncountable noun is “a noun that has no plural form” and also those that “usually refer to abstract things such as ‘advice’, ‘luck’, and ‘information’, or to substances such as ‘milk’, ‘blood’, and ‘smoke’.” Furthermore, “a noun such as ‘ gold’, ‘ information’, or ‘ furniture’ which has only one form and can be used without a determiner” is classified as an uncountable noun by the Collins Dictionary.

Here is a table with some uncountable nouns for your reference.

Once you know what countable and uncountable nouns are, the next step is to learn how to use them in sentences. There is just one fact that makes the usage of countable and uncountable nouns different from each other. Countable nouns are always used with a determiner. Determiners include articles (a, an, the) and quantitative adjectives such as a number, collective nouns that indicate a particular number such as a dozen (12), a pair (2), a score (20), a baker’s dozen (13), etc. and words like a few, lots of, a number of, etc. On the other hand, uncountable nouns can appear with or without a determiner as there is no specific number being referred to. However, there are instances where you can combine an uncountable noun with a countable noun to indicate the exact quantity of the particular noun.

Let us look at a few examples of both countable and uncountable nouns and the different ways in which they are used in sentences.

First, let us look at how countable nouns work.

• I have a dog.
• My mom bought half a kilo of oranges and apples on her way to visit my grandmother in the hospital .
• I had to pick up two of my friends on the way.
• Banu found a few books that could help our research.
• Jason bought a dozen eggs .

Let us now check how uncountable nouns are used in sentences.

• Would you like to have some milk before you go to bed?
• Firoz asked his son to throw out the garbage before he went to college.
• Sanu had blood on her hand; nobody including her knew what had happened.
• Is there any water left in the jug?
• We were asked to collect information about the new education policy before noon.

As already mentioned, uncountable nouns can be combined with countable nouns at times. Let us look at some examples to see how it can be done.

• The doctor has asked me to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
• We had only two packets of oil left.
• I guess I added an extra teaspoon of sugar to it.
• Veronica needed one more piece of equipment to work on her project.
• I found five packs of unused paper stashed in the top row of my shelf.

Go through the following sentences and identify if the underlined nouns are countable or uncountable.

1. All successful candidates will be notified within a week.

2. I don’t prefer to have tea in the morning.

3. Does anyone have an extra blue pen?

4. The students who had not completed their homework were asked to stay back after class and complete it.

5. My mom’s watch stopped working.

6. The soil used has to be really fertile if you want the plants to grow well.

7. Chitra broke her spectacles while playing volleyball.

8. You have to saute all the vegetables and add rice only after the vegetables are half cooked.

9. How many apples did you buy?

10. Will the food be enough for our guests?

Let us find out if you identified the nouns correctly. Check out the answers given below.

Candidates – Countable, Week – countable

Tea – Uncountable

Blue pen – Countable

Students – Countable

Watch – Countable

Soil – uncountable, Plants – Countable

Spectacles – Countable

Vegetables – – Countable, Rice – uncountable

Apples- Countable

Food – Uncountable

What is a countable noun?

A countable noun, as the name suggests, refers to nouns that can literally be counted. The number or quantity of countable nouns can be quoted exactly. To identify if a noun is countable, you can ask the question ‘how many’.

What is an uncountable noun?

Any noun that cannot be counted can be classified as an uncountable noun. Nouns like water, rice, oil, etc. belong to this category. Unlike countable nouns, uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. If the noun in a sentence does not have a specific quantity and answers the question ‘how much’, then it can be considered an uncountable noun.

Give some examples of countable nouns.

Nouns such as elephant, man, girl, baby, watermelon, tomato, onion, plant, bus, train, ticket, pencil, book, page, peacock, etc. are some examples of countable nouns.

Give some examples of uncountable nouns.

Rice, soil, oil, water, advice, hair, air, pressure, blood, pain, luggage, smoke, data, etc. are a few examples of uncountable nouns.

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Countable And Uncountable Nouns Worksheets

Serial Spotter

Counts Matcher

Word Weavers

Noun Filler

Hunting Sorts

Noun Choices

Noun Sorter

Picture Hunt

Thing Check

Object Talk

Noun Explorer

Word Sorter

Noun Builder

Classroom Quest

About these 15 worksheets.

