Nouns are divided into two classes: Countable nouns and uncountable nouns. The nouns that we can count as one, two, three, four, etc. are called countable nouns. Articles 'a' and 'an' can be used with singular countable nouns. Countable nouns can have plural forms.

1. Countable Nouns
By
Dr. Yashwant Handibag
M.A., Ph.D., NET

2. •Two types of Nouns: Countable and Uncountable
•Countable Nouns: They are things we can count. So
we can say, ‘one banana’, two bananas’, etc.
•You can use one/two/three, etc. + countable nouns
e.g. one car, two cars, three men, four houses, etc.

3. ➢A countable noun can be singular (one) or plural
(more than one)
➢Singular- a car, my car, the car, a dog, an apple
➢Plural – cars, two cars, some cars, the cars, dogs,
apples
•I’ve got a car.
•There aren’t many cars in the car park.
•New cars are very expensive.

4. ➢You can use a/an with singular countable nouns
(a/an + singular countable noun)
e.g. a beach, a student, a banana, a cup, a plate, a
potato
an apple, an egg, an umbrella, an hour
•We can’t get in without a key.
•He is eating an apple.
•I need a new car.

5. ➢We cannot use singular countable nouns alone.
(without a, an, the, my, etc)
•I want a banana. (not ‘I want banana’)
•There’s been an accident. (not ‘There’s been
accident’)
•She never wears a hat.
•What a beautiful day!
➢We can use plural countable nouns alone.
•I like bananas.
•Accidents can be prevented.

6. ➢We use a/an to say what kind of thing or person
something or somebody is.
•A dog is an animal.
•Amit’s father is a doctor.
•Are you a good driver?
•Jim is a really nice person.
•What a lovely dress!

7. ➢We say that somebody has a long nose/a nice
face/a strong heart, etc.
•Jack has got a long nose. (not ‘the long nose’)
➢Remember to use a/an when you say what
somebody’s job is.
•Sandra is a nurse.
•Raghav is a farmer.
•Would you like to be an English teacher?

8. ➢We can use some and any with plural countable nouns.
(some=a number of, a few of, a pair of)
• We sang some songs.
• Did you buy any apples?
• I have seen some good films recently.
➢(some = some but not all)
• Some children learn very quickly.
• Some police officers in India carry guns, but most of them
don’t.

9. ➢We use many and few with plural countable nouns.
•We didn’t take many photographs.
•I have a few jobs to do.
➢Some nouns are sometimes countable and
sometimes uncountable.
e.g. a cake
some cakes
some cake or a piece of cake.

10. ➢a paper and some paper
•I want something to read. I’m going to buy a paper.
(a paper = newspaper)
•I want to make a list. I need some paper / a piece of
paper. (not ‘paper’)

11. ➢coffee/tea/beer/juice, etc. (drinks) are normally
uncountable.
e.g. I don’t drink coffee very often.
-But they can be countable when you are thinking
of a cup/a glass, etc.
e.g. Two coffees and an orange juice, please.