Count nouns are nouns that can have one or more than one.
A pen – three pens, a bottle – six bottles, a television – three televisions, a car – five cars.
Count nouns can be used with;
A few, few, many, some, every, each, these etc.
A few pens, many bottles, a few cars, each television etc.
Count nouns can be used with a/an or the
There is a pen on my desk.
I bought a bottle of Italian wine.
Each television in the flat was a new model.
My family has five cars.
Non-count nouns cannot be counted. They name a liquid, gas or grains, or they name a group or a type.
Water, wood, ice, air, rice, money, English, traffic, furniture, meat etc.
If you use a non-count noun in a general way then they cannot have a plural.
Non-count nouns can be used with a/an or the when they are used in the right context.
Rice is good for you.
The water is beautiful.
I drink beer.
The wood is from Sweden.
Non-count nouns can be used with expressions like – some, any, enough, this, that, much etc.
We had some good wine.
There might be some rain today.
This milk is bad.
He does not have much time.
There was heavy traffic this morning.
Non-count nouns cannot be used with – these, those, every, each, either or neither.
Lesson by Tristan, teacher at EC Malta English school
Now choose the correct word for the following:
