Professional Documents
Culture Documents
WelcometothePurdueOWL
ThispageisbroughttoyoubytheOWLatPurdue
(https://owl.english.purdue.edu/).Whenprintingthispage,you
mustincludetheentirelegalnoticeatbottom.
Contributors:PaulLynch,AllenBrizee.
Summary:
Thishandoutdiscussesthedifferencesbetweencountnounsandnoncountnouns.
Countnounscanbepluralizednoncountnounscannot.
CountandNoncountNouns:BasicRules
AdjectiveswithCountableandUncountableNouns
TheBasicRules:CountandNoncountNouns
Acountnounisonethatcanbeexpressedinpluralform,usuallywithan"s."For
example,"catcats,""seasonseasons,""studentstudents."
Anoncountnounisonethatusuallycannotbeexpressedinapluralform.For
example,"milk,""water,""air,""money,""food."Usually,youcan'tsay,"Hehad
manymoneys."
CountandNoncountNounswithAdjectives
Mostofthetime,thisdoesn'tmatterwithadjectives.Forexample,youcansay,"The
catwasgray"or"Theairwasgray."However,thedifferencebetweenacountableand
uncountablenoundoesmatterwithcertainadjectives,suchas"some/any,"
"much/many,"and"little/few."
Some/Any:Someandanycountableanduncountablenouns.
"Thereissomewateronthefloor."
"Therearesomestudentshere."
"Doyouhaveanyfood?"
"Doyouhaveanyapples?"
Much/Many:Muchmodifiesonlyuncountablenouns.Manymodifiesonlycountable
nouns.
"Wedon'thavemuchtimetogetthisdone."
"ManyAmericanstraveltoEurope."
Little/Few:Littlemodifiesonlyuncountablenouns.
"Hehadlittlefoodinthehouse."
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 1/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
"Thedoctorhadlittletimetothinkintheemergencyroom."
Fewmodifiesonlycountablenouns.
"Therearefewdoctorsintown."
"Fewstudentslikeexams."
Otherbasicrules
Alotof/lotsof:Alotof/lotsofareinformalsubstitutesformuchandmany.Theyare
usedwithuncountablenounswhentheymeanmuchandwithcountablenounswhen
theymeanmany.
"Theyhavelotsof(much)moneyinthebank."
"Alotof(many)AmericanstraveltoEurope."
"Wegotlotsof(many)mosquitoeslastsummer."
"Wegotlotsof(much)rainlastsummer."
Alittlebitof:Alittlebitofisinformalandalwaysprecedesanuncountablenoun.
"Thereisalittlebitofpepperinthesoup."
"Thereisalittlebitofsnowontheground."
Enough:Enoughmodifiesbothcountableanduncountablenouns.
"Thereisenoughmoneytobuyacar."
"Ihaveenoughbookstoread."
Plentyof:Plentyofmodifiesbothcountableanduncountablenouns.
"Theyhaveplentyofmoneyinthebank."
"ThereareplentyofmillionairesinSwitzerland."
No:Nomodifiesbothcountableanduncountablenouns.
"Thereisnotimetofinishnow."
"Therearenosquirrelsinthepark."
Contributors:PaulLynch,AllenBrizee.
Summary:
Thishandoutdiscussesthedifferencesbetweencountnounsandnoncountnouns.
Countnounscanbepluralizednoncountnounscannot.
CountandNoncountNouns(with
Plurals,Articles,andQuantityWords)
Section1:DefinitionofCountandNoncountnouns
CountorNoncount?
Themaindifferencebetweencountandnoncountnounsiswhetheryoucancountthe
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 2/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
thingstheyrefertoornot.
Countnounsrefertothingsthatexistasseparateanddistinctindividualunits.They
usuallyrefertowhatcanbeperceivedbythesenses.
Examples:
table
finger
bottle
chair
remark
award
word
girl
candidate
Examplesentences:
Isteppedinapuddle.(Howmanypuddlesdidyoustepin?Justone.)
Idrankaglassofmilk.(Glassesofmilkcanbecounted)
Isawanappletree.(Appletreescanbecounted)
Noncountnounsrefertothingsthatcan'tbecountedbecausetheyarethoughtofas
wholesthatcan'tbecutintoparts.Theyoftenrefertoabstractionsandoccasionally
haveacollectivemeaning(forexample,furniture).
