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English grammar

When uncountable nouns become countable

C1 · Advanced Nouns and describing Questions 10

The rule

Many English nouns are uncountable in one sense and countable in another. Material against object: paper (the material) / a paper (a newspaper or an academic article); glass / a glass; iron / an iron. Abstract idea against one instance: experience (knowledge from doing something) / an experience (one event); time / a good time; business (trade) / a business (a company). Portions and kinds become countable too: two coffees (cups), cheeses from France (kinds). With an adjective, several abstract nouns take a: a good knowledge of, a deep understanding of, a warm welcome, a love of music. Other nouns stay uncountable in English even where other languages count them — advice, information, furniture, equipment, luggage, research, news, evidence, feedback — and need a piece of / an item of to count one.

Pattern

material / idea (uncountable) ⟷ object / instance (countable): paper / a paper · experience / an experience · business / a business · a good knowledge / a deep understanding / a warm welcome of … · always uncountable: advice, information, furniture, equipment, luggage, research, news → a piece of …

Examples

  1. She has a good knowledge of European law.

  2. Living abroad was an experience I will never forget.

  3. Could we have two teas and a coffee, please?

  4. He gave me a very useful piece of advice.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: She gave me some good advices.

    Right: She gave me some good advice.

    advice is uncountable; for one, say a piece of advice.

  • Wrong: I have an experience in marketing.

    Right: I have experience in marketing.

    Knowledge from work is uncountable; an experience is one event.

  • Wrong: We need more informations about the course.

    Right: We need more information about the course.

    information has no plural.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does a paper mean here?

    She presented a paper at the conference in Lyon.

    1. An academic article
    2. A paper bag
    3. A sheet of paper
    4. A newspaper
    Show answer

    Answer: A An academic article

    At a conference, a paper is an academic article.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I need some information about the train times.
    2. I need some informations about the train times.
    3. I need a few informations about the train times.
    4. I need an information about the train times.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I need some information about the train times.

    information is uncountable.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    The job requires a good _____ of Spanish.

    1. knowledges
    2. knowing
    3. knowledge
    4. known
    Show answer

    Answer: C The job requires a good knowledge of Spanish.

    a good knowledge of + language.

  4. 4This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    He gave me two very useful advices before the interview.

    1. He gave me two very useful pieces of advice before the interview.
    2. He gave me two very useful advice before the interview.
    3. He gave me two very useful advises before the interview.
    4. He gave me two very useful piece of advices before the interview.
    Show answer

    Answer: A He gave me two very useful pieces of advice before the interview.

    Count advice with pieces of advice.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence is about one event?

    Talking about travelling.

    1. We are looking for people with experience.
    2. Experience is the best teacher.
    3. She has a lot of experience in sailing.
    4. Sailing across the Atlantic was an amazing experience.
    Show answer

    Answer: D Sailing across the Atlantic was an amazing experience.

    Countable an experience = one event.

  6. 6Put the words in the right order.

    We had a wonderful time in Porto

    Show answer

    Answer: We had a wonderful time in Porto.

    a good / wonderful time = an enjoyable occasion.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. There are much equipments in the storeroom.
    2. There is a lot of equipment in the storeroom.
    3. There is many equipment in the storeroom.
    4. There are a lot of equipments in the storeroom.
    Show answer

    Answer: B There is a lot of equipment in the storeroom.

    equipment is uncountable: singular verb.

  8. 8Change the sentence.

    Make it about one thing.

    I bought some furniture for the flat.

    1. I bought a piece of furniture for the flat.
    2. I bought a furnitures for the flat.
    3. I bought one furnitures for the flat.
    4. I bought a furniture for the flat.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I bought a piece of furniture for the flat.

    One item: a piece of furniture.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    What does two coffees mean?

    Could we have two coffees, please?

    1. Two kinds of coffee bean
    2. Two cups of coffee
    3. Two bags of coffee
    4. Two coffee shops
    Show answer

    Answer: B Two cups of coffee

    In a café, drinks become countable: two cups.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a reference letter.

    She has an excellent _____ of how local government works.

    1. understanding
    2. understand
    3. understood
    4. understandings
    Show answer

    Answer: A She has an excellent understanding of how local government works.

    an excellent understanding of with an adjective.

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