countable or uncountable

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrasetechnical

   Describing whether a noun can be counted with numbers and take a plural, or is used as a mass with no plural.

   Grammar: Used after nouns or as a label: 'Is "information" countable or uncountable?'

   Patterns

   • be countable or uncountable
   • whether a noun is countable or uncountable

   The dictionary marks each noun as countable or uncountable.

   Students often ask whether "advice" is countable or uncountable; it is uncountable.

   Some nouns are countable or uncountable depending on the meaning.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   A question learners ask when unsure whether to say 'a bread' or just 'bread'.

   Grammar: Often written as a heading in grammar books and online searches.

   Patterns

   • Is <noun> countable or uncountable?

   Her search history was full of 'countable or uncountable' questions before the exam.

   The teacher wrote 'countable or uncountable?' next to the word 'furniture'.

Common combinations

countable or uncountable noun

The worksheet lists ten countable or uncountable nouns.

whether it is countable or uncountable

Check whether it is countable or uncountable before adding 'a'.

countable or uncountable in this sense

'Chicken' is countable or uncountable in this sense, so both forms are fine.

Word family

countable adjective

Able to be counted; used of nouns that take a plural.

uncountable adjective

Not able to be counted one by one; used of mass nouns with no plural.

count noun noun

Another name for a countable noun.

mass noun noun

Another name for an uncountable noun.

Commonly confused: countable or uncountable or countable noun?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “countable or uncountable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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