Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Countable nouns are individual items you can count (1, 2, 3), while uncountable nouns are substances or ideas that cannot be separated.
- Countable nouns have plural forms and use 'a/an' (e.g., an apple, two apples).
- Uncountable nouns have no plural form and never use 'a/an' (e.g., some water, much water).
- Use 'many' for countable things and 'much' for uncountable substances in questions and negatives.
Overview
countable）。指の間から漏れちゃったり、数えるのに一生かかったりするなら、それは数えられない（uncountable）んだ。これを理解するのが、Zoom会議で辞書を読み上げるロボットじゃなくて、自然な感じに聞こえるための秘訣だよ。laptop や friend、burger みたいなもの。1つでもいいし、100個あってもいい（まあ、バーガー100個は健康に悪いかもしれないけど）。数えられない名詞は、どっちかというと「粘土（Play-Doh）」に近いかな。「1つの粘土」「2つの粘土」とは数えられなくて、ただの塊だよね。これらは water や advice、music みたいなもの。音楽は数えないで、その雰囲気（vibes）を楽しむだけでしょ。もしこれらを数えようとしたら、英語のネイティブスピーカーは、テスラをボタンで買おうとした人を見るような目で君を見てくるよ。これは、僕たちが頭の中で情報をどう整理するかっていう根本的な分類なんだ。なんでそれが大事かって？それは、名詞の前にどの言葉を使うかが変わるから。「I have many water」とは言わないし、「I have much friends」とも言わないでしょ。大事なのは、正しい「数え方（counter）」を正しい「もの（thing）」に合わせることなんだ。How This Grammar Works
-s か -es を付ければ、ほら、2つ以上になった。数字（three cats）や、a や an といった冠詞も使える。数えられない名詞は、文法の「一匹狼（loners）」なんだ。ほとんどいつも単数形のまま。-s は付けない。だって「waters」なんて存在しないからね（海洋学者が違う海について話すときは別だけど、今は置いておこう）。数字を使う代わりに、some や much、a lot of みたいな言葉を使うんだ。もしどうしても数える必要があるなら、「容器」や「単位」を使わなきゃいけない。ゲームのインベントリ（持ち物画面）を想像してみて。「3つの木（three woods）」じゃなくて、「3つの丸太（three logs of wood）」でしょ。「5つの体力（five healths）」じゃなくて、「5ポイントの体力（five points of health）」だよね。この区別があるおかげで、特定の物について話しているのか、それとも一般的な概念や物質について話しているのかをはっきりさせられるんだ。
Formation Pattern
a、an、the）か所有格を使う。例：a camera、my phone。
-s か -es を付ける。数字や many が使える。例：five emails、many followers。
a や an は絶対に使わない。肯定文では some を使い、疑問文や否定文では any を使う。例：some milk、any info。
many （many apps）、数えられないものには much （much storage）を使う。
water → a bottle of water
advice → a piece of advice
bread → a slice of bread
When To Use It
- ソーシャルメディア： 写真を投稿した？
a few likes（数えられる）はあるけど、lots of engagement（数えられない）があるね。 - 食べ物の注文：
a pizza（丸ごと1枚）が欲しいけど、その上にsome cheeseをのせたい。 - 仕事や学校： プロジェクトについて
some feedbackをお願いする。「a feedback」なんて言わないようにね。上司に「この人、昼寝が必要なのかな？」って思われちゃうから。 - 旅行：
three suitcasesを持ってるけど、too much luggage（荷物が多すぎる）。 - 買い物：
a shirtを買うけど、a lot of moneyを使う。面白い事実に、moneyは数えられないんだ。毎日数えてるのにね。数えるのは *dollars* （ドル）であって、 *money* （お金）じゃないんだ。もしレジで「I have twenty moneys」なんて言ったら、警備員を呼ばれるかも。1985年の教科書みたいに聞こえずに、量を正確に伝えたいときにこのルールを使ってね。
Common Mistakes
- 「Advice」の罠： これが一番多い間違い。「Thanks for the advices!」はダメだよ。
Adviceは数えられないんだ。いつもadviceか、a piece of adviceって言おう。 - 数えられないものを複数形にする：
informationsやfurnitures、knowledgesって言わないように。そんな言葉は存在しないんだ。ただのinformation、furniture、knowledgeだよ。 - 「A」の間違い： 数えられない名詞に
aを使うこと。レストランでA waterって言うのはOKだけど（「a bottle of water」の省略だからね）、基本的にはsome waterと言おう。 - お金の混乱：
moneyが数えられると思っちゃうこと。Dollarsは数えられるけど、moneyは概念なんだ。many moneyじゃなくてmuch moneyを使おう。 - 紙の問題： 「I need a paper」って言うと、新聞や論文を頼んでいることになるよ。ただ書き留めるものが欲しいだけなら、 「I need some paper」 か 「a sheet of paper」 と言おう。
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Few vs. Little。数えられるものには a few （a few messages）、数えられないものには a little （a little sugar）を使う。 few は「多くない」、 little は「あまりない」と考えるといいよ。some vs. any。ポジティブなときは some （I have some news）、疑っているときや何もないときは any （Do you have any news?, I don't have any news）を使おう。Specific （特定） vs. General （一般）も間違えないで。「I love coffee」（数えられない/一般的）と「I want the coffee on the table」（特定的）では意味が変わっちゃう。間違えると、伝えたいことが全然変わるんだ。「I like books」と言えば君は読書家だけど、「I like the books」と言ったら、相手は君がどの本を指しているのか聞いてくるだろうね。Quick FAQ
time は数えられる？
イエスでありノーでもある！概念としての time は数えられないよ。「I don't have much time.」 でも、回数としての times は数えられるんだ。「I've seen that movie three times.」
「three coffees」って言っていいの？
全然OK！カフェでは、「three coffees」は「three cups of coffee」の略なんだ。カジュアルで自然だし、バリスタも早いから喜ぶよ。
hair （髪）はどう？
頭に生えているなら、数えられないよ（He has dark hair）。でも、もしスープの中に一本だけ見つけちゃったら、それは数えられる（There is a hair in my soup!）。おえっ。
なんで news は単数形なの？
-s が付いているから複数形に見えるけど、数えられないんだ。「The news is bad.」 たくさんの事実が一つの塊にまとまっているようなイメージだね。
data は数えられる？
厳密に科学の世界では、複数形なんだ。でも日常生活（やスマホの通信制限の話）では、数えられないものとして扱うよ。「I'm out of data.」
