Countable and Uncountable

Countable nouns

Uncountable nouns

For example: water atr rice salt plastic money music tennis

I’ve got some money.
D There isn’t much money in the box.
□ Money isn’t ever ything.

量词

You can say a piece of … / a bottle of … etc. + uncountable noun:

a bottle of water
a bottle of perfume
a piece of cheese
a piece of music
a bowl of rice
a carton of milk
a carton of orange juice
a cup of coffee
a bar of chocolate
a game of tennis

Many nouns are sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable. For example:

Compare

a paper (= a newspaper) and some paper:

I want something to read. I’m going to buy a paper.
I want to make a shopping list. I need some paper / a piece of paper. (not a paper)

Be careful with:
advice, bread, furniture, hair, information, news, weather, work
These nouns are usually uncountable. So you can’t say a/an . . . (a bread, an advice), and they can’t be plural (advices, furnitures etc.).

Can I talk to you? I need some advice. (not an advice)
I’m going to buy some bread. (not a bread)
They’ve got some very nice furniture in their house. (not furnitures)
Silvia has got very long hair. (not hairs)
I’d like some information about hotels in London. (not informations)
Listen! I’ve just had some good news. (not a good news)
It’s nice weather today. (not a nice weather)
‘Do you like your job?’ ‘Yes, but it’s hard work.’ (not a hard work)

We say a job (but not a work):

I’ve got a new job. (not a new work)