Countable and Uncountable Noun

In English Grammar, we know about noun or in Indonesia called “kata benda”. There are many kinds of nouns that depend on the characteristics, origin, regularity and quantities.

From the characteristics we know there are 5 kind of nouns, they are : proper nouns, common nouns, abstract nouns, concrete nouns and collective nouns. From the origin, we know that nouns can be made from adjective or verb by adding suffixes or prefixes. From regularity, we know that nouns there are two, regular and irregular noun. From quantities, we know there are two kinds, they are countable and uncountable nouns

In this post, we will discuss about the last, countable and uncountable nouns.

1. COUNTABLE NOUN

In simple way, we can say countable nouns are nouns which the quantities or numbers can be counted. The characteristics of countable nouns are can be counted because the size of them are big, can be seen by us, concrete,

This following are some example of countable nouns

regular		irregular
singular	plural	singular	plural
book	books	child	children
pen	pens	mouse	mice
knife	knives	man	men
box	boxes	woman	women
butterfly	butterflies	tooth	teeth
wolf	wolves	sheep

How do we count them?

• Singular form

In singular form, we can use article A or An to express them. (read the article A, An, The for the clear explanation). In singular form, we only use A or An without adding suffix –s/-es after it.

Example

1. Nina has a red flower in her livingroom.
2. We took anorange from your garden.
3. Miyashi will buy aunique computer.
4. I am walking on the rain by using anumbrella
• Plural form

For Plural form, we can use suffix –s/-es to express it while we can also add adverb of quantities such as many/few/some/any before it. Pay attention to add –es/-es because there are some rules of it. You can read it from this article (Rules of adding suffix –s/-es for plural nouns).

But mention, not all of nouns can be added by –es/-es, because there are some irregular nouns. Let pay attention with the table below :

IRREGULAR NOUN
singular		plural
man	seorang laki-laki	men	(banyak) laki-laki
woman	seorang wanita	women	(banyak) wanita
tooth	sebuah gigi	teeth	(banyak) gigi
foot	sebuah kaki	feet	(banyak) kaki
mouse	seekor tikus	mice	(banyak) tikus
louse	seekor kutu	lice	(banyak) kutu
child	seorang anak	children	(banyak) anak
ox	seekor sapi jantan	oxen	(banyak) sapi jantan
sheep	seekor domba	sheep	(banyak) domba
fish	seekor ikan	fish	(banyak)

Examples :

• Mr. Sony writes three letters for two hours
• Marina and bring many magazines and some pens
• My brother caught five butterflies and a coconut bug yesterday.
• Your mother doesn’t buy ten tomatoes, six carrots and two eggs.

2.UNCOUNTABLE NOUN

The uncountable nouns are nouns which can’t be counted in numbers (because of their characteristic/type/size).For example : water, oil,salt, sugar and etc.

How do we count them?

• Singular form

For singular,we use COUNTABLE NOUN for measuring them such as: cup, box, bottle, bowl, plate, kilo and etc.Those measurement is not only for UNCOUNTABLE Noun, but also COUNTABLE NOUN. This following table will explain about singular COUNTABLE NOUN.

expression	meaning	example
a bowl of ....	semangkuk ...	I buy a bowl of noodle
a plate of ...	sepiring ...	I eat a plate of fried rice
a cup of ...	secangkir ..	My father drank a cup of coffee last night
a glass of...	segelas ....	Goku takes a glass of milk in refrigerator
a box of ...	sekotak ...	Do you put a box of sugar here?

• Plural Form

To count them in big quantities, we can use numbers from their measurement for example : a glass become two glasses of milk , a plate become some plates of fried rice. But, we also can use : Much, little, some or any to express it too.

#1.Much means "banyak"

#2.Little means "sedikit"

#3.Some/any means "beberapa",for the differences see : some/any

Example :

• Fitri tropica drinks much water.
• We add little sugar and salt into our food.
• Do you like any sugar?
• They are eating two bowls of chicken noodle.

Okay, I think enough for my explanation about Countable/Uncountable nouns, if you still confused or don't understand, please leave comment and I will reply it soon. Thanks and happy English.