Countable nouns can be counted and have both singular and plural forms, like banana and bananas. Uncountable nouns have no plural form and are never used with a or an, as in advice or traffic, even when they feel countable in Spanish grammar.
Grammar Rule
Countable nouns can be counted and have singular and plural forms. Uncountable nouns have no plural and are not used with a/an. Some, like money and traffic, seem countable in Spanish but are not in English.
Countable vs Uncountable: Rules and Examples
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Countable | singular/plural, a/an, how many | I have three bananas. How many books do you have? |
| Uncountable | no plural, no a/an, how much | She needs some advice. We don’t have much sugar. There isn’t much traffic today. |
Remember: uncountable nouns never take -s or a/an.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below deciding whether the noun is countable or uncountable. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns – Basic Concepts
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
Countable nouns can be counted and have singular and plural forms, like banana and bananas, while uncountable nouns have no plural form, like advice or traffic.
Can you use a or an with uncountable nouns?
No. Uncountable nouns are never used with a or an, since they have no singular counting form.
Is money countable or uncountable in English?
Money is uncountable in English, even though it may feel countable in Spanish.
How do you ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun?
Use how much, as in how much sugar do we have, instead of how many.