This document provides guidance on countable and uncountable nouns in English. It notes that words like behavior, traffic, and health are always uncountable. Words ending in -ics are also uncountable. Some words can be either countable or uncountable depending on their meaning, like glass, iron, time, and paper. Certain nouns like arms, clothes, and scissors are always plural. Irregular plural nouns like sheep and fish are also identified. Finally, collective nouns like crew, staff, and police can be used with either a singular or plural verb depending on the intended meaning.

2.  Words always uncountable:
Behaviour traffic health weather work
All words ending in
-ics (politics,
economics, etc.)
progress scenery advice
research news luck housework toast
information luggage homework equipment bread

3.  Always in singular,
Ex.: The students’ behaviour is awful.
 Never used with a/an, most often used with
some:
Ex.: Please have some toast.
 To talk about one: “a piece of”
Ex.: I don’t like that piece of furniture.
This piece of news is shocking.

4.  Some words can be countable or uncountable and the
meaning changes:
 Glass:
The company needed some glass to make the windows.
I broke a glass yesterday.
 Iron:
That’s made of iron.
I bought an iron. My clothes are very wrinkled.
 Time:
I need some more time to finish the exam
I’ve been to London three times/ Have a good time.
 Paper:
I need some paper to write the composition.
I bought a paper to read on the train.

5.  Some words are always plural:
Arms (guns), clothes, outskirts, scissors, trousers, jeans,
shorts, manners, belongings:
Ex.: The government bought some new arms.
Scissors are dangerous for children.
 If they have two parts: a pair of/some can be used:
Ex.: I bought a new pair of/ some shorts.
 People: always plural:
Ex.: English people are very nice.
 Some irregular plurals:
Foot-feet/tooth-teeth/sheep-sheep/mouse-mice/fish-
fish/deer-deer/child-children/man-men/woman-women

6.  Refer to a group of people. They can be used
with a singular or plural verb
Crew, staff, family, team
Ex: The staff are/is not very happy with
their salary.
Spain are/is playing Germany next month.
 Police is always used with a plural verb:
Ex.: The police are investigating a lot of
political scandals.