This document discusses countable and uncountable nouns in English. It provides examples of plural nouns that end in s but remain singular in meaning, as well as nouns that are always singular. Collective nouns can be either singular or plural depending on context. Certain adjectives referring to groups use plural verbs. Proper usage of persons versus people is covered. Uncountable nouns are defined as those that cannot be used with a/an or in plural form. Finally, some nouns can be either countable or uncountable depending on whether they refer to a general concept or specific instance.

1. COUNTABLE AND
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS IN
ENGLISH

2.  PLURAL: belongings,
congratulations, earnings,
goods, outskirts, particulars,
premises (meaning ‘building’),
riches, savings, staff[1], stairs,
surroundings, thanks, jeans,
people, police, pyjamas,
shoes.
 SINGULAR: aerobics,
athletics, diabetes, news,
economics, genetics, measles,
mumps, politics, rabies.

[1] Also singular.

3. Collective nouns can be SINGULAR or PLURAL:
 army, association, audience,
band, cast, class, club, college,
committee, community, company,
crew, crowd, department,
electorate, enemy, family, media,
press, generation, government,
group, jury, opposition, orchestra,
population, press, public, school,
team, university.
 The tendency is to use a
singular verb in formal
contexts (The government
has/have planned…)

4. Adjectivos referring to groups of people
Definite article + verb in PLURAL:
The homeless are the first to be evacuated
from the area.

5.  Persons usually appears in formal
contexts and instructions. Ex:
We have the right to exclude unauthorized
persons form the site.
It should be avoided and people should
be used instead. Ex:
Young people (not persons) cannot be
allowed to clean this machine.
 Peoples conveys the idea of different
races and nationalites. Ex.
I respect the equal rights of peoples and
their right to self-determination.
In certain contexts, person or persons
can have a pejorative meaning. Ex.
Snubby is one of those persons whom
it’s better to look back to.

6. UNCONTABLES (they can neither be
used with a/an nor in the plural form)
 Advice
 Applause
 Assistance
 Camping
 Cash
 Chaos
 Clothing
 Conduct
 Employment
 Equipment
 Evidence
 Furniture
 Health
 Homework
 Information
 Leisure
 Luggage
 Machinery
 Money
 Music
 Parking
 Pollution
 Research
 Scenery
 Shopping
 Sightseeing
 Transport

7. The police found some evidence of the
crime.
He gave me some advice/a piece of
advice

8. Some nouns can be used
as uncountable when they refer to a general idea and
as countable when they refer to a specific idea:
The desire for knowledge is a
fundamental human instinct.
You’d be able to get a basic
knowledge of some statistical
techniques.
Nouns in this group are: business,
knowledge, sound, land,
abuse, conversation,
(dis)agreement, difficulty,
improvement, pain, pleasure,
protest, space, thought, war.