070 : Countable and uncountable 2

   A   

Many nouns can be used as countable or uncountable nouns, usually with a difference in meaning. Compare:

 

Countable	Uncountable
Did you hear a noise just now? (= a specific noise)	I can't work here. There's too much noise. (= noise in general)
I bought a paper to read. (= a newspaper)	I need some paper to write on. (= material for writing on)
There's a hair in my soup! (= one single hair)	You've got very long hair. (not hairs) (= all the hair on your head)
You can stay with us. There's a spare room. (= a room in a house)	You can't sit here. There isn't room. (= space)
I had some interesting experiences while I was travelling. (= things that happened to me)	They offered me the job because I had a lot of experience. (not experiences)
Enjoy your trip. Have a good time!	I can't wait. I don't have time.

 

Coffee/tea/juice/beer etc. (drinks) are normally uncountable:

• I don't like coffee very much.

 

But you can say a coffee (= a cup of coffee), two coffees (= two cups) etc. :

• Two coffees and an orange juice, please.

 

 

   B   

The following nouns are usually uncountable:

 

accommodation	behaviour	damage	luck	permission	traffic
advice	bread	furniture	luggage	progress	weather
baggage	chaos	information	news	scenery	work

 

You cannot use a/an with these nouns:

• I'm going to buy some bread. or ... a loaf of bread. (not a bread)
• Enjoy your holiday! I hope you have good weather. (not a good weather)

 

These nouns are not usually plural (so we do not say 'breads', 'furnitures' etc.):

• Where are you going to put all your furniture? (not furnitures)
• Let me know if you need more information. (not informations)

 

News is uncountable, not plural:

• The news was very depressing. (not The news were)

 

Travel (noun) means 'travelling in general' (uncountable). We do not say 'a travel' to mean a trip or a journey:

• They spend a lot of money on travel.
• We had a very good trip/journey. (not a good travel)

 

Compare these countable and uncountable nouns:

 

Countable	Uncountable
I'm looking for a job.	I'm looking for work. (not a work)
What a beautiful view!	What beautiful scenery!
It's a nice day today.	It's nice weather today.
We had a lot of bags and cases.	We had a lot of baggage/luggage.
These chairs are mine.	This furniture is mine.
That's a good suggestion.	That's good advice.

 

 

 

 (American English -> Appendix 7) 

 

70B

BRITISH Accommodationis usually uncountable: There isn't enough accommodation.

AMERICAN Accommodationcan be countable: There aren't enough accommodations.

 

 

 

※ scenery :