Countable and Uncountable NounsA1–A2
Countable nouns are counted one by one (a book, two books); uncountable nouns are masses and ideas (water, advice). Uncountable nouns take no a or an, no plural and a singular verb: The news is good.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA1–A2
| Point | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Countable | a / an in the singular, -s in the plural | a book / two books |
| Uncountable | masses, materials, ideas: no a / an, no plural | I like music. |
| Verb | a singular verb, also for news | The water is cold. / The news is good. |
| Unit | count it with a unit; the unit takes the plural | a glass of water / a piece of advice / two cups of coffee |
| A2Groups of things | groups of things are uncountable too | furniture / luggage / homework |
| A2Both | some nouns are both; the meaning changes | I like coffee. ≠ Two coffees, please. |
| Trap | advice and information: some, or a piece of | a piece of advice / some advice |
| Trap | work is uncountable; a job is countable | She has a good job. |
OverviewA1
- A singular countable noun needs a word before it: a book, the book, my book.
- Articles: Articles: a, an, the. How much / how many: Quantifiers.
Common uncountable nounsA1–A2
| Group | Nouns |
|---|---|
| Food and drink | water, milk, coffee, tea, bread, rice, cheese, meat, sugar |
| Materials | wood, glass, paper, plastic, gold |
| Ideas and information | advice, information, news, help, music |
| Others | money, weather, work |
| A2Groups of things | furniture, luggage (US: baggage), equipment, homework, traffic |
- news ends in -s but is uncountable: The news is good.
Counting uncountable nounsA1–A2
| Unit | Example |
|---|---|
| a glass of | a glass of water |
| a cup of | a cup of tea |
| a bottle of | two bottles of milk |
| a slice of | a slice of cheese |
| a kilo of | a kilo of rice |
| a piece of | a piece of cake / advice / furniture |
| A2a loaf of | a loaf of bread |
- The unit is countable and takes the plural: two cups of coffee.
Countable and uncountable meaningsA2
Some nouns are both. The meaning changes.
| Uncountable | Countable |
|---|---|
| I like coffee. | Two coffees, please. |
| She has long hair. | There's a hair in my soup. |
| a sheet of paper | I buy a paper every day. |
| There's no room in the car. | The flat has three rooms. |
Typical errorsA1–A2
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| an advice | a piece of advice / some advice | uncountable: no a / an |
| The news are good. | The news is good. | news + singular verb |
| A2a bread | a loaf of bread / some bread | count it with a unit |
| She has a good work. | She has a good job. | work is uncountable; a job is countable |
| What a terrible weather! | What terrible weather! | weather: no a / an |