What are Countable Noun?

Last Updated : 15 Apr, 2025

Countable Noun includes all those things, we can count, whether it is in singular or plural form. A countable noun is used in the form of a singular or plural in a sentence. Because if we can count something then it can be either one or more than one. Do you want to know more about Countable Noun? Go through this article and explore more about Countable Noun including examples, usage, and so on.

What is a Countable Noun?

Before starting countable nouns, we know a little about nouns and their types. Noun: Noun is the name of the person, animal, thing, place, idea, or feeling. It is clear from the definition that a noun is a naming word. Whatever we see, think, or feel, they have nouns.

Types of Nouns:- According to Traditional English grammar, Nouns are mainly 5 types.

Countable noun:- Such things by counting we can tell their number whether they are one, two, or three, they are called countable nouns. boy, book, pen, apple, chair, laptop, etc. are countable nouns.Countable nouns also require determiners or quantifiers to specify the exact number or amount. These include words like "a," "an," "some," "many," "few," and "several." For example, "a book," "an apple," "some books," or "many apples."

Some Examples of Countable Nouns

We painted the tables brown and the chairs grey.
She found seven gold dollars in the toe of a sock.
The oak tree lost five branches in the hurricane

Common nouns and Collective Nouns from Traditional English Grammar have been made Countable Nouns in Modern English Grammar.

Common Noun – Tree, River, Girl, Boy, City, Teacher, Father, Nephew, Cow, Rat, Snake, Village, Mango, Head, Foot, Pen, Pencil, etc.
Collective Noun – Mob, Crowd, Family, Bunch, Army, Committee, Parliament, Class, Team, Herd, Flock, etc.

Some nouns are both countable and non-countable such as Time, (I) Time is money. (ii)one should not waste time on trifles. In both these sentences, Time is used as a Non-Countable Noun. (i)He climbed Space Mountain seven times. (ii) I have called her five times. (time is used as a countable noun in both these sentences)

Rules for Countable Nouns

1. Making Plural by adding s/es/ies-

Making countable nouns plural by adding s/es/ies - Since we can count countable nouns, they have both singular and plural forms, that is, they can be made plural by adding s/es/ies.

Singular-Plural
To Book -Books
To Chair -Chairs
A dog can be made -Dogs

2. Use of Verb:-

Use of Verb with countable nouns- Since countable Nouns have both Singular and Plural forms, Singular/Plural Verb are used with them accordingly i.e.

If Noun ⇒ Singular, then Verb ⇒ Singular
If Noun ⇒ Plural, then Verb ⇒ plural

Example:

The pen is on the table.
Dogs are barking.

Here pen is a singular noun, hence the singular verb ⇒ is used with it and dogs are plural a noun, hence the plural verbs ⇒ are used with it.

3. Use of Articles:

Use of articles with Countable nouns-We can use article ⇒ a/ an in front of singular countable nouns.

Example:

Mobile is on the table.
I saw a lion yesterday.
A dog was barking.

4. Use of Cardinal Numbers- one, two, three, four:-

Countable nouns with cardinal numbers- one, two, three, four…. Use of -Since we can count countable nouns, we use cardinal numbers before them – one, two, three, and four…. can be used. That is, we can say-

Example:

one pen, two pens, three pens…
one table, two tables, three tables…

5. Use of many, few, several, a large number of:

Use of many, few, several, a great number of / a large number of with countable nouns-many, few/a few/the few, several, a great number of /a large number of Is, i.e. many, few, several, a great number of/ a large number of + countable noun (plural) Here the word "number" itself is telling that it is used for countable nouns i.e. number = number.

Example:

I have many friends. (Right)
I have few friends. (Right)
I have several friends. (Right)
I have a number of friends. (Right)
I have a large number of friends. (Right)

⇒ Friend is a countable noun that is which it is accompanied by many, few/a few/the few, several, a large number of…etc. Has been used.

6. Use of How many/ How much:

Countable Nouns are used with How many. If we want to ask a question about countable nouns, we will say -How many? Countable nouns are always used with How many?
Example:

How many tables do you want?
How many girls are there?

Here tables and girls are countable nouns, so How many are used with them?

