• 2-minute read
  • 21st December 2014

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

You might not have heard of countable and uncountable nouns before. However, it is useful to know the difference, as they work slightly differently with certain words. In this post, we explain how to use them correctly.

Countable Nouns

Quite simply, countable nouns are things that can be easily separated or counted. For example, we can refer to three apples, five people, or six guitars. These are also referred to as “count nouns.”

When a noun can be counted, we can use words like “number” (e.g., “a large number of eggs”) and “fewer” (e.g., “I have fewer eggs than you”) with it. We can also say “an egg” or “some eggs,” depending on the number described.

Uncountable Nouns

Certain things, such as butter or water, cannot be counted as they are typically an undifferentiated mass. Other examples include “sand,” “milk,” and “coffee.”

Many abstract concepts are uncountable nouns, too, including “music,” “love,” “happiness” and “sadness.” Uncountable nouns are also known as “mass nouns.”

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

As with countable nouns, we have specific words we use with uncountable nouns. For example, “amount” (e.g., “a large amount of sand”) instead of “number” and “less” (e.g., “there is less sand here than I thought”) instead of “fewer.” We can also say “some butter,” refer to a certain weight, such as “100g of butter,” or say “the butter,” but we never say “a butter.”

 

Countable or Uncountable

If in doubt about a particular word, ask whether it easily be counted or separated into distinct units. If it can be, it is probably a countable noun.

Professional Proofreading

To get your paper professionally proofread, upload it today at Proofed!

Comments (2)
h
22nd March 2021 at 03:42
What about "Two coffees please"?
    Proofed
    22nd March 2021 at 09:52
    In that sentence, "coffees" is a countable noun (i.e., it refers to two cups of coffee). In other contexts, "coffee" can be uncountable (e.g., "Would you like some coffee?").


Got content that needs a quick turnaround?

Let us polish your work.

Explore our editorial business services.

More Writing Tips?
Trusted by thousands of leading
institutions and businesses

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.