Countable and Uncountable Nouns for English Language Learners

The difference between countable and uncountable nouns is that countable nouns are things you can count, like “apple” or “book”, and uncountable nouns are things you cannot count, like “water” or “milk”. Meaning you can use numbers with countable nouns (like two apples and three books– correct), but you can’t use numbers with uncountable nouns (two water, three milk – incorrect)

Improve your English with countable and uncountable nouns, with practical examples and simple exercises for language learners (+ free worksheet)

In this article, you’ll find very simple explanations, clear examples, and easy exercises to help you practice.  Plus, download a free worksheet to improve your skills with countable and uncountable nouns

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In this article:

Countable and Uncountable Noun worksheet (pdf download)

What are Countable and Uncountable Nouns

we have looked at plural nouns  (student => students), but some nouns are not ‘countable’ (1 student, 2 students, …,, ), so nouns are countable nouns or uncountable nouns. For example: “apple” “rice” “bread”

  • apples is countable – I bought two apples.
  • two rice, two bread, these are uncountable – correct use might be “I need some rice for the recipe.”, and “Can you buy a loaf of bread?”

Countable Nouns

  • I bought three bananas.
  • He has two pizzas for the party.
  • The children ate five cookies after school.
  • We picked six oranges from the tree.
  • There are eight tomatoes in the basket.

Uncountable Nouns

  • I need some flour for baking.
  • She enjoys drinking tea in the morning.
  • Can you pass me a little salt, please?
  • We bought a bottle of water at the store.
  • The recipe calls for a cup of sugar.
  • He prefers coffee with a splash of milk.

Countable and Uncountable Foods

countable and uncountable nouns

Source: https://thisbugslife.com/2015/08/30/countable-and-uncountable/

Uncountable Foods with Quantifiers

  • A bag of flour
  • A bottle of oil
  • A bowl of rice
  • A bowl of soup
  • A bowl of cereal
  • A cup of coffee
  • A cup of tea
  • A glass of milk
  • A glass of water
  • A jar of honey
  • A jar of jam
  • A jar of mustard
  • A piece of cheese
  • A piece of fruit
  • A piece of meat
  • A pinch of salt
  • A plate of pasta
  • A plate of seafood
  • A slice of bread
  • A slice of butter
  • A spoonful of sugar

Exercise #1

Read this passage

Lisa went to the grocery store to buy some items for her weekend.

She picked up a carton of eggs, a loaf of bread, a bag of rice, and a bottle of milk.

Lisa also wanted to make a salad, so she got some tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers.

In the fruit section, she grabbed a bunch of bananas and a watermelon. For a sweet treat, Lisa bought a bar of chocolate.

At the checkout, she realized she forgot to get sugar for her coffee, so she quickly added a packet to her purchases.”

Mark each of the following foods or drinks as C – countable, or U for uncountable.

  1. eggs
  2. bread
  3. rice
  4. milk
  5. salad
  6. tomatoes
  7. lettuce
  8. cucumbers
  9. watermelon
  10. chocolate
  11. sugar
  12. coffee

Exercise #2

Read the following sentences and identify the countable or uncountable nouns. Write “C” for countable and “U” for uncountable

there can be more than one answer in a sentence

  1. She bought two dresses for the party.
  2. Can you pass me some salt, please?
  3. My brother reads three books every month.
  4. I need a piece of advice on my project.
  5. They have three dogs and some milk in the refrigerator.
  6. I prefer tea over coffee in the morning.
  7. He ate a hamburger and drank a glass of juice for lunch.
  8. There are many birds in the sky.
  9. The children played with toys in the garden.
  10. Please bring me a cup of tea with sugar.

Exercise #3

Read the following sentences and identify the countable nouns by underlining them and the uncountable nouns by circling them.

  1. She bought three new shirts and a bottle of perfume at the mall.
  2. Can you pass me a couple of oranges and some fresh juice?
  3. My sister painted two beautiful paintings for the art exhibition.
  4. We enjoyed a delicious meal with a plate of spaghetti and a bowl of soup.
  5. The students in the class wrote three essays and shared some interesting information.
  6. He received many gifts for his birthday, including a box of chocolates and a jar of cookies.