7. Usage of the, no, enough, some, any, a lot of/lots of, plenty of:

Words The, no, enough, some, any, a lot of /lots of, and plenty of can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Let us try to understand with examples:

1. Use of the with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

The pens are on the table. (pen = countable noun)
The advice you gave me was very nice. (advice = uncountable noun)
The tables were not available there. (table = countable noun)
The milk was pure. (milk = uncountable noun)

2. No is used with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

He has no friends. (friend = countable noun)
There was no water in the bottle. (water = uncountable noun)
There were no ducks at the river. (duck = countable noun)

3. Use of enough with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

There was not enough glass for drinking water. (glass = countable noun)
Fifteen minutes is not enough time for reading. (time = uncountable noun)
Do you have enough tables? (table = countable noun)
There was enough milk for drinking. (milk = uncountable noun)

4. Some is used with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

I bought some new dresses for the trip. (dress = countable noun)
We need some fresh water. (water = uncountable noun)
I have some friends in Delhi. (friend = countable noun)
There is some water in the fridge. (water = uncountable noun)

5. Use of any with countable nouns/uncountable nouns-

I don’t want to hear any comments. (comment = countable noun)
Do you have any criminal evidence against him? (evidence = uncountable noun)
He refused to answer any questions on paper. (question = countable noun)
They did not show any sympathy toward the victim. (sympathy = uncountable noun)

6. Use of A lot of /lots of with countable nouns /uncountable nouns-

There are a lot of ducks in this pond. (ducks = countable noun)
I have a lot of money. (money = uncountable noun)
We saw lots of lions and deer in the zoo. (lions/ deer's = countable noun)
There is lots of food in the fridge. (food = uncountable noun)

7. Use of plenty of with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

There are plenty of mangoes in the fridge. (mango = countable noun)
This motorcycle has plenty of power. (power = uncountable noun)
He has plenty of clothes for summer. (cloth = countable noun)
You should drink plenty of milk. (milk = uncountable noun)

Countable Noun Examples

There are Some Examples of Singular and Plural Countable Noun:

Pen – Pens
Girl – Girls
Boy – Boys
Day – Days
Second – Seconds
Hour – Hours
Kilometer – Kilometers
Kilogram – Kilograms
Rupee – Rupees

List of Countable Nouns

Boy	Girl	Man	Woman	teacher	Student	Doctor	Patient	Thief	Police
Mother	Father	Brother	Sister	Uncle	Aunt	Nephew	Nice	Grandfather	Sister in law
Cow	Cat	Rat	Crow	Snake	Lion	Elephant	Tiger	Monkey	Gorilla
Village	Town	City	Country	Delhi	Agra	Mango	Orange	Lotus	Rose
Tomato	Potato	Ladyfinger	Lily	Head	Foot	Eye	Ear	Hand	Leg
Tooth	Nail	Pen	Pencil	Bench	Desk	Table	Chair	Bus	Train

Difference between Countable & Uncountable Nouns

Countable Noun	Uncountable Noun
Things that can be counted.	Things that can not be counted.
They can be made Plural by applying -s/es/ies.	They cannot be made plural by applying -s/es/ies.
Singular / Plural Verb is used with them.	Only Singular Verb is used with them.
Article -a/ an can be used in front of them.	Can't use article - a/ an in front of them.
Cardinal numbers one, and two… can be used in front of them.	Cardinal numbers- one, two… cannot be used in front of them.
Many, few, several, a number of, a great number of / a large number of are used with them.	Much, little, a great deal of/ a good deal of, a great amount of/ a large amount of are used with them.
If you want to ask a question about countable nouns, you would say How many?	To ask a question about uncountable nouns, you would say How much?
Example -Cow, Book, Tree, Chair, Dog, pen, minute, hour, etc.	Examples - Water, Sugar, Salt, Kindness, Patience, Love, Hate, sympathy, milk, etc.

Conclusion

According to the above definitions, types, rules, and examples; Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. This means such things, By counting, we can tell their number whether they are one, two, or three or countable. they are called countable nouns. All those things which can be counted in singular or plural, category comes in the countable noun.

Also Check:

What are Uncountable Noun - How to use them?

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Article Tags :

What are Countable Noun?

What is a Countable Noun?

Types of Nouns:- According to Traditional English grammar, Nouns are mainly 5 types.

Some Examples of Countable Nouns

Rules for Countable Nouns

1. Making Plural by adding s/es/ies-

2. Use of Verb:-

3. Use of Articles:

4. Use of Cardinal Numbers- one, two, three, four:-

5. Use of many, few, several, a large number of:

6. Use of How many/ How much:

7. Usage of the, no, enough, some, any, a lot of/lots of, plenty of:

1. Use of the with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

2. No is used with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

3. Use of enough with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

4. Some is used with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

5. Use of any with countable nouns/uncountable nouns-

6. Use of A lot of /lots of with countable nouns /uncountable nouns-

7. Use of plenty of with countable nouns / uncountable nouns-

Countable Noun Examples

List of Countable Nouns

Difference between Countable & Uncountable Nouns

Countable Noun

Uncountable Noun

Conclusion

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