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OWL Family of Sites > OWL > General Writing > Grammar > Count and Noncount Nouns

Search the OWL Count and Noncount Nouns (with Articles and
General Writing Adjectives)
Grammar Summary:
This handout discusses the differences between count nouns and noncount nouns. Count nouns can be pluralized;
Spelling
noncount nouns cannot.
Numbers Contributors:Paul Lynch, Allen Brizee
Adjective or Adverb Last Edited: 2011-10-19 12:41:41

How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

Appositives Countable Nouns

Articles: A versus An

How to Use Articles (a/an/the)

Countable nouns refer to things that we can count. Such nouns can take either singular or plural form.

Prepositions Concrete nouns may be countable.

Pronouns
There are a dozen flowers in the vase.
Relative Pronouns
He ate an apple for a snack.
Count and Noncount Nouns
Basic Rules
Collective nouns are countable.
Plurals, Articles, and Quantity Words

Count, Noncount Nouns with Articles, She attended three classes today.
Adjectives
London is home to several orchestras.
Subject/Verb Agreement
Verb Tenses
Some proper nouns are countable.
Active Verb Tenses
Irregular Verbs There are many Greeks living in New York.

Giving to the OWL The Vanderbilts would throw lavish parties at their Newport summer

mansion.

Suggested Resources Uncountable Nouns

-MLA Guide
-APA Guide Uncountable nouns refer to things that we cannot count. Such nouns take only singular form.
-How to Navigate the New OWL
Abstract nouns are uncountable.
-Media File Index
-OWL Exercises The price of freedom is constant vigilance.
Her writing shows maturity and intelligence.

Some concrete nouns are uncountable (when understood in their undivided sense).

The price of oil has stabilized recently.

May I borrow some rice?

While uncountable nouns do not generally take a plural form, sometimes they may be pluralized when used
in a countable sense. The difference between the uncountable and countable meanings of nouns that are
used in either sense can be seen in the following chart:

Uncountable Sense Countable Sense

Art is often called limitation of I read a book aout the folkarts of

life. Sweden.

Life is precious. A cat has nine lives.

Religion has been a powerful force in Many religions are practiced in the
history. United States.

The hull of a kayak is made of animal

She has beautiful skin.
skins.

Dr. Moulton is an expert in ancient We have several sculptures in our

 Greek sculpture. home.

We use only recycled paper in our

Where are those important papers?
office.

Using Articles with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

A countable noun always takes either the indefinite (a, an) or definite (the) article when it is singular. When
plural, it takes the definite article if it refers to a definite, specific group and no article if it is used in a general
sense.

The guest of honor arrived late.

You are welcome as a guest in our home.
The guests at your party yesterday made a lot of noise.
Guests are welcome here anytime.

Uncountable nouns never take the indefinite article (a or an), but they do take singular verbs. The is
sometimes used with uncountable nouns in the same way it is used with plural countable nouns, that is, to
refer to a specific object, group, or idea.

Information is a precious commodity in our computerized world.

The information in your files is correct.
Sugar has become more expensive recently.
Please pass me the sugar.

Categories of Uncountable Nouns

Abstract Material Generic Non-Plurals with -s

advice meat fruit mathematics
help rice wildlife economics
information bread equipment physics
knowledge cake machinery civics
trouble coffee furniture ethics
work ice cream mail mumps
enjoyment water luggage measles
fun oil jewelry news
recreation grass clothing tennis
relaxation hair money (other games)

Quantity Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Some, Any

Both words modify either countable or uncountable nouns.

There are some cookies in the jar. (countable)

There is some water on the floor. (uncountable)
Did you eat any food? (uncountable)
Do you serve any vegetarian dishes? (countable)

Much, Many

Much modifies only uncountable nouns.

How much money will we need?

They ate so much cake that they started to feel sick.
Much effort will be required to solve this problem.

Many modifies only countable nouns.

How many children do you have?

They had so many books that they had to stack them in the hall.
Many Americans travel to Europe each year.

A lot of, Lots of

These words are informal substitutes for much and many.

Lots of effort will be required to solve this problem. (uncountable)

A lot of Americans travel to Europe each year. (countable)
 Little, Quite a little, Few, Quite a few

Little and quite a littlemodify only uncountable nouns.

We had a little ice cream after dinner.

They offered little help for my problem. (meaning "only a small amount")
They offered quite a little help for my problem. (meaning "a large
amount") (See quite a bit of, below.)

Few and quite a few modify only countable nouns.

A few doctors from the hospital play on the softball team.

Few restaurants in this town offer vegetarian dishes. (meaning "only a
small number")
Quite a few restaurants in this town offer vegetarian dishes. (meaning
"a large number")

A little bit of, Quite a bit of

These informal phrases usually precede uncountable nouns.Quite a bit of has the same meaning as quite a
little and is used more commonly.

There's a little bit of pepper in the soup. (meaning "a small amount")
There's quite a bit of pepper in the soup. (meaning "a large amount")

Enough

This word modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

I don't have enough potatoes to make the soup.

We have enough money to buy a car.

Plenty of

This term modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

There are plenty of mountains in Switzerland.

She has plenty of money in the bank.

No

This word modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

There were no squirrels in the park today.

We have no time left to finish the project.

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