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Countable Nouns | Uncountable Nouns | Nouns that can be Countable & Uncountable

Nouns that can be Countable and Uncountable

Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning.

CountableUncountable
There are two hairs in my coffee!hairI don't have much hair.
There are two lights in our bedroom.lightClose the curtain. There's too much light!
Shhhhh! I thought I heard a noise.noiseIt's difficult to work when there is too much noise.
Have you got a paper to read? (= newspaper)paperI want to draw a picture. Have you got some paper?
Our house has seven rooms.roomIs there room for me to sit here?
We had a great time at the party.timeHave you got time for a coffee?
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest works.workI have no money. I need work!
 
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Drinks (coffee, water, orange juice) are usually uncountable. But if we are thinking of a cup or a glass, we can say (in a restaurant, for example):
  • Two teas and one coffee please.
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