Noncount nouns

Nouns can be either a count noun or a noncount noun (also called a mass noun). 

Count nouns (or countable nouns) have plural forms and are used with the both definite (the) and indefinite articles (a/an). 

• a book, two books 
• a car, these cars 

Noncount nouns (or uncountable nouns) have no plural forms, and cannot be counted.  You cannot use the indefinite article and numbers with noncount nouns.  

See also: Uncountable nouns often used wrongly

• I need advice from a doctor.  

Not I need a advices... 

• I need some information about Peru.  

Not I need some informations... 

Categories of noncount nouns 

Categories	Examples
Abstract	advice,anger, beauty,courage,happiness,honesty,satisfaction, warmth,chaos, luxury, peace,joy,trust, charity, energy, failure, democracy, knowledge, information, work, wisdom, etc.
Activities	backgammon,chess,homework,research,music, football, soccer, baseball, cricket, work,spending, etc.
Food and drink	butter,cream, cheese,yogurt, bread, sugar, pastry, fish, toast, spaghetti, meat, popcorn, poultry, coffee, milk, oil, tea, water, wine, lemonade,etc.
Collection of things	luggage, clothing, furniture, equipment, hardware, software, money, etc.
Weather words	rain, snow, thunder, lightning, weather, etc.
Materials and substances	aluminum, asphalt, cement,concrete, cotton,gold,silver,lumber, wood, wool, etc.
Gases	air, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, helium, radon, smoke, steam, etc.

Noncount nouns can be preceded by determiners such as (some, any, this, that) or expressions such as (much, a lot of, little, enough). 

You use some with noncount nouns or plural count nouns. 

• Add some water to the cake mix. [some+noncount noun] 
• Let me give you some advice. 

You use any with noncount nouns or plural nouns in questions and negative sentences. 

• I haven't got any money left. [any+noncount noun]  

This and that are used as determiners with singular and noncount nouns. 

• This meat tastes strange.  
• That butter spreads very well. 

Much is only used with singular noncount nouns. 

• How much money do you spend on clothes? [much+noncount noun] 
• I don't have much free time. 

A lot of and lots of can be used with noncount nouns or count nouns in informal styles. 

• She earns a lot of [=lots of] money.  
• I've invited a lot of people [plural noun] to the party. 

You use little with noncount nouns to mean small in amount. 

• He's made little progress in maths. [little+noncount noun] 

You use a little with noncount nouns to mean not much but some.  

• Sometimes I need a little help. [a little+noncount noun] 

You use enough before noncount nouns or plural nouns.  

• There is always enough food for everyone. [enough+noncount noun] 
• There aren’t enough books. [enough+plural noun] 

Grammar Cards