English · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Countable and uncountable nouns
Choose articles and quantity words from whether a noun names units or a mass.
Understand the choice
English countability is lexical. Information, advice, luggage, furniture, and homework are uncountable even when their translations are plural/countable elsewhere.
Core rule: Countable nouns take a/an and plural -s; uncountable nouns do not normally pluralize and use a piece/item/amount to count units.
Notice it in context
We need some information and three pieces of advice.
Necesitamos información y tres consejos.
Information is uncountable after some; advice is counted through pieces.
There is a chair and some furniture in the room.
One chair and an unspecified amount of furniture are present.
Chair is countable; furniture mass.
How much luggage and how many bags do you have?
What amount of luggage and number of bags belong to you?
Much selects uncountable luggage; many selects plural bags.
What to remember
- Some nouns switch meaning: a coffee is one serving; coffee is the drink.
- Fewer modifies countable plurals; less modifies uncountable amounts.
Common trap: Do not write informations, advices, or furnitures in ordinary usage.