Countable Nouns 

Countable nouns refer to things that we can count. Such nouns can take either singular 
or plural form. 

Concrete nouns may be countable.  
There are a dozen 

flowers

 in the vase. 

He ate 

an apple

 for a snack. 

Collective nouns are countable. 

She attended three 

classes

 today. 

London is home to several 

orchestras

. 

Some proper nouns are countable. 

There are many 

Greeks

 living in New York. 

The 

Vanderbilts

 would throw lavish parties at their Newport summer mansion. 

Uncountable Nouns 

Uncountable nouns refer to things that we cannot count. Such nouns take only 
singular form. 

Abstract nouns are uncountable.  
The price of 

freedom

 is constant vigilance. 

Her writing shows 

maturity

 and 

intelligence

. 

Some concrete nouns are uncountable (when understood in their undivided sense). 

The price of 

oil

 has stabilized recently. 

May I borrow some 

rice

? 

While uncountable nouns do not generally take a plural form, sometimes they may be 
pluralized when used in a countable sense. The difference between the uncountable 
and countable meanings of nouns that are used in either sense can be seen in the 
following chart: 

Uncountable Sense

Countable Sense

 
Art

 is often called an imitation of life.

Life

 is precious. 

 
He likes to eat

 pizza

. 

Religion

 has been a  

powerful force in history. 
 

 
I read a book about the folk 

arts

 of 

Sweden. 
 
A cat has nine 

lives

. 

 
How many 

pizzas

 should we order? 

 
Many 

religions

 are practiced in the 

United States.