- Singular count noun: Pen
- General: Use a or an: I need a pen.
a pen (general)
- Specific: Use the: The pen you gave me is beautiful.
the pen (specific)
2. Plural count noun: Pens
- General: Don't use an article: Pens (general)
Pens are important for school work.
- Specific: Use the: The pens (specific)
The pens (that) you gave me are beautiful.
3. Non-count noun: Advice
- General: Don't use an article: advice (general)
Advice is important in business.
- Specific: Use the: The advice (specific)
The advice that you gave me is helpful.
Many: count
- There are many students in the class.
- Sarah doesn't have many friends.
- How many people live in Orlando?
Much: non-count
- I don't have much money.
- How much time do you have?
A few: count
- Sam made a few errors on his homework.
A little: non-count
- I drank a little coffee to help me stay awake.
A lot of: count
- For this cake, you need a lot of eggs.
A lot of: non-count
- Students often use a lot of paper.
Some: count
- The advisor gave me some suggestions.
Some: non-count
- The advisor gave me some advice.
Count Nouns:
- Count nouns are people, places, or things that we can count. It is possible to make count nouns plural.
- a book - books
- an assignment - assignments
- an hour - hours
- an umbrella - umbrellas
- a table - tables
- an egg - eggs
- a hospital - hospitals
- a university - universities
Non-count Nouns:
- Non-count nouns cannot be counted. They cannot be made plural.
Furniture - happiness - flour - work/homework - jewelry - love - sand - advice - mail - health - water - rain.
Nouns that are count or Non-Count:
- Some nouns are count some of the time and non-count some of the time.
Glass:
- May I have a glass of water? (count - singular)
- The teacher wears glasses. (count -plural)
- The glass in the window is dirty. (non-count)