countable nouns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "countable nouns" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing grammar, particularly in the context of noun classification. An example is: "Apples and oranges are examples of countable nouns." Alternative expressions include "discrete nouns" and "numerable nouns."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Many languages have classifiers that identify countable nouns as belonging to a particular type or having a particular shape.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Online cynics deploy fail as a countable noun ("That's such a fail!") and also as a mass noun that treats failure as an abstract quality: the offending party is often said to be full of fail or made of fail.

The New York Times

In Brussels "to assist" means to be present, not to help; "to control" means to check, rather than to exercise power; "adequate" means appropriate or suitable, rather than (barely) sufficient; and mass nouns are countable, such as advices, informations and aids.

The Economist

Mass-classifiers (true measure words) do not pick out inherent properties of an individual noun like count-classifiers do; rather, they lump nouns into countable units.

Wikipedia

Within the range of mass-classifiers, authors have proposed subdivisions based on the manner in which a mass-classifier organizes the noun into countable units.

Wikipedia

If you wish to be thorough about the grammatical function of this word, further determine whether a noun is countable or uncountable, whether a verb is transitive or intransitive, and so on.

WikiHow

Many mass nouns have spawned countable spinoffs over time.

The New York Times

Three-quarters have no countable assets.

The New York Times

Network television anchor jobs are countable on one hand.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some basic nouns.

The Economist

"It's all nouns.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When teaching grammar, clearly distinguish "countable nouns" from uncountable nouns to avoid confusion in article and quantifier usage.

Common error

Avoid using quantifiers like "much" or "little" with "countable nouns"; instead, use "many" or "few".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "countable nouns" functions as a grammatical term used to classify nouns that can be quantified as individual, discrete units. Ludwig indicates its correct usage within the English language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

31%

News & Media

28%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "countable nouns" refers to nouns that can be counted and have both singular and plural forms. As Ludwig confirms, it's a grammatically correct and frequently used term. Usage spans across varied contexts including wiki articles, news media, and scientific publications. To avoid errors, ensure proper quantifier usage (e.g., "many", "few" instead of "much", "little"). Related terms include "count nouns" and "numerable nouns".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

count nouns

Shorter, more concise term for the same concept.

numerable nouns

Uses a less common synonym for "countable", maintaining the core meaning.

discrete nouns

Emphasizes the distinct, individual nature of these nouns.

nouns that can be counted

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the defining characteristic.

nouns allowing plural forms

Focuses on the grammatical property associated with countable nouns.

nouns taking plural inflections

Highlights the morphological changes these nouns undergo.

individual nouns

Stresses the individuality implied by countability.

unit nouns

Implies that these nouns represent distinct units.

separate nouns

Indicates that each instance of the noun is distinct.

nouns with singular and plural forms

Describes the dual nature of these nouns in terms of number.

FAQs

How do I identify "countable nouns"?

"Countable nouns" are nouns that can be counted and have singular and plural forms. Examples include "apple", "book", and "car".

What is the difference between "countable nouns" and uncountable nouns?

"Countable nouns" can be counted and have plural forms, whereas uncountable nouns (also known as mass nouns) cannot be counted and typically do not have plural forms. Examples of uncountable nouns include "water", "sand", and "information".

Which quantifiers should I use with "countable nouns"?

Use quantifiers such as "many", "few", "several", and "a number of" with "countable nouns". Avoid using quantifiers like "much" or "little", which are reserved for uncountable nouns.

Can a noun be both countable and uncountable?

Yes, some nouns can function as both countable and uncountable depending on the context. For example, "coffee" is usually uncountable, but when ordering at a cafe, you might say "two coffees", making it countable in that specific instance.