Section outline

  • Countable Nouns or countables are nouns that can be counted.

    Examples: books, pen, cup, etc.

    Uncountable Nouns or uncountables are those which cannot be counted.

    Examples: milk, water, sugar, etc.

    Difference between countable & uncountable Nouns:

    Countable Noun Uncountable Noun

    They are in exact numbers.

    Eg.: There ten books on the shelf.

    They are not in exact numbers.

    Eg.: Can I have some milk?

    They have both singular & plural forms.

    Eg.: There are so five babies here.

    They have only singular form.

    Eg.: Please put a little sugar in my tea.

    They are usually common nouns.

    Eg.: table, children, etc.

    They are material, abstract & proper nouns.

    Eg.: oil, honesty, India, etc.

    To show quantity, use numbers / a / few / many, etc. 

    Eg.: Few candidates qualified for the next round of interview.

    To show quantity, use some, little, much, any, etc.

    Eg.: There is so much work today.


    Some Important points:

    1. Nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on use in a sentence.

    Example:

    Sam just had one glass of juice now. (here glass is used as countable noun).

    This vase is made of glass. (here glass is uncountable noun).

    2. Some words used with material nouns may make them appear countable; but they still remain uncountable nouns.

    Examples:

    Give me five slices of bread.

    The child had one cup of milk.

    Here, 'bread & milk' are uncountable nouns but 'slices & cup' are countable nouns.