Examples:
anger
courage
progress
furniture
education
weather
warmth
leisure
precision
Examplesentences:
Idoveintothewater.(Howmanywatersdidyoudiveinto?Thequestiondoesn'tmake
anysensethereforewaterisnoncountable.)
Isawthemilkspill.(Howmanymilks?Milkcannotbecounted.)
Iadmiredthefoliage.(Howmanyfoliages?Foliagecannotbecounted.)
Thinkofthebatterfromwhichacakeismade.Beforeyouputthebatterintotheoven,
itcan'tbedividedintopartsbecauseit'sathickliquid.Onceithasbeenbaked,it
becomessolidenoughtobecutintopieces.Noncountnounsarelikecakebattercount
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 3/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
nounsarelikepiecesofcake
Note:Sincetheissueiscomplicatedandalmostnoruleisabsolute,therewillbe
exceptionstotheabovedefinitionshowever,wecanshowsomegeneralpatterns.
Bearinmindthatwhatiscountableinanotherlanguagemaynotbecountablein
English,andviceversa.
Section2:UsesofCountandNoncountNouns
Pluralizing
TheRule
Fromthedefinitionsofmassandcountgivenaboveyoumayhavealreadyguessedthe
ruleforpluralizingthem:
mostcountnounspluralizewiths
noncountnounsdon'tpluralizeatall
Thisruleworksforallofthenounsinthelistsofexamplesinthefirstsection.Check
thisruleforyourselfbeforereadingfurther.
AnExceptiontotheRule
Foranumberofnouns,theruleneedsslightrevision.CertainnounsinEnglishbelong
tobothclasses:theyhavebothanoncountandacountmeaning.Normallythe
noncountmeaningisabstractandgeneralandthecountmeaningconcreteandspecific.
Compare:
Count
I'vehadsomedifficultiesfindingajob.(referstoanumberofspecificproblems)
ThetalkswilltakeplaceintheKrannertbuilding.(referstoanumberofspecific
lectures)
Thecitywasfilledwithbrightlightsandharshsounds.(referstoanumberof
specificlightsandnoises)
Noncount
Shesucceededinschoolwithlittledifficulty.(referstothegeneralideaof
schoolbeingdifficult)
Idislikeidletalk.(referstotalkingingeneral)
Lighttravelsfasterthansound.(referstothewaylightandsoundbehavein
general)
Note:Aspecialcaseoftheuseofnoncountnounsinacountsensehastodowith
classification.Sometimesausuallynoncountnouncanbeunderstoodasoneitem
separateanddistinctfromotheritemsofthesamecategory.Thenounsthatfunctionin
thiswayoftendenotefoodsandbeverages:food(s),drink(s),wine(s),bread(s),
coffee(s),fruit(s),andsoon.Examples:
ThereareseveralFrenchwinestochoosefrom.(=kindsofwine)
IpreferSumatrancoffeestoColombian.(=kindsofcoffee)
Weuseavarietyofdifferentbattersinourbakery.(=kindsofbatter)
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 4/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
Arecententryintothisclassishomework,whichatleastamongsomestudentshasthe
countpluralhomeworksinadditiontoitsnoncountuse.(Forexample,"You'remissing
threeofthehomeworksfromthefirstpartofthecourse.")Becausethisusageisnot
firmlyestablishedandislikelytobeconsiderednonstandard,youshouldcheckwith
yourinstructorbeforeusingitinwriting.
ARevisionoftheRule
Theseexceptionsrequirethattheruleforpluralizingberevised:countnounsand
nounsusedinacountsensepluralizenoncountnounsandnounsusedinanoncount
sensedonot.
Thetwopossibilitiesineachhalfoftherulerequiredifferentchoices.Ifyouknowthat
aparticularnounmustbeeithercountornoncountandcannotbeboth,youneedto
decideonlyifitispossibletopluralizethenoun.Ontheotherhand,ifyouknowthata
particularnounmaybeusedineitheracountornoncountsense,thenyouneedto
decidewhetheritisappropriatetopluralize.
