Uncountable nouns often used wrongly



Accommodation, advice, feedback, clothing, equipment, information, luggage, news, progress and software are uncountable nouns often used wrongly. These words are not used in the plural form and are not used with indefinite article (a, an) and a number.

Accommodation (accommodations in American English)

Definition: a place provided for someone to live, stay or work in

We are looking for overnight accommodation for a couple.
 We are looking for an overnight accommodation for a couple.
Accommodation in this city is cheap
Accommodations in this city are cheap

Advice

Definition: an opinion on how to do something appropriately 

The dietitian gave me a lot of advice on healthy eating.
The dietitian gave me a lot of advices
Can I offer you advice on which car to buy?
Can I offer you an advice on …?

We use a piece of/a word of to make advice countable.

Uncountable
Countable
advice
a piece of advice
two pieces of advice

Difference between advice and advise


Advice (with c)
noun
The consultant gave me professional advice.
Advise (with s)
verb
I strongly advise you to change your hairstyle.

Feedback

Definitions: constructive [=useful and helpful] criticism, advice, or comments that are used to improve the product, performance, or situation.

There is a lot of feedback about the new website.
There are a lot of feedbacks about
I got positive feedback from my boss.
I got a positive feedback  from …

Furniture

Definitions: objects typically made of wood, that are used in a room for sleeping, sitting or storing dishes, food or clothes

We decided to buy some new furniture for the living room.
We decided a new furniture
We decided some new furnitures…

We use a piece of/an item of to make furniture countable.

Uncountable
Countable
furniture
a piece of furniture
two pieces of furniture

Clothing

Definition: things that you wear on your body

You must wear protective clothing.
You must wear a protective clothing.
She will buy two items of clothing.
 She will buy two clothings.

We use a piece of/an item of/an article of to make clothing countable.

Uncountable
Countable
clothing
a piece of clothing
two pieces of clothing


Equipment

Definition: all the necessary things for a specific [particular] purpose or activity

We have to buy new kitchen equipment for the restaurant
We have to buy new kitchen equipments…
We have to buy a new kitchen equipment

We use a piece of to make equipment countable.

Uncountable
Countable
equipment
a piece of equipment
two pieces of equipment

Information

Definition: facts that are received or known about something

This diary gives a lot of information about my childhood.
This diary gives a lot of informations
I found a piece of information about my hometown on this website.
I found an information

We use a piece of/a bit of to make information countable.

Uncountable
Countable
information
a piece of information
two pieces of information

Luggage

Definition: bags and cases that are carried by someone who is travelling

Where can I leave my luggage at the station?
Where can I leave my luggages…?
You can put a piece of luggage on the rack
You can put a luggage

We use a piece of/an item of to make luggage countable.

Uncountable
Countable
luggage
a piece of luggage
two pieces of luggage

News

Definition: new, important or unusual information about events

The good news is that my wife’s expecting a baby.
The good news are that…
I have some good news for my family.
I have a good news…

We use a piece of/an item of to make news countable.

Uncountable
Countable
news
a piece of news
two pieces of news

Progress

Definition: the process of improving (or developing) something gradually

I think he’s making great progress in English.
I think he’s making a great progress
The government has made a lot of progress in stimulating the economy.
The government has made a lot of progresses

Software

Definition: computer programs

I want to buy antivirus software.
I want to buy an antivirus software.
What is the essential software for PC?
What are the essential softwares…?

We use a piece of to make software countable.

Uncountable
Countable
software
a piece of software
two pieces of software


Uncountable nouns

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