FAQ Questions with Countable and Uncountable Noun Examples

Q1: What are countable and uncountable nouns?
A: Countable nouns are words that refer to things you can count using numbers (e.g., one apple, three chairs). They have both singular and plural forms and often use articles like a or an.
Uncountable nouns, also known as noncount nouns, refer to things that cannot be counted individually (e.g., milk, furniture, luggage). These nouns are generally used with singular verbs and cannot be pluralized.

Q2: What are 10 examples of uncountable nouns?
A: Here are ten common uncountable nouns in English:

  1. Water
  2. Rice
  3. Information
  4. Luggage
  5. Traffic
  6. Furniture
  7. Advice
  8. Knowledge
  9. Music
  10. Sugar

These nouns refer to substances, abstract ideas, or concepts and are typically not used in the plural form.

Q3: What are 10 examples of countable nouns?
A: Ten examples of countable nouns include:

  1. Book
  2. Apple
  3. Car
  4. Chair
  5. Pen
  6. Dog
  7. House
  8. Egg
  9. Student
  10. Bottle

Countable nouns can be singular or plural and are easy to count (e.g., two books, three students).

Q4: What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
A: The main difference is that countable nouns refer to individual items that can be counted, while uncountable nouns refer to whole substances or abstract ideas that are not easily counted. For example, milk is uncountable, but bottles of milk are countable.

Q5: Can uncountable nouns ever be made countable?
A: Yes. You can make uncountable nouns countable by referring to units, containers, or categories, like a piece of advice, two bottles of water, or three types of furniture. These phrases use countable forms to describe uncountable concepts.

Q6: Do uncountable nouns use singular or plural verbs?
A: Uncountable nouns typically take singular verbs. For example: The information is useful. Countable nouns in plural form take plural verbs: The books are on the table.

Q7: Are there differences between countable and uncountable nouns in other languages?
A: Yes. Some nouns that are uncountable in English (like furniture or traffic) may be countable in other languages. English learners should be careful and refer to trusted English grammar sources to check noun usage.

Understanding English Grammar (with Plural and Singular Examples)

To help you learn more about English grammar and how nouns refer to different concepts, here are some useful insights:

  • Countable nouns can be singular (a car) or plural (many cars), and often end in -s in the plural form.
  • Uncountable nouns are often used to refer to liquids, substances, abstract ideas, and concepts.
  • Some adjectives (like much, little, some) are used with uncountable nouns, while others (like many, few) are used with countable ones.
  • Plural countable nouns use plural verbs, while uncountable nouns use singular verbs.
  • Common uncountable noun examples include advice, traffic, equipment, research, and baggage.
  • The term “noncount nouns” is another way of describing uncountable nouns in English.

This guide helps you understand the rules, forms, and meanings of nouns in English, including how they function in both singular and plural forms.

Learn More About Nouns and Other Parts of Speech in English Grammar

If you want to learn more about nouns visit the nouns page, or visit the parts of speech page.

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Worksheet with Answers

Countable and Uncountable Noun Worksheet with answers pdf (free download)

Exercise Answers

Exercise 1 Mark each of the following foods or drinks as C – countable, or U for uncountable.

  1. eggs – C
  2. bread – U
  3. rice – U
  4. milk – U
  5. salad – U
  6. tomatoes – C
  7. lettuce – C
  8. cucumbers – C
  9. watermelon – C
  10. chocolate – U
  11. sugar – U
  12. coffee – U

Exercise 2. Write “C” for countable and “U” for uncountable

  1. She bought two dresses for the party. – C
  2. Can you pass me some salt, please? – U
  3. My brother reads three books every month. – C, C
  4. I need a piece of advice on my project. – U
  5. They have three dogs and some milk in the refrigerator. – C, U
  6. I prefer tea over coffee in the morning. – U, U
  7. He ate a hamburger and drank a glass of juice for lunch. – C, U
  8. There are many birds in the sky. – C
  9. The children played with toys in the garden. – C, C
  10. Please bring me a cup of tea with sugar. – U, C

Exercise 3 Countable are underlined and uncountble nouns are in bold

  1. She bought three new shirts and a bottle of perfume at the mall.
  2. Can you pass me a couple of oranges and some fresh juice?
  3. My sister painted two beautiful paintings for the art exhibition.
  4. We enjoyed a delicious meal with a plate of spaghetti and a bowl of soup.
  5. The students in the class wrote three essays and shared some interesting information.
  6. He received many gifts for his birthday, including a box of chocolates and a jar of cookies.

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