Quantifiers with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
| Quantifier | Countable (Plural) | Uncountable | Sentence Type |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Many / Much
|
Many apples
|
Much water
|
Questions / Negatives
|
|
A few / A little
|
A few books
|
A little salt
|
Affirmative (Small amount)
|
|
Some / Any
|
Some pens
|
Some juice
|
Affirmative / Questions
|
|
A lot of
|
A lot of cars
|
A lot of rice
|
All types (Informal)
|
|
Few / Little
|
Few people
|
Little time
|
Affirmative (Negative sense)
|
|
Plenty of
|
Plenty of eggs
|
Plenty of space
|
Affirmative (More than enough)
|
Meanings
The distinction between nouns that represent individual, separable units and those that represent undifferentiated masses, liquids, or abstract concepts.
Individual Objects
Things that have a clear shape and can be counted as single units.
“I bought a chair.”
“There are five cars in the street.”
Mass Substances
Materials, liquids, or gases that are seen as a whole rather than parts.
“I need some water.”
“The air is very cold today.”
Abstract Concepts
Ideas, feelings, or qualities that cannot be touched or counted.
“Information is power.”
“He has a lot of patience.”
Reference Table
| 特徴 | 数えられる名詞 | 数えられない名詞 |
|---|---|---|
|
定義
|
一つ一つ数えられるもの。
|
全体として扱われる物質、概念、カテゴリー。
|
|
複数形
|
はい (例: `book` → `books`)
|
いいえ (例: `water`, `waters` とは言わない)
|
|
冠詞 `a`/`an`
|
はい、単数形の場合 (例: `a car`, `an apple`)
|
直接はいいえ (🚫 `a information`)
|
|
数量詞 `many`/`much`
|
`many` (例: `many friends`)
|
`much` (例: `much sugar`)
|
|
数量詞 `few`/`little`
|
`few`/`a few` (例: `a few ideas`)
|
`little`/`a little` (例: `a little time`)
|
|
質問の仕方
|
`How many...?` (例: `How many chairs?`)
|
`How much...?` (例: `How much money?`)
|
|
万能な数量詞 (両方)
|
`a lot of`, `some`, `any`
|
`a lot of`, `some`, `any`
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
Could you provide me with some information regarding the flight? (Travel inquiry)
Can you give me some information about the flight? (Travel inquiry)
Got any info on the flight? (Travel inquiry)
What's the deets on the flight? (Travel inquiry)
可算名詞と不可算名詞の概念図
可算名詞
- Book 個々のアイテム
- Chair 複数形にできる
- Idea `a/an`, `many`, `few` を使う
不可算名詞
- Water 物質/概念
- Information 常に単数
- Advice `much`, `little` を使う
両方 (文脈による)
- Coffee 物質 vs カップ
- Time 一般的な時間 vs 回数
可算名詞 vs 不可算名詞: クイック比較
可算名詞か不可算名詞か？判定フローチャート
名詞の前に数字を置いて複数形にできますか（例: 「`one apple`」「`two apples`」）？
それは物質、抽象的な概念、またはカテゴリーですか（例: 「`water`」「`happiness`」「`furniture`」）？
日常生活での名詞: 可算名詞か不可算名詞か？
可算名詞
- • sandwich
- • student
- • idea
- • minute
- • phone
- • problem
不可算名詞
- • coffee
- • information
- • advice
- • money
- • traffic
- • furniture
両方 (文脈による)
- • time
- • hair
- • experience
- • light
- • paper
- • chicken
レベル別の例文
I have an apple.
I have an apple.
I have some water.
I have some water.
There are three books.
There are three books.
I like milk.
I like milk.
How many chairs do we need?
How many chairs do we need?
I don't have much money.
I don't have much money.
She has a lot of friends.
She has a lot of friends.
We need a lot of sugar for the cake.
We need a lot of sugar for the cake.
Could you give me a little advice?
Could you give me a little advice?
I have a few ideas for the project.
I have a few ideas for the project.
The information you provided was very helpful.
The information you provided was very helpful.
I bought two bars of soap.
I bought two bars of soap.
The equipment in the lab is brand new.
The equipment in the lab is brand new.
We've made a great deal of progress this week.
We've made a great deal of progress this week.
There were several pieces of luggage left behind.
There were several pieces of luggage left behind.
Is there any truth to these rumors?
Is there any truth to these rumors?
The study analyzes various different sugars found in fruit.
The study analyzes various different sugars found in fruit.
He spoke with a certain arrogance that annