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Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns are the names of things or people that can be counted and that have plurals.
  • an egg, two eggs, three eggs, …
  • a book, two books, three books, …

Uncountable nouns are the names of masses, materials or abstract qualities that cannot be counted and that don't have a plural form. We don't usually use a or an with uncountable nouns.

  • milk, air, weather
    NOT: a milk, two milks, …
    NOT: an air, two airs, …
    NOT: a weather, two weathers, …

Some nouns can be used as countable and uncountable nouns, but usually with different meanings. Compare:

  • There is a hair in my soup. (a hair = countable noun)
  • Your hair is very long now. (hair = uncountable noun)

1. Food and drink.

Put these words into two groups: countable and uncountable.

2. Countable and uncountable nouns.

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.


For more information about determiners see the Grammar Reference.

For more information about countable and uncountable nouns see the Grammar Reference.