Uncountable nouns: advice, news and luggage
Some advice, a piece of news, a lot of luggage, a job but work: uncountable nouns that are countable in other languages.
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You already know that an uncountable noun has no a or an, no plural and a singular verb: The money is on the table. The difficult nouns are the ones that are countable in many other languages but uncountable in English: advice, news, information, furniture, luggage. This page lists the common ones, shows how to count them with a piece of, and gives the countable words you can use instead.
Nouns to watch
Group | Uncountable in English |
|---|---|
ideas | advice, information, news, knowledge, research |
things | furniture, luggage, baggage, equipment, money, rubbish |
activities | work, homework, travel, progress, shopping, fun |
the world | weather, traffic, accommodation, scenery |
All of them take a singular verb, and it, not they.
- The news is good. It's about the new contract.
- Your advice was very useful.
- Incorrect: The news are on at nine.
- Correct: The news is on at nine.News looks plural, but it is uncountable: the news is.
- Incorrect: Can I give you an advice?
- Correct: Can I give you some advice? / Can I give you a piece of advice?Advice has no a and no plural.
- Incorrect: We need to buy some new furnitures.
- Correct: We need to buy some new furniture.
Counting them: a piece of
To talk about one or more, use a piece of (or, in speech, a bit of) before the noun. The plural is pieces of.
- She gave me a good piece of advice.
- I've got a bit of news for you.
- How many pieces of luggage can I take on the plane?
- Incorrect: My mother gave me two advices.
- Correct: My mother gave me two pieces of advice.To count advice, use pieces of.
- Incorrect: I've got a great news for you.
- Correct: I've got some great news for you. / I've got great news for you.News has no a. For one item, say a piece of news.
A few nouns have their own words: a slice of bread, an item of clothing. A piece of works for advice, information, news, furniture, luggage, equipment, research and homework. Nouns like weather, traffic, fun, progress and travel are not counted at all: use some or a lot of, or a countable word (a storm, a traffic jam, a trip).
Countable words with a similar meaning
Often there is a countable noun that you can use instead.
Uncountable | Countable |
|---|---|
work | a job |
travel | a trip, a journey |
luggage | a suitcase, a bag |
advice | a tip, a suggestion |
furniture | a chair, a table, a sofa |
- She's looking for a job in marketing. / She's looking for work in marketing.
- How was your trip? / How was your journey?
- Incorrect: He's looking for a work in a bank.
- Correct: He's looking for a job in a bank.Work is uncountable. For one position, use a job.
- Incorrect: We're going on a travel to Italy in May.
- Correct: We're going on a trip to Italy in May.Travel is the activity in general: Travel is expensive these days. For one, use a trip or a journey.
How much and a lot of
With uncountable nouns, use much, a lot of, a little, not much and how much, not many or a few.
- How much homework have you got?
- We've made a lot of progress this year.
- There's a little information on the website.
- Incorrect: I don't have many information about it.
- Correct: I don't have much information about it.
Two meanings: countable and uncountable
Some nouns are both, with different meanings.
Uncountable | Countable |
|---|---|
I don't drink coffee. | Two coffees, please. (cups) |
The window is made of glass. | Can I have a glass of water? |
I need some paper for the printer. | I bought a paper at the station. (a newspaper) |
I haven't got time. | I've been there three times. |
She has a lot of experience. | It was an amazing experience. |
Her hair is very long. | There's a hair in my soup. |