Things you can count, things you can't (A1 Grammar)

Some things you count one by one: one apple, two apples. Others we do not usually count on their own: water, rice, bread. A quick test: does one, two, three of it sound normal?

Can you count it?

• one apple, two apples (you count them one by one)
• water (we do not say "two waters" for the water itself)
• one chair, two chairs (you count them one by one)
• Try it: Which one do you count one by one (one, two, three)? (a book / rice / water) Answer: a book — If you picked rice or water, we do not count those on their own: "two rices" sounds wrong. Books you count one by one: one book, two books.

Uncountable: no a, no plural

When you can't count it, don't use a / an and don't add -s. Use some instead, or just the plain word.

• I drink water every day.
• Would you like some coffee?
• She gave me some advice.
• Not "I want a rice." — say "I want some rice.". You can't count rice, so no a here. Use some rice.
• Try it: There is ___ on the table. (some bread / a bread / two breads) Answer: some bread — You can't count bread one by one, so no "a bread" and no "breads". Use some bread (or a piece of bread).

Common ones to get used to

A few everyday words don't get counted, even though it feels like they should. You will get used to these with practice: money, time, bread, rice, water, homework, advice.

• I need some money. (not "a money")
• She gave me good advice. (not "an advice")
• I have homework tonight. (not "a homework")
• Try it: Mei gave me ___ before the test. (some advice / an advice / some advices) Answer: some advice — "Advice" is one of the words we don't count: no "an advice" and no "advices". Use some advice. (These common ones come with practice.)

Counting them with a container

So how do you count water? Count what holds it: a glass of, a cup of, a piece of. Now the number goes on the container: two glasses of water.

• a glass of water, two glasses of water
• a cup of coffee
• a piece of bread
• Try it: Camila eats ___ with her soup. (a bread / a piece of bread / a piece bread) Answer: a piece of bread — You cannot count bread itself, so "a bread" is wrong, and "a piece bread" is missing of. Count a piece of it instead: a piece of bread.
• Try it: Can you count it? Hiroshi needs ___ for the trip. (some money / a money / two moneys) Answer: some money — You can't count money one by one (no "a money", no "moneys"), so use some money. (When you can't count it, use some or a container.)