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Nouns - Countable and Uncountable

Part 2

Review of countable nouns

One chair

One table

Two chairs

Three tables

Three chairs

Four tables

Five chairs

Six tables

These nouns are easy to count so we count them.

Review of uncountable nouns

Liquids / Hard to count
Fish Bowl

water

Water Glasses

water

Image by dirk von loen-wagner

water

Calm Sea

water

There are different amounts of water in each picture, but all are still called water. 

Rice

rice

Bowl of Rice

rice

Cumin Rice

rice

Rice

rice

There are different amounts of rice in each picture, but all are still called rice.

Uncountable material but with countable forms
cake uncountable

cake - uncountable

slice of cake countable

slice of cake - countable form = slice

cake countable

cake - countable as a whole cake

piece of cake countable

piece of cake - countable form = piece

'Cake' is uncountable but it has three countable forms: slice, whole and piece. For example:

  • two slices of cake

  • three cakes

  • four pieces of cake

'Chocolate' is also uncountable but it has three countable forms: bar, piece and whole.

Nouns where 'pieces' is the countable form

We will look at some uncountable nouns where their countable form is 'piece'. 

Food

Food

Is 'food' countable or uncountable?

 - 'Food' is uncountable. Let's look at why.

food uncountable

+

=

Food

One piece of food

One pizza

food uncountable

+

food uncountable

=

Food

Two pieces of food

One pizza

One hamburger

food uncountable
food uncountable
food uncountable
food uncountable

+

food uncountable
food uncountable

=

Food

Six pieces of food

Four pizzas

Two hamburgers

On their own, pizzas and hamburgers can be counted. When they are together and called 'food', they can not be counted. 

Examples
food countable uncountable

There is a lot of food on the table. - Correct

There is a lot of foods on the table. - Incorrect

'Food' is uncountable and so 'foods' is incorrect.

food countable uncountable

This is what you need to make Mexican food. - Correct

This is what you need to make Mexican foods. - Incorrect

food countable uncountable

When I go to a pub, I have snack food. - Correct

When I go to a pub, I have snack foods. - Incorrect

There are lots of different types of food here but 'food' is uncountable so it is without the 's'.

Food and the countable form 'pieces'

Image by Sebastian Coman Photography

One piece of food

Image by Alice Pasqual

Five pieces of food

Image by Kelly Jean

Lots of pieces of food

'Piece' can be counted (one piece, two pieces, three pieces, some pieces etc.) but 'food' remains uncountable.

Furniture

Furniture

Is 'furniture' countable or uncountable?

 - 'Furniture' is uncountable. Let's look at why.

furniture countable uncounable

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=

Furniture

One piece of furniture

One chair

furniture countable uncounable

+

furniture countable uncounable

One chair

One table

furniture countable uncounable
furniture countable uncounable
furniture countable uncounable
furniture countable uncounable

+

furniture countable uncounable
furniture countable uncounable

Four chairs

Two tables

=

Furniture

Two pieces of furniture

=

Furniture

Six pieces of furniture

Furniture is a noun which describes things in the home. Chairs, tables, sofas, beds, wardrobes etc are pieces of furniture.

furniture countable uncountable

There's a lot of furniture.

furniture countable uncountable

There's a little furniture.

Both these pictures have furniture. One has more than the other but we still use the uncountable noun 'furniture'. We never say 'furnitures'.

'Pieces' of furniture
furniture countable uncountable

There are two chairs and one table in the room. COUNTABLE ITEMS

There are three pieces of furniture in the room. COUNTABLE FORM

There is some furniture in the room. UNCOUNTABLE

furniture countable uncountable

There are six chairs, one sofa and two lamps in the room.

There are nine pieces of furniture in the room.

There is a lot of furniture in the room. 

Other example sentences

  • I need to buy a lot of new furniture for my new house.

  • I'm looking at some new furniture for my bedroom. What do you recommend?

  • Old furniture is my favourite. I love the dated look.

  • Wooden furniture is the best, but only dark wood.

  • I have to make all the flat-pack furniture that came yesterday. I'm going to be tired tomorrow.

Homework

Homework

Is 'homework' countable or uncountable?

- 'Homework' is uncountable. Let's look at why.

homework countable uncountable

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=

Homework

One piece of English homework

homework uncountable

+

homework uncountable

=

Homework

One piece of English homework

One piece of maths homework

homework uncountable
homework uncountable
homework uncountable

+

homework uncountable
homework uncountable
homework uncountable
homework uncountable

=

Homework

Three pieces of English homework

Four pieces of maths homework

The countable form of homework is 'piece'.

Conversation

Mum: Did you get any homework today?

Son: Yes, I got two pieces of English and some maths.

Mum: When are they due?

Son: The maths is for tomorrow and the English is for next Monday.

Breaking the conversation down

Mum: Did you get any homework today?

Mum is asking if her son if he received homework. 'Any' is used to prompt a more specific answer - not just 'yes' or 'no'.

Son: Yes, I got two pieces of English and some maths.

The son replies with the countable form of 'homework' (pieces) for English and the uncountable determiner for maths (some). We do not know if there is one piece, two pieces, or more. We do know there is not a lot.

Mum: When are they due?

Mum asks when the pieces of homework should be given back to the teachers.

Son: The maths is for tomorrow and the English is for next Monday.

The maths homework is due for tomorrow and the English homework (two pieces but IT IS NOT 'homeworks') is due next Monday.

Incorrect examples

I have four homeworks due tomorrow.

She has not done her three homeworks.

My teacher gave me three maths homeworks and two science homeworks.

Correct examples

I have four pieces of homework due tomorrow.

She has not done her three pieces of homework.

My teacher gave me three pieces of maths homework and two pieces of science homework.

Other example sentences

  • You can play when you've finished all your homework.

  • Did you get much homework today?

  • I hate Mr. Simpson - he always gives at least two pieces of homework per day.

  • Doing homework will never be fun.

  • If I don't understand the homework, I ask my older brother.  

Fruit

Fruit

Is 'fruit' countable or uncountable?

- Fruit is uncountable. Let's see why:

fruit uncountable

+

One apple

One piece of fruit

=

Fruit

One piece of fruit

fruit uncountable

+

One apple

One piece of fruit

fruit uncountable

One banana

One piece of fruit

=

Fruit

Two pieces of fruit

fruit uncountable
fruit uncountable
fruit uncountable
fruit uncountable

+

Four apples

Four pieces of fruit

fruit uncountable