Count/Non-Count Nouns

Count nouns have two forms: singular and plural. They can be used with numbers and quantifying expressions such as many, several, and few.

When used as subjects in present tense sentences, count nouns require the -s form of the verb in the singular and the base form of the verb in the plural.

Non-count nouns have only one form. When used as subjects in present tense sentences, non-count nouns require the -s form of the verb.

Some nouns can be either count or non-count.

Both count and non-count nouns can be quantified. That is, they can be used with expressions which divide them into parts or groups which can be counted. For example,

Sometimes a non-count noun is used to indicate a "group" of items, whereas individual items within the group are countable. For example,