Count
And Noncount Nouns
Count
nouns are nouns that can be counted (e.g., a book, two
friends, three cars, etc.). A count noun may be preceded
by a or an in the singular; it takes a final -s
or -es in the plural.
Noncount
(or mass) nouns refer to things that cannot be counted (e.g.,
money, rain, snow, butter, wind,
air, clothing, etc.). Noncount nouns are not preceded
by a or an and have no plural form.
COMMON
NONCOUNT NOUNS
| advice |
weather |
equipment |
| news |
water |
jewelry |
| information |
music |
postage |
| work |
money |
luggage |
Some
nouns can be both count and noncount nouns:
--We
drank some wine. (Noncount)
--We
ordered three wines. (Count)
(It
is implicit that three different wines were ordered.) |