Count and Non-Count Nouns

Understanding the Difference

A noun can be either singular (one) or plural (many). But not all nouns follow the same rules!

🔢

Count Nouns

Things you can count individually. They have both singular and plural forms.

✅ Add an, a, or one before singular nouns
✅ Add -s, -es, or -ies after plural nouns
📝 Examples: a book → books, one jacket → jackets

💧

Non-Count Nouns

Things that cannot be counted directly. We call these "noncount" nouns.

❌ Do NOT use an or a before noncount nouns
❌ Do NOT add -s, -es, or -ies
📝 Examples: water (not "a water"), advice (not "advices")

🗂️ Common Categories of Non-Count Nouns

Some nouns cannot be counted directly. Here are the main categories to help you recognize them:

🧂 Things with Small Parts

hair
sugar
sand

🌊 Things with No Parts

water
oil
air

📦 Sets of Things

furniture
money
mail

💭 Feelings or Ideas

integrity
friendship
advice

📚 School Subjects

history
geography
biology

🎯 Interactive Word Sorter

Click on words to sort them into Count or Non-Count categories!

Word Bank - Click to Select:

📊 Count Nouns

Can be counted: a, an, one + plural forms

💧 Non-Count Nouns

Cannot be counted directly

📖 Usage in Context

Time Examples

✅ We met her three times.

✅ What time is it?

"Time" can be both count (specific occasions) and non-count (general concept).

School Examples

✅ I attended school for twelve years.

✅ The principal visits three schools in his district.

"School" as institution (non-count) vs. school buildings (count).

Experience Examples

✅ Do you have any experience tutoring children?

✅ Sherri has good experiences with that company.

"Experience" as general knowledge vs. specific events.

Counting Non-Count Nouns

✅ Two bottles of water

❌ Two waters

✅ A loaf of bread

✅ Three homework assignments

Use containers or units to count non-count nouns.