Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted; uncountable ones cannot take a/an or plural.

Examples

• a chair, two chairs
• some water, not 'a water'

Key rules

• Countable nouns have a plural and can use numbers and a/an: one apple, two apples
• Uncountable nouns have no plural and no a/an: water, rice, advice, information
• Use a unit word to count them: a glass of water, a piece of advice
• Uncountable nouns take a singular verb

Common mistakes

• I need an advice → I need some advice
• The informations are useful → The information is useful