Count / Noncount Nouns
Plural, mass and group nouns
Collective Nouns vs. Unit Nouns
| COUNT NOUN | |
|---|---|
A count noun is a unit, an item in a group that can be counted. A number can be placed before it: three dollars. It can take the plural form. Most count nouns belong to a collective group which is not countable. |
|
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
The dollar is here. |
The dollars are here. |
 |
 |
| NONCOUNT NOUN |
|---|
A noncount noun is a group, mass or collective noun. It is not countable because it is too small, a particle, liquid, gas, concept or activity. A collective noun has no plural form. (A dollar is a unit within the group: money.) |
| SINGULAR |
The money is here. |
 |
Yes, we count money – coins and bills. However ,money (the collective noun) is noncount.
Noun Markers
Determiners and Demonstratives
| COUNT NOUN | |
|---|---|
Determiners, such as the, this, that, these, those are used before nouns that are definite (identified, known). Some determiners have plural forms. See Determiners for details. |
|
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
The dollar is on the table. |
The dollars are on the table. |
This dollar is mine. |
These dollars are mine. (demonstrative: here) |
That dollar is yours. |
Those dollars are yours. (demonstrative: there) |
One dollar is yours. |
Some dollars are on the table. |
| NONCOUNT NOUN |
|---|
Determiners for noncount nouns are singular. Quantifiers are used for mass and collective nouns. See Quantity Phrases and Food Quantifiers for more details. |
| SINGULAR |
The money is on the table. |
This money is mine. |
That money is yours. |
Some money is on the table. (an indefinite amount) |
Demonstratives: this (near) / that (far); here (near) / there (far)
See: Determiners "Basic Markers", Some / Any, Little / Few
Noncountable Nouns
Fluids, Solids, Gases, Particles and Concepts
Noncount Nouns (singular)
| ITEMS |
|---|
| FLUIDS (liquids) |
water, coffee, tea, milk, oil, gasoline, wine |
| GASES |
air, oxygen, nitrogen, smoke, smog, pollution, steam |
| PARTICLES |
rice, corn, flour, sugar, popcorn, pepper, salt, cinnamon, oregano (spice names), tea, coffee, etc. |
| MASS / SOLIDS |
ice, bread, butter, cheese, meat, gold, chalk silver, glass |
| COLLECTIVE |
baggage, luggage, clothing, furniture, food, fruit, money, traffic, garbage, scenery, junk, mail, jewelry, homework, housework, work, footwear, tablewear, underwear, cutlery, bedlinen |
arms, clothes, contents, covers, dishes, goods, groceries, leftovers, refreshments, remains, spoils, supplies, valuables |
| ABSTRACT |
|---|
| CONCEPTS |
happiness, health, love, fun, help, honesty, peace, progress, beauty, knowledge, justice, intelligence, luck, music, experience |
| NATURAL PHENOMENA |
weather, fog, heat, humidity, lightning, rain, snow, thunder, wind, darkness, light, sunshine, electricity, fire, gravity, mass, time, space, energy |
| LANGUAGE & LANG. STUDY |
Arabic, French, Spanish, English, Portuguese |
| FIELDS OF STUDY |
chemistry, engineering, art, philosophy, science, law, ¹(linguistics, statistics, mathematics) |
| RECREATION & ACTIVITY |
basketball, soccer, baseball, dance, football |
¹singular, but happen to end in -s
See Quantity Phrases and Food Quantifiers for more details.
Count / Noncount Nouns
Fruit vs. Fruits
| SINGULAR PREFERENCE |
|---|
Most speakers prefer the singular form (below): |
Fruit is delicious in the summertime. |
*Fruits are delicious in the summertime. |
| DIALECTAL VARIATION |
|---|
Preferences vary
with the phrase "fruit(s) and vegetables": |
I
have to buy some fruit and
vegetables. |
I have to buy some fruits and vegetables. parallel word forms |
*The plural form is more commonly used in a scientific context when talking about different types of fruit: Fruits of South America, Fruits of Micronesia, or in an expression "May we soon enjoy the fruits of our labor." (fruits means benefits.)
Related page plural varieties
Dialectal
variations occur for the noun fruit, also grapefruit, breadfruit and eggplant.)
The items within the category "fruit" are countable.
| COUNT NOUN — SINGULAR |
|---|
This grape is sweet. |
This cantaloupe is delicious. |
| COUNT NOUN — PLURAL |
|---|
These grapes are sweet. |
These cantaloupes are delicious. |
Count / Noncount Nouns
Nouns Both Count & Noncount
Some nouns occur in both count and noncount usage:
| COUNT |
|---|
Use the singular form for a more particular, specific meaning. It some cases an adjective is included/ |
| A or A + ADJECTIVE |
I had a good experience today. |
What a life she has! |
What a pity ! pity (expression) – a sad situation or disappointment |
You have a thought but is it a good one? (idea) |
I have a duty to serve my country. |
We had a conversation with him. |
She has an opportunity to receive a scholarship. |
She has made a marked progress¹ in her work. |
We had an excellent time today. |
He had a good education. |
I had a good night's sleep last night. |
He's been a big help to us! |
| MATERIAL NOUNS |
I received an email from him today. |
Has the paper arrived? (newspaper) |
I bought a glass for wine. |
May I have two milks. (restaurant speech = two glasses of milk) |
He ate two sausages. |
Argentina is a beautiful country. |
| NONCOUNT |
|---|
Use the noncount form when speaking "in general". |
| ABSTRACT NOUNS |
I have a lot of experience in hotel management. |
Life is complicated. |
He feels pity for her. |
Your project needs more thought. |
He has a strong sense of duties. |
Dinner conversation is entertaining. |
When opportunity knocks, answer the door. |
She has made progress in her work. |
Time passes slowly. |
Education can change a person's future. |
Sleep improves a person's health. |
Help is hard to find. |
| MATERIAL NOUNS |
I get so much email that I can't read it all. |
Please put some paper in the copy machine. |
The store sells glass for windows. |
The store sells milk. |
The store sell good sausage. (ground meat) |
A cowboy prefers to live in the country. (away from cities) |
* Not used without an adjective.
%varies in dialectal usage
? questionable usage
— These sentence sound more natural with an adjective included.
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
*I have a lot of homeworks to do. |
I have a lot of homework to do. |
*She washed her hairs. |
She washed her hair. |
*The equipments don't work well. |
The equipment doesn't work well. |
* My baggages were lost. |
My baggage was lost. |
* I bought new furnitures. |
I bought new furniture. |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Practice 1
Count vs. Mass Noun
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
The group noun meat may consist of several meat cuts.
Meat is not countable.
A steak is / steaks are countable. (a chop, a roast, a slice, a cut)