pen, pens | house, houses |
furniture | homework |
information |
English nouns are either count or non-count.
word, words | baby, babies | computer, computers |
pen, pens | shoe, shoes | house, houses |
box, boxes | dish, dishes | child, children |
Non-count nouns (mass nouns) don't take plural forms and are measureable but not countable. These nouns are always considered singular. The most common categories of non-count nouns are listed below with examples in each category.
Objects with no definite shape:
coffee | air | wool |
baggage | luggage | furniture |
jewelry |
Abstract ideas, qualities or concepts:
beauty | knowledge | advice |
education | information | homework |
peace | time | help |
Fields of activity or study:
music | dancing | teaching |
mathematics | physics | basketball |
Be aware that in some cases, a noun may be used as a count or a non-count noun, depending on the intended meaning.
Jose drinks coffee for breakfast each morning. (NC--general category)
Juan ordered two coffees to go because he was in a hurry. (C--specific number)
If you are a CLC student and would like more practice with count and non-count nouns, stop by the Writing Center and ask for an exercise. Or, if you prefer, request an exercise via email (writingcenter@clconline.clc.cc.il.us), and we'll send it to you as an email attachment. Please include your name and CLC course when writing to us.
©1999 L. Holden
CLC Writing Center