Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Nouns › Count/Noncount Nouns
Count / Noncount Nouns
Differentiate individual nouns from mass and collective nouns
Unit Noun vs. Collective Noun
| 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.
Related pages Quantity Phrases and Food Quantifiers.
Noun Markers
Determiners and Demonstratives
Determiners Used With Count and Noncount Nouns
| COUNT NOUN | |
|---|---|
Determiners, such as the, this, that, these, those are used before nouns that are definite (identified, known). Some determiners have plural forms. |
|
| 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: A Determiner "Basic Markers", Demonstratives (this, that) Some / Any, Little / Few
Noncount Nouns
Fluids, Solids, Gases, Particles, and Concepts
Noncount Nouns
| MATERIAL (CONCRETE) |
|---|
| FLUID (LIQUID) |
water, coffee, tea, milk, oil, gasoline, wine |
| GAS |
air, oxygen, nitrogen, smoke, smog, pollution, steam |
| PARTICLES |
rice, corn, flour, sugar, popcorn, pepper, salt, cinnamon, oregano (spice names), tea, coffee, etc. |
| MASS / SOLID |
ice, bread, butter, cheese, meat, gold, chalk, silver, glass |
| COLLECTIVE—SINGULAR NOUNS |
baggage, luggage, clothing, furniture, food, fruit, money, traffic, garbage, scenery, junk, mail, jewelry, homework, housework, work, footwear, tableware, kitchenware, underwear, cutlery, bedlinen |
| COLLECTIVE—PLURAL NOUNS [COUNT NOUNS] |
appliances, arms, clothes, contents, covers, dishes, goods, groceries, leftovers, refreshments, remains, spoils, supplies, utilities, 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, grammar, slang, vocabulary |
| FIELDS OF STUDY |
chemistry, engineering, art, philosophy, science, law, ¹(linguistics, statistics, mathematics) |
| RECREATION & ACTIVITY |
basketball, soccer, baseball, dance, football, sleeping, driving, writing, studying, swimming, studying, rock climbing, sky diving (gerunds) |
| SOCIAL CONCEPTS |
politics, religion, government, ethics (These also occur as count nouns when referring to specific ones, activities or beliefs.)
|
¹singular, but happens to end in -s. See Unusual Singular & Plural Noun Forms (pants, measles, mathematics, scissors)
Count vs. Noncount Form
Fruit vs. Fruits
Singular vs. Preference (Dialectal Variation)
| SINGULAR PREFERENCE |
|---|
Most speakers use the noncount singular form for fruit when referring to all fruit. |
| SINGUALR |
Fruit is delicious in the summertime. We're out of fruit. We have to buy some. Would you like some fruit / a piece of fruit? |
| PLURAL |
~Fruits are delicious in the summertime. (varieties of fruit) *We're out of fruits. We have to buy some. *Would you like some fruits? |
| PLURAL PREFERENCE |
|---|
Some people will use fruits in the expression fruits and vegetables (as similiar word forms) or when speaking about varieties of fruit, a collective noun. |
| PARALLEL PLURAL FORMS |
Fruits and vegetables are delicious in the summertime. We are out of fruits and vegetables. We have to buy some. Cut back on sweets, refined grains, and animal fats, and have lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. |
| PLURAL (CATEGORY / VARIETY) |
Fruits are the main part of a Megabat's diet. We read about temperate, tropical, and sub-tropical fruits. At the end of the year, we'll enjoy the fruits of our labor. (results, profits) |
*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 "beneficial results".)
"Megabat." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 Aug. 2016, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabat. Accessed on 21 Aug. 2016.
Also see Plural–Varieties. Dialectal variations occur for the noun fruit, grapefruit, breadfruit and eggplant.
Also see Food Quantifiers.
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. |
Noun is Both Count and Noncount
Express a particular one vs. a more general one
| COUNT |
|---|
In the nouns below, the determiner a before the count noun expresses a particular, specific event, "true of one situation". In some cases, an adjective may be included. |
| A PARTICULAR ONE |
What a life she has! (Det + N) What an easy life she has! (Det + Adj + N) |
I had an experience today. (introduction to a story) I had a good experience today. |
What a pity ! (a sad situation or disappointment) |
~You have a thought but is it a good one? (idea) I'm sending positive thoughts your way. (wishes to you) |
I have a duty to serve my country. I have an important duty to serve my country. |
We had a conversation with him. We had a strange conversation with him. |
She has an opportunity to receive a scholarship. She has a good opportunity to travel abroad. |
*She made a progress. ¹(noticeable progress) She has made a marked progress¹ in her work. |
~We had a time today. (expletive not mentioned) We had an excellent time today. |
~He had an education but didn't do much with it. He had a good education. |
*I had a sleep last night. I had a good night's sleep last night. |
~He's been a help to us. He's been a big help to us. |
~What an imagination! (interjection) He has quite an imagination! (unexpected, surprising) |
| NONCOUNT |
|---|
The noncount use of the equivalent (same) word expresses a more general meaning, "true for all situations or events". Life is complicated.. |
| IN GENERAL |
Life is complicated. |
I have a lot of experience in hotel management. |
He feels pity for her. |
Your project needs more thought. |
He has a strong sense of duty. |
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. |
He relies on imagination to draw cartoon characters. |
* Not used / ~ sounds awkward, requires a special context to use
(Huddleston 334-40) ( Swan148-9)
Also see Word Forms [imagination vs. revolution] | Unusual Singular & Plural Noun Forms.
| COUNT |
|---|
The count noun use below expresses a particular one. In some cases, an adjective may be included with the article "a". |
| A PARTICULAR ONE |
I received an email from him today. |
I bought a paper at the newstand. (newspaper) I wrote a paper in class. (essay) |
I bought a glass for wine. |
*May I have a milk? (personal request) May I have two milks. (restaurant speech = two glasses of milk) |
He ate a sausage. He ate two sausages. |
Antartica is not a country. Argentina is a beautiful country. |
| NONCOUNT |
|---|
The noncount use of the equivalent (same) word expresses a more general meaning. An adjective may be included. |
| INGENERAL |
I get so much email that I can't read it all. |
Please put paper in the copy machine. Please put blue paper in the copy machine. |
The store sells glass for windows. |
The store sells milk. |
The store sell good sausage. (ground meat) |
This is cattle country. (territory for raising cows and steers) This is Apple country. (territory of users of a brand) |
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
*I have a lot of homeworks to do. |
*She washed her hairs. |
*The equipments don't work well. |
* My baggages were lost. |
* I bought new furnitures. |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
I have a lot of homework to do. |
She washed her hair. |
The equipment doesn't work well. |
My baggage was lost. |
I bought new furniture. |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Practice 1
An item vs. a mass or collective noun
Select the count or the noncount noun.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback 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)