Tosummarize,wemayputtheruleinachart,likethis:
Pluralizeswiths Doesn'tPluralize
CountNoun XX
CountUse XX
NoncountNoun XX
NoncountUse XX
Articles
NounsandArticles
Choosingwhicharticletouse(ifany)withanounisacomplexmatterbecausethe
rangeofchoicesdependsonwhetherthenouninquestionis1)countornoncountand
2)singularorplural.Bothcountnouns(whethersingularorplural)andnoncount
nounstakearticles.
CombinationsofNounsandArticles
Thefollowingchartshowswhicharticlesgowithwhichkindsofnouns.Noticethat
this,that,these,andthosehavebeenincludedbecause,likethe,theymarkthenoun
thattheymodifyasdefinite,whichmeansthatthenounrefers1)toauniqueindividual
or2)tosomeperson,event,orobjectknowntoboththewriterandreaderfromtheir
generalknowledgeorfromwhathasbeenpreviouslymentionedinapieceofwriting.
these,
a,an the this,that noarticle
those
Count
XX XX XX
singular
Count
XX XX XX
plural
Noncount XX XX XX
Examples:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 5/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
CountSingular:
Iateanapple.
Irodethebus.
Doessheliveinthishouse?No,shelivesinthathouseoverthere.
CountPlural:
Iliketofeedthebirds.
Doyouwantthesebooks?No,Iwantthosebooksupthere.
Catsareinterestingpets.
Noncount:
Thewateriscold.
Thismilkisgoingsour.
Musichelpsmerelax.
QuantityTerms
Thefollowingchartshowswhichquantitywordsgowithwhichkindsofnouns.Note
thatquantitywordscanbeusedincombinationssuchasmanymore,manyfewer,
muchmore,andmuchless,anyofwhichcanbeprecededbyhowtoformquestionsor
relativeclauses.Negativeslikenotandnocanalsobeappliedtomanyoftheseterms.
some,any, many,both,
much,less, most,more, several,
each,every,
little,alittle, all,alotof, few/fewer/fewest,
any,one
verylittle no,noneof afew,oneofthe,
the acoupleof
Count
XX
singular
Count
XX XX
plural
Noncount XX XX
Examples:
CountSingular:
Ipracticeeveryday.
I'dlikeonedonut,please.
CountPlural:
CanIhavesomechips?
Shehasalotofbooks,andmanyareautographed.
Ihavefewerpencilsthanyou.
Noncount:
CanIhavesomewater?
Shehasalotofstrength,andmuchisduetoherupbringing.
Ihavelesscouragethanyou.
Contributors:PaulLynch,AllenBrizee.
Summary:
Thishandoutdiscussesthedifferencesbetweencountnounsandnoncountnouns.
Countnounscanbepluralizednoncountnounscannot.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 6/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
CountandNoncountNouns(with
ArticlesandAdjectives)
CountableNouns
Countablenounsrefertothingsthatwecancount.Suchnounscantakeeither
singularorpluralform.
Concretenounsmaybecountable.
Thereareadozenflowersinthevase.
Heateanappleforasnack.
Collectivenounsarecountable.
Sheattendedthreeclassestoday.
Londonishometoseveralorchestras.
Somepropernounsarecountable.
TherearemanyGreekslivinginNewYork.
TheVanderbiltswouldthrowlavishpartiesattheirNewportsummermansion.
UncountableNouns
Uncountablenounsrefertothingsthatwecannotcount.Suchnounstakeonly
singularform.
Abstractnounsareuncountable.
Thepriceoffreedomisconstantvigilance.
Herwritingshowsmaturityandintelligence.
Someconcretenounsareuncountable(whenunderstoodintheirundividedsense).
Thepriceofoilhasstabilizedrecently.
MayIborrowsomerice?
Whileuncountablenounsdonotgenerallytakeapluralform,sometimestheymaybe
pluralizedwhenusedinacountablesense.Thedifferencebetweentheuncountable
andcountablemeaningsofnounsthatareusedineithersensecanbeseeninthe
followingchart:
UncountableSense CountableSense
Artisoftencalledlimitationof Ireadabookaoutthefolkarts
life. ofSweden.
Lifeisprecious. Acathasninelives.
Religionhasbeenapowerful Manyreligionsarepracticedin
forceinhistory. theUnitedStates.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 7/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
Shehasbeautifulskin. Thehullofakayakismadeof
animalskins.
Dr.Moultonisanexpertin Wehaveseveralsculpturesin
ancientGreeksculpture. ourhome.
