Nouns with countable and uncountable meanings
Some nouns have both countable and uncountable meanings:
| Countable meaning | Uncountable meaning |
|---|---|
| Substances | |
| I need an iron to press my trousers. | Steel is made from iron. |
| My grandma raises chickens. | Would you prefer chicken or turkey? |
| A rolling stone gathers no moss. | Different kinds of stone can be used for different purposes. |
| We found ourselves in the middle of the wood. | All the desks in here are made of wood. |
| A glass of beer, please. | Glass does not conduct electricity well. |
| Would you like a coffee? | Would you like some coffee? |
| Activities | |
| I had an interesting thought yesterday. | Eastern thought is characterised by dualism. |
| Simon got a basketball for Christmas. | Basketball is played by teams of five. |
| Mr Pit runs a business selling recyclable diapers. | Online business is thriving these days. |
| No war is a just war. | I've just read War and Peace by Tolstoy. |
| My literature professor's cats usually get their names from Shakespeare's works. | How was work today? |
| Abstract notions | |
| This boy is a real help around the house. | I need some help to finish this essay. |
| Languages can become extinct. | Language is a human instinct. |
| Those apples are real beauties. | Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. |
| It's always good to do small kindnesses for each other. | I thanked her for her kindness. |
| The play was a success. | Success is often only the result of hard work. |
| Emotions | |
| And now, some of my worries about the project. | Worry is usually a destructive emotion. |
| He was torn between two loves. | All you need is love. |
| I have a fear of heights. | Aristotle's definition of catharsis is based on experiencing pity and fear. |
| There are hopes of finding a remedy for your disease. | Hope dies last. |
| It is a pleasure to have met you. | Pat finds great pleasure in nursing. |
