Level A1

Countable vs Uncountable nouns

Some nouns are not counted: no a/an in front and no -s at the end (water, weather, advice, information, luggage).

I drink water.

Look: I drink water. Nothing before water, and no s after it.

Forms

• I have an apple. — an apple: apples can be counted, an means one
• I have two apples. — with regular nouns such as apple, use -s for more than one
• I drink water. — water is not counted: nothing in front, no s at the end

A common mistake

Wrong: We had a good weather.

Right: We had good weather.

So many people say a good weather, but weather is not a thing we count. We say: We had good weather.

More examples

Can you give me some advice?

Advice is the same: no a and no s, so Can you give me some advice?

My luggage is heavy.

Luggage is uncountable, so it takes is: My luggage is heavy. The same with The news is good.