Weuseonlyrecycledpaperin Wherearethoseimportant
ouroffice. papers?
UsingArticleswithCountableandUncountableNouns
Acountablenounalwaystakeseithertheindefinite(a,an)ordefinite(the)article
whenitissingular.Whenplural,ittakesthedefinitearticleifitreferstoadefinite,
specificgroupandnoarticleifitisusedinageneralsense.
Theguestofhonorarrivedlate.
Youarewelcomeasaguestinourhome.
Theguestsatyourpartyyesterdaymadealotofnoise.
Guestsarewelcomehereanytime.
Uncountablenounsnevertaketheindefinitearticle(aoran),buttheydotakesingular
verbs.Theissometimesusedwithuncountablenounsinthesamewayitisusedwith
pluralcountablenouns,thatis,torefertoaspecificobject,group,oridea.
Informationisapreciouscommodityinourcomputerizedworld.
Theinformationinyourfilesiscorrect.
Sugarhasbecomemoreexpensiverecently.
Pleasepassmethesugar.
CategoriesofUncountableNouns
NonPluralswith
Abstract Material Generic
s
advice meat fruit mathematics
help rice wildlife economics
information bread equipment physics
knowledge cake machinery civics
trouble coffee furniture ethics
work icecream mail mumps
enjoyment water luggage measles
fun oil jewelry news
recreation grass clothing tennis
relaxation hair money (othergames)
QuantityAdjectiveswithCountableandUncountableNouns
Some,Any
Bothwordsmodifyeithercountableoruncountablenouns.
Therearesomecookiesinthejar.(countable)
Thereissomewateronthefloor.(uncountable)
Didyoueatanyfood?(uncountable)
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 8/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
Doyouserveanyvegetariandishes?(countable)
Much,Many
Muchmodifiesonlyuncountablenouns.
Howmuchmoneywillweneed?
Theyatesomuchcakethattheystartedtofeelsick.
Mucheffortwillberequiredtosolvethisproblem.
Manymodifiesonlycountablenouns.
Howmanychildrendoyouhave?
Theyhadsomanybooksthattheyhadtostacktheminthehall.
ManyAmericanstraveltoEuropeeachyear.
Alotof,Lotsof
Thesewordsareinformalsubstitutesformuchandmany.
Lotsofeffortwillberequiredtosolvethisproblem.(uncountable)
AlotofAmericanstraveltoEuropeeachyear.(countable)
Little,Quitealittle,Few,Quiteafew
Littleandquitealittlemodifyonlyuncountablenouns.
Wehadalittleicecreamafterdinner.
Theyofferedlittlehelpformyproblem.(meaning"onlyasmallamount")
Theyofferedquitealittlehelpformyproblem.(meaning"alargeamount")(Seequite
abitof,below.)
Fewandquiteafewmodifyonlycountablenouns.
Afewdoctorsfromthehospitalplayonthesoftballteam.
Fewrestaurantsinthistownoffervegetariandishes.(meaning"onlyasmallnumber")
Quiteafewrestaurantsinthistownoffervegetariandishes.(meaning"alarge
number")
Alittlebitof,Quiteabitof
Theseinformalphrasesusuallyprecedeuncountablenouns.Quiteabitofhasthesame
meaningasquitealittleandisusedmorecommonly.
There'salittlebitofpepperinthesoup.(meaning"asmallamount")
There'squiteabitofpepperinthesoup.(meaning"alargeamount")
Enough
Thiswordmodifiesbothcountableanduncountablenouns.
Idon'thaveenoughpotatoestomakethesoup.
Wehaveenoughmoneytobuyacar.
Plentyof
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 9/10
11/11/2015 PurdueOWL
Thistermmodifiesbothcountableanduncountablenouns.
ThereareplentyofmountainsinSwitzerland.
Shehasplentyofmoneyinthebank.
No
Thiswordmodifiesbothcountableanduncountablenouns.
Therewerenosquirrelsintheparktoday.
Wehavenotimelefttofinishtheproject.
Copyright19952015byTheWritingLab&TheOWLatPurdueandPurdueUniversity.All
rightsreserved.Thismaterialmaynotbepublished,reproduced,broadcast,rewritten,orredistributed
withoutpermission.Useofthissiteconstitutesacceptanceofourtermsandconditionsoffairuse.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/541/ 10/10