In English, nouns are divided into countable (abbreviated C) and uncountable (abbreviated U).
Nouns that can be multiplied are called countable nouns. Only countable nouns can be plural.
For example, pen and umbrella can be multiplied.
Therefore we can say:
two pens, five umbrellas
Note that to use the countable noun singular, it must be preceded by an article (a / an), e.g.
There is pencil on the table - incorrect
There is a pencil on the table - Correct
It may rain. You had better take umbrella - Incorrect
It may rain. You had better take an umbrella - Correct
Uncountable noun means something that cannot be multiplied.
For example, furniture and information - these two nouns are uncountable.
This type of noun cannot be called plural.
It would be wrong to write furnitures and informations. These should be used as singular. However, the article (a / an) can not be placed before them.
The point is -
a) Countable noun can be plural.
b) If the countable noun is singular, then a / an must be placed before it.
c) Uncountable noun cannot be plural.
d) A / an cannot be placed before Uncountable noun.
Therefore it is necessary to know which nouns are uncountable. The following classified nouns are generally uncountable:
a) Fluids: water, milk, oil, ink, soup.
b) Gases (gaseous substances): hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, air, smoke
c) Natural phenomena: electricity. heat, darkness, sunshine, weather
d) Materials too small to be counted: sand, dirt, salt, rice, flour
e) Academic disciplines: mathematics. geography, physics, chemistry, biology
f) Abstractions (something that cannot be seen or touched): love, sympathy, courage. beauty, freedom
g) Other Intangibles: work, advice, information, knowledge
h) Diseases: cholera, malaria, diabetes, influenza, dysentery
i) Languages: Bengali, English, French, German
j) Games: football, cricket, hockey, chess, tennis
k) Solid substances: earth, bread, cotton, nylon, furniture
l) Verbal nouns (noun created from verb): camping, cooking, packing, jumping, running
However, some uncountable nouns can be countable by adding measurable words.
These measure words are related to part, length, breadth, size and weight.
The structure of Measure words is as follows:
Some measure words are used with special nouns. Here are some examples:
a blade of grass
a pile of rubbish
a lump of sugar
a sheet of paper
a speck of dust
a load of hay / coal
Many nouns can be used both countable and uncountable. But in that case the meaning varies.
For example, there is a difference of meaning between work and works:
I have a lot of work to do. (Work)
Kamal has read most of the works of Shakespeare. (Crop of intellect or imagination)
The steel works will remain closed for the Eid holidays. (Something that is made in the building)
Below is a list of some more such nouns:
stone
hair
fire
iron
instruction
wood
land
brick
cake
time
noise
duty
Some of these will be used as uncountable when referring to the common name of the substance.
For example, the word stone can be considered uncountable when it refers to an object but when it refers to a small part of that object.
Examples:
Karim threw a stone at the window.
The building is made of stone.
