Lesson 4 of 125 min read
Countable & Uncountable Nouns
Knowing a noun includes knowing how to count it. The problem is often not the idea you want to express, but the article, quantity or verb around it.
Understand the pattern
A singular countable noun normally needs a determiner: a suggestion, the suggestion or my suggestion. An uncountable noun does not normally take a or an in its general meaning: useful advice, some information, new equipment. You can count a unit instead: a piece of advice, two items of equipment.
Check agreement as well as the ending. The information is useful uses a singular verb even when the information includes many facts. Several suggestions are useful uses a plural verb. More detail in the meaning does not automatically make an English noun grammatically plural.
Countability can change with meaning. Experience means accumulated knowledge in She has relevant experience, but an individual event in It was an unusual experience. Paper can be material or a document. Avoid memorising a rule that a noun can never have another use; record the sense and structure together.
Language in context
| Word or pattern | Meaning or use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| advice | Uncountable guidance | Could you give me some advice? |
| a suggestion | A countable proposed idea | She made two useful suggestions. |
| research / a study | Research is generally uncountable; a study is countable | The research includes three studies. |
| experience / an experience | Knowledge / an individual event | Work experience helped her handle a difficult experience. |
Worked example
Reason through the choice
Correct: These informations are useful for my application.
Answer: This information is useful for my application.
Information is uncountable in this sense. Change the demonstrative and the verb as well as removing the plural ending. If you need a countable alternative, These details are useful expresses a similar idea with a different noun.
Try it yourself
Write your answers before opening the key. For open responses, the suggested answer is one possible version; keep the meaning and check the target pattern.
- Correct: The adviser gave me an advice.
- Choose: The equipment is / are ready.
- Complete: She has years of teaching ___, but her first online lesson was a new ___.
Check answers and explanations
1. The adviser gave me some advice. A piece of advice is another correct option when you mean one specific recommendation.
2. Is. Equipment is uncountable in this ordinary meaning; multiple machines do not change its agreement.
3. Experience; experience. The first is accumulated knowledge; the second is an individual event introduced by a new.
Use it in your PTE preparation
PTE Academic
Use research for the activity or body of work, and study or investigation when referring to an individual piece of research. Check these patterns when summarising a passage, especially if you change from a general statement to several examples.
PTE Core
In emails, information, advice, equipment and accommodation frequently cause article or agreement errors. Read the whole noun phrase during checking: I need some information and I have a question are both natural requests.
Recall and transfer
Describe three things you need for a new course: one countable noun, one uncountable noun and one measured unit. For example, a notebook, advice and a piece of equipment. Add full sentences and check the verb after each subject.