English Grammar

Uncountable Nouns | Definition, Examples, Categories and List

Countable Nouns
Written by grammrary.com

Let’s explore Uncountable Nouns, definitions, Examples, Categories, and List.

What is an Uncountable Noun?

Water, rice, oil, etc. Can you count them as units? No! Nouns we can’t count as individual units are Uncountable Nouns. These nouns only have a singular form and don’t possess any plural form.

Definition of Uncountable Noun:

Uncountable Nouns Definition:

The noun that has one form, only singular, and doesn’t possess any plural form. These can not be counted as individual units but can be described as more or less. This type of noun is also called a Mass Noun.

Examples of Uncountable Nouns:

Here are examples of Countable Nouns.

  • Intelligence
  • Rice
  • Water
  • Oil

Uncountable Nouns List

Most common Uncountable Nouns:

  • Water
  • Soil
  • Hair
  • Rice
  • Oil
  • Butter
  • Jam
  • Thread
  • Furniture
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Advice
  • Work
  • Equipment
  • Mud
  • Wool
  • Yarn
  • Equipment
  • Luggage
  • Traffic
  • News
  • Luck
  • Cement
  • Thunder
  • Weather
  • Rain
  • Luggage
  • Gold
  • advice
  • furniture
  • machinery
  • Milk
  • Glitters
  • Silver
  • Accommodation
  • Homework
  • Money
  • Lightning
  • Problem
  • Decision
  • baggage
  • knowledge
  • News

Food and Drink

  • Water
  • Milk
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Bread
  • Sugar
  • Rice
  • Substances
  • Air
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Wood
  • Plastic
  • Cement

Abstract Concepts

  • Love
  • Happiness
  • Courage
  • Patience
  • Intelligence

Information

  • Knowledge
  • Advice
  • Information
  • News
  • Natural Phenomena
  • Rain
  • Snow
  • Lightning
  • Thunder

Activities

  • Swimming
  • Running
  • Singing
  • Dancing

Materials

  • Metal
  • Fabric
  • Glass
  • Leather

States and Emotions

  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Joy
  • Sadness
  • Excitement

Nouns that can be used as Countable and Uncountable

There are some nouns that can be used as both, countable and uncountable.

NounsCountableUncountable
hairThere are two hairs in my pasta!She doesn’t have much hair.
lightShe arranged two lights in our bedroom.There’s too much light coming into the room from the windows.
noiseKeep quite! There are already so many different noises in the city.It’s hard to work as there is so much noise.
paperShe brought a paper to read.There are so many papers wasted in exams every year.
roomThere are many rooms in our house.Do they have room for you to sit there?
timeHow many times we have told you not to go there?Do you have time for a cup of tea in the evening?
workThis painting is one of her greatest works.I am available. I need work!
Uncountable Nouns, Definitions and Examples

Uncountable Nouns, Definitions and Examples List

About the author

grammrary.com

The author of Grammrary.com is a Certified TEFL Trainer from Arizona State University with over 7 years of experience teaching English to students from different cultures around the world. Teaching English is both his profession and passion, and he is dedicated to helping learners improve their language skills.

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