Countable and uncountable nouns can cause confusion, especially for writers whose first language is not English. Countable nouns are those we can make plural.
Uncountable ones are either abstract concepts or not considered ones that can be counted.
For example:
luggage (uncountable) a suitcase (countable)
guidance* (uncountable) a guide (countable)
research (uncountable) a search (countable)
training* (uncountable) a workshop (countable)
Others that are uncountable and often confused by non-native speakers include:
advice, information, knowledge*, work, accommodation*, news, travel*.
Can I make the uncountable ones countable?
You can do this by adding “some” or “a piece of”, depending on the noun:
some advice or a piece of advice
some information or a piece of information
some research or a piece of research
some news or a piece of news
You can add a countable noun to make a compound noun so it is countable: a work plan, a training seminar, a research topic.
*In some cases, “a piece of” doesn’t work, so add “some”: some knowledge, some training, some guidance, some accommodation, some travel.
Test yourself.
Task 1: Choose the correct option
- 1. I have extensive work (experience/experiences) for this job.
- 2. We need to get more (information/informations) about the project.
- 3. We have requested a (guidance/guide) on the new database.
- 4. We have already done extensive (search/research) on the topic.
- 5. They have completed the preparatory (work/works).
Task 2: Now add a word or expression to make these uncountable nouns countable or to correct the error.
- 1. She wrote to ask for an (advice).
- 2. Do you have any (advices) on how to apply for a job?
- 3. The team have requested a (training).
- 4. I am writing to give you an exciting (news).
Answer key
Task 1
- 1. I have extensive work experience for this job.
- 2. We need to get more information about the project.
- 3. We have requested a guide on the new database. (or We have requested guidance on the new database. = in general, not concrete).
- 4. We have already done extensive research on the topic.
- 5. They have completed the preparatory work.
Task 2
- 1. She wrote to ask for some advice (or a piece of advice).
- 2. Do you have any advice on how to apply for a job?
- 3. The team have requested a training workshop. (or The team have requested training. = in general, not concrete).
- 4. I am writing to give you an exciting piece of news.
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Author: Carol Waites
Presentation/editing by Christina O’Shaughnessy
https://worldwidewriting.org/