Grammar: Word classes: Nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns

Nouns which can be both countable and uncountable

Consider the use of egg/s in the following examples from a recipe:

In the first example, the countable form is used to refer to the eggs as individual items. In the second example, the uncountable form is used to refer to the beaten egg as a substance:

an egg	two eggs	egg
countable		uncountable

There are many nouns which behave in this way, often related to food, (beer, chocolate, coffee, cheese, sugar). These nouns are sometimes used as countable and sometimes used as uncountable, although with a difference in meaning. When introducing such words to students, it may be useful to show pictures which clearly illustrate the different uses of the word.

Abstract nouns

Abstract nouns refer to non-physical things which you cannot touch (like happiness, memory) and are distinguished from concrete nouns (like book, table) which can be touched. Abstract nouns are occasionally countable (worries, mistakes), but more commonly uncountable (happiness, music).

Primary level students will find abstract nouns more difficult to understand and to learn since they refer to ideas, concepts, feelings and non-physical things which we cannot directly perceive with our senses.

Nouns which are derived from verbs with the form verb + -ing (shopping, eating) are typically uncountable; however, they are occasionally countable (earnings, buildings).

Some countable nouns may be used as uncountables under certain conditions, namely when making a general statement about the entity we are referring to, eg The cat is a great opportunist (where cat refers to all creatures belonging to the species 'cat').

Nouns in English can be divided into groups according to how countable they are. These groups can be placed on a scale:

What a beautiful baby!	Don't play with fire. We lit a fire to keep warm.	I need some advice.
always countable		always uncountable