Distinguishing count and non-count nouns

Related pages: Articles , Quantifiers, Possessives and Noun groups

Definition:
Count nouns - sometimes called "countable nouns" and "uncountable nouns" - are nouns that
refer to things that can be multiplied or counted, for example:
one man, two women, three children, four cars, five shirts, six computers, seven
sisters, and so on.

Non-count nouns are nouns that refer to generalisations, concepts or substances, things that
cannot be put in the plural; for example.
water, oxygen, eternity, psychology, anger, politics, heat, alcohol.... and so on.
So far, so good! That is relatively simple to follow. Concrete objects and items can be counted,
concepts and abstractions cannot. But unfortunately, this easy distinction does no take into
account all nouns.

The Problem:
The problem is that there are a lot of nouns that are either count nouns or non-count nouns ,
depending on the circumstances. In their non-count form or value, they are generalisations, in
their count noun form or value their meaning is restricted or slightly different. Look at these
examples:
We all like beer, so let's order three beers.
Air is vital for life, but the air in this room is very unpleasant.
Radiators should produce heat, but the heat from that radiator is minimal !
In the examples above, the first time the noun is use with a non-count generalising value,
beer, air, heat;
but the second time these nouns are used they have the restricted value of count nouns:
three beers, the air in this room, the heat from that radiator.
(The fact that some nouns can have either a non-count value or a count value does not always
mean that we can actually count them! Abstractions cannot usually be put in the plural; for
example we could never say There are two different airs in these two rooms.)

It is context that will usually indicate whether a noun is a count noun or a non-count noun.

Usage:
When writing or talking English, it is essential to know whether the noun you are going to use is
a count noun, or functioning as a count noun, or if it is a non-count noun, or functioning as one.
If the noun you want to use can be either a count noun or a non count noun, you must decide
which value you wish to give it in a given context, since this may determine how you express
your sentence.
The reason is simple; count nouns and non-count nouns are not used in the same way.
To start with, there are the questions of determiners (articles, etc.) and quantifiers

Count nouns must have a determiner in the singular; but in the plural, they require a
determiner if they are used with a restricted value, no determiner if they are used as
generalisations.
Examples; you can say a table, this table, my table, one table, etc. but never just "table".
In the plural, you say "tables" (or "all tables") if you mean all tables in general, but "the tables"
or "these tables", etc, if you are referring to just certain tables, but not all tables.
Usually, tables have flat surfaces, but the tables in this caf don't.
Buses are big vehicles, but the buses in London are enormous.

Non-count nouns do not have a determiner in the singular.
For example: Oxygen is essential for life..
They are not used in the plural.
In cases where non-count nouns are used with a determiner, this is because they are being
used with a restricted or count value.
For example: This oxygen is contaminated.

For more on this, see the page on articles.

Quantifiers:
The choice of certain quantifiers such as much/many, few/little, some and any depends on
whether a noun is a count noun or a non-count noun.

With count nouns in the plural, the quantifiers to use are many, few / a few, and some*.
(Obviously, quantifiers cannot be used with count nouns in the singular!)
Many people speak English.
Few animals escaped from the forest fire.
A few animals escaped from the forest fire. (This does not mean the same!)
The old man was found by some children.
*Some is replaced by any in negative and interrogative contexts.
With non-count nouns in the singular, the quantifiers to use are much, little / a little, and any.
(And remember, non-count nouns cannot be used in the plural!)
There wasn't much water left.
There was little food left in the house
There was a little food left in the house. (This does not mean the same!)
There wasn't any food left in the house.


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