Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Form

Nouns that can be counted individually.
(They have both singular and plural forms)

one booktwo books

an applesome apples

a personmany people


Meanings

The easiest way to check is to try counting it.

  • Countable: You can put a number before it.
    one chair, two chairs, three chairs…
  • Uncountable: You cannot put a number before it.
    one furniture, two furnitures…

This affects your grammar:

  • Verb: The chair is old. / The furniture is old.
  • Quantifiers: many chairs / much furniture.
  • Article: I need a chair. / I need (Ø) furniture.

Practice exercises