This worksheet series offers a comprehensive and engaging approach to teaching young learners the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. As a professional teacher specializing in early childhood education, I understand the importance of solidifying foundational grammar concepts in a way that is both fun and educational. This collection of worksheets does just that by using a variety of activities designed to capture the attention of young students while reinforcing essential language skills.

These worksheets are available in PDF format, making them incredibly easy to access, download, and print. This convenience allows for seamless integration into any lesson plan, whether you’re teaching in a classroom setting or supporting learning at home. The activities are designed to cater to different learning styles, ensuring that every child can grasp the concept of countable and uncountable nouns effectively.

One of the standout features of this collection is its visual appeal. Each worksheet is colorful and filled with engaging images that make learning enjoyable. For instance, one worksheet prompts students to identify and categorize objects as countable or uncountable by looking at pictures, such as fish, jars of candy, and stacks of coins. This activity helps students visually distinguish between items that can be counted individually and those that are considered a whole or mass, providing a strong foundation in understanding these grammatical categories.

Another worksheet encourages students to cut out pictures of various objects and place them into the correct columns labeled “Count Nouns” and “Non-Count Nouns.” This hands-on activity not only reinforces the concept but also helps improve fine motor skills as students cut and sort the images. By physically manipulating the images, students can better internalize the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, making the learning experience more tactile and memorable.

Further extending the variety of activities, some worksheets challenge students to read lists of words and decide whether each one is countable or uncountable. This activity enhances their vocabulary and word recognition skills, all while reinforcing the lesson’s main objective. Additionally, other worksheets ask students to write sentences using non-count nouns, encouraging them to apply their knowledge in a practical context. This activity is particularly effective in helping students understand how to use these nouns in everyday language, thereby improving their writing and speaking skills.

Another unique aspect of this collection is the inclusion of worksheets that focus on the use of modifiers with countable and uncountable nouns. Students are asked to fill in the blanks with appropriate modifiers like “some,” “a,” “an,” or specific numbers, depending on the noun in question. This not only reinforces their understanding of the nouns themselves but also teaches them about the correct usage of quantifiers and articles, which is an essential aspect of grammar.

There are worksheets where students must observe a picture and list all the countable and uncountable nouns they can identify. This open-ended activity encourages critical thinking and observational skills as students analyze the image and apply their knowledge independently. It also provides an opportunity for teachers to assess their students’ understanding in a more holistic way.

In addition to these activities, the worksheets include exercises that require students to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns within sentences. For example, students might be asked to underline the noun and then determine its category. This helps reinforce the lesson in a context that mirrors real-world language use, further solidifying the concept in the student’s mind.

The collection also includes creative writing prompts where students must use countable and uncountable nouns in sentences, enhancing their ability to express themselves while adhering to grammatical rules. These prompts stimulate creativity and allow students to practice their language skills in a structured yet imaginative way.

The variety of activities ensures that learners remain engaged, while the visually appealing and interactive nature of the worksheets makes the learning process enjoyable. Whether used in the classroom or at home, these worksheets provide a solid foundation in grammar that will benefit students in their future language studies.

What Are Countable and Uncountable Nouns?

Countable and uncountable nouns are fundamental concepts in English grammar that help us understand how to quantify and refer to various objects and substances. Countable nouns refer to items that can be counted as individual units. They can be singular or plural, and they typically take an article such as “a” or “an” when singular (e.g., “a book,” “an apple”) and often an “s” or “es” to form the plural (e.g., “two books,” “three apples”). Countable nouns include things like “chair,” “dog,” or “car,” which are tangible and can be easily counted.

On the other hand, uncountable nouns refer to substances, concepts, or masses that cannot be separated into individual units and therefore cannot be counted directly. These nouns typically do not have a plural form and do not take the articles “a” or “an.” Instead, they are often preceded by quantifiers such as “some,” “much,” or “a little.” Examples of uncountable nouns include “water,” “rice,” “information,” and “happiness.” These words represent things that are usually seen as wholes or abstract concepts, making them impossible to count in discrete numbers.

When using countable and uncountable nouns in sentences, it’s important to choose the appropriate articles and quantifiers. For instance, you might say, “I have a book,” using “a” to refer to one countable item. If you have more than one, you could say, “I have three books.” In contrast, with uncountable nouns, you would say, “I need some water,” or “There is a lot of information available,” using “some” or “a lot of” to refer to an unspecified quantity that cannot be counted individually. Understanding the difference between these types of nouns and how to use them correctly in sentences is crucial for achieving accuracy and fluency in English.

