Nouns 2

Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns regularly have a plural form, which usually ends in 's', while uncountable nouns do not. Uncountables include many (but not all) abstract nouns. For example, you cannot have more than one contentment. There is also a small group of concrete nouns that are usually uncountable, mostly things that are thought of in the mass rather than as a set of individual items: sand, mud, ice, butter, and so forth. But beware: almost all uncountables can become countable in special situations. For example:

Sands of time run out for strife-torn factory

So why does it matter if a noun is countable or not? The answer is that certain words cannot be used before uncountable nouns. These are words that describe quantity. They include: each, several, few, many.

Nor can you precede an uncountable with the articles a or an. More important, it is not standard English to use less before a countable plural. It's less butter and fewer biscuits. But, especially in speech, more and more people are using less with plural nouns.

To sum up: nouns can be proper or common, countable or uncountable:

© John Seely 2008