Countable and Uncountable Nouns

English nouns are divided into “things that can be counted (countable nouns)” and “things that cannot be counted (uncountable nouns).” Because this distinction does not exist in the same way in Japanese, you need to practice it consciously at first.

Basic Rules

Countable nouns are things that can be counted as “one, two, …” (book, apple, dog, friend, etc.). Use a / an with singular forms and add -s / -es to make plural forms. Uncountable nouns are things that cannot be counted individually (water, music, money, information, etc.). Do not use a / an with them, and do not make them plural. The key point is to use a container or unit when counting an uncountable noun (a glass of water = one glass of water). Be careful with nouns that learners often mistakenly make plural based on Japanese usage (× informations / × moneys → ○ information / ○ money).

Important Points

① How to make plurals: usually add +s (books); add +es to words ending in s/sh/ch/x/o (boxes, potatoes); change y to i and add +es after a consonant+y (cities); change f/fe to v and add +es (leaves, knives).
② Irregular changes: man → men, woman → women, child → children, foot → feet, tooth → teeth, mouse → mice. Fish and sheep have the same singular and plural forms.
③ Uncountable nouns that learners often misuse: information, news, advice, furniture, baggage, homework, money, water, milk, music. Count these with a unit, such as “a piece of information” or “a glass of water.”

Practice

1. Say whether each word is countable or uncountable: apple / water / dog / information / pencil
2. Write “I bought three apples and a piece of bread” in English (bread is uncountable).
3. Write “This information is important” in English (× informations).