What is a Countable Noun?
A countable noun, as the very name suggests, is a noun that can be counted or numbered. Usually, they refer to things or objects that we can see, feel or touch. For example, vegetables, toys, cars, books, countries, oceans, days, rooms, friends and stars are all “countable” nouns.
Now you might be wondering why “stars” is countable, as we don’t know the number of stars in the universe.
It’s “countable” because you can still say a number before it. When you look up at the night sky, you may never finish counting the stars, but you can definitely begin counting them. You can say, “I see five stars from my roof.”
TIP TO IDENTIFY COUNTABLE NOUNS
If you aren’t sure if a noun is countable or not, ask yourself if you can place a number right before it. For example:
- There are five red cars in front of the building.
- She’s carrying three eggs in a basket.
- Two people are standing outside the gate.
- There is only one sandwich left.
What is an Uncountable Noun?
“Uncountable” nouns are nouns that can’t be counted,in other words that can’t be directly expressed in terms of numbers. For example, sunshine, information, travel, work, time, money, magic and furniture are all uncountable nouns.
Usually, uncountable nouns refer to abstract nouns as things that we can’t see, touch or smell such as happiness, jealousy, justice, advice, luck and so on.
For example:
- We all seek happiness in our lives.
- Her face was filled with jealousy when she saw his new girlfriend.
- Rohan’s success as a movie star is a result of his hard work, rather than his luck.
- My kids find it relaxing to play with clay.
However, certain objects and common nouns can also be uncountable. Certain materials (such as silk, satin, concrete, sand and clay) and food or drink items (such as water, tea, coffee, milk, rice and flour) can’t be directly expressed with a number before it.
For example:
- There’s sand in your shoes.
- I need five yards of satin.
- Do you prefer tea or coffee?
- Mix one cup of flour with half a glass of milk.
By now, the differences between countable and uncountable nouns should be clear to you. Try to reread the differences between countable and uncountable nouns to memorize them and then test your understanding with exercises.
It’s okay if you make mistakes in the beginning. Just keep practicing regularly and you’re sure to make a lot of progress! 🙂