• Parts of speech
• Picture Vocabulary
• Confused Words
• Phrasal Verbs
• Applications
• Essay Writing
• Kindergarten Worksheets

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Worksheets and Exercises

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Worksheets are helpful for learning about nouns. These worksheets give you tasks to do to understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. They help you learn how to make nouns plural and understand how much of something there is. These worksheets are easy to follow and have different activities to help you learn. With these worksheets, you can get better at English and understand it more. Countable and Uncountable Nouns Exercises are great tools for learning English well.

Table of Contents

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Worksheets

Countable and uncountable nouns worksheet 1.

Complete the Sentences using either “a” or “some”.

• I need __________ pen to write.
• Do you have __________ sugar?
• There’s __________ dog in the yard.
• Let’s get __________ milk.
• She needs __________ new hat.
• Can you pass me __________ water?
• There’s __________ bird in the tree.
• We should buy __________ bread.
• Would you like __________ cookie?
• I found __________ rock.
• There’s __________ cheese in the fridge.
• He bought __________ bike.
• Let’s go for __________ drive.
• She has __________ toys.
• I have __________ cat.
• There’s __________ bug on the window.
• Can you lend me __________ paper?
• We need __________ new chair.
• She’s wearing __________ shoes.
• I’m going to bake __________ pie.
• Let’s go to __________ park.
• He’s reading __________ book.
• We need __________ cups.
• She wants __________ balloon.
• There’s __________ candy in the jar.

                             Scroll down to See Answers

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Worksheet 2

Identify the Highlighted Words are Countable or Uncountable Nouns.

• The cat chased three mice around the yard.
• There are five apples in the fruit basket.
• She has two dogs , a poodle and a Labrador.
• We need to buy some milk from the grocery store.
• There are many books on the shelf.
• I have a lot of homework to finish tonight.
• Would you like a slice of cake ?
• He owns several cars , including a vintage Mustang.
• Can you pass me a pencil , please?
• The teacher gave us three assignments .
• She always drinks a cup of tea before bedtime.
• There are too many people in the room.
• We need to buy some sugar for baking cookies.
• He brought a bottle of wine to the dinner party.
• Do you have any spare change for the parking meter?
• She has a collection of beautiful stamps .
• The children collected shells along the beach.
• We saw a flock of birds flying overhead.
• I need to buy a pair of shoes for the wedding.
• Can you pass me a piece of paper , please?

                               Scroll down to See Answers

Answer of Worksheet 1:

Answer of Worksheet 2:

• Uncountable

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• Synonyms 36
• Sentences 25
• Parts of speech 20
• English Composition 12
• Phrasal Verbs 11
• Essay Writing 10
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Countable Uncountable Nouns Activities

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

1 September 2024

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Enhance your students’ understanding of grammar with this comprehensive set of Task Cards, Sorting Cards, and Worksheets designed to teach:

Countable and Uncountable Nouns, Quantifiers (How Much/How Many), and Determiners (a, an, some, any).

What’s Included:

60 Task Cards for Countable and Uncountable Nouns 60 Task Cards for Quantifier Questions (How Much or How Many) 60 Task Cards for Determiners (a, an, some, any) Sorting Cards for categorizing nouns as Countable or Uncountable 27 Differentiated Worksheets (A4 and A5 versions)

Differentiated 3 Levels of Difficulty: Tailored to different skill levels - Easier, Mild, and Tricky - ensuring all learners are challenged appropriately.

Engaging : Students can select the correct answer on each task card and record their responses on the provided answer sheets, making this activity perfect for individual practice, small group collaboration, or even homework assignments.

Sorting Cards: Perfect for Sorting: Includes cards for categorizing nouns as Countable or Uncountable. Versatile Use: These cards are not only great for sorting activities but can also be used for display purposes, enriching your classroom environment.

Differentiated Worksheets: Comes with matching worksheets where learners can color or circle their answers- perfect for reinforcing concepts in class or at home.

With 180 task cards in total, differentiated activities, versatile sorting cards, and comprehensive worksheets, this set offers extensive practice for varied levels of learners. An organised ZIP file with folders and clear file names is also included in the download.

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