Learn English – Countable and uncountable nouns

uncountable-nouns

I just asked some question and I have another one and this one is more unsettling to me than the previous one. So, how can you tell which nouns are countable and uncountable?

I understand you cannot count sugar, bread, coffee, cheese, sheep and things like that. But what about some nouns like decision, approval, disapproval, disgrace, judgment and things like that.

Decision is a countable noun if it means "a choice" or "a judgment", but words like approval can only be a singular or an uncountable noun. I mean, is there any set rule for this or do I have to just memorize as I go?

Best Answer

There is little to memorize about this topic; your intuition should be enough. But do memorize these two things:

  1. Countable nouns can be changed into uncountable nouns:

    • She fed the baby a teaspoon of apple.
    • Blend the slices of mango in a mixer to turn them into juice.

    Uncountable nouns can be changed into countable nouns:

    • There are several new butters being produced without milk.
    • Can I have two sugars, please?

  2. You can have a noun being treated as both collective and singular in the same sentence (George Yule, Explaining English Grammar. Oxford, 1998):

    • The family HAS decided THEY can't afford a big wedding.
    • The audience WAS cheering and clapping THEIR hands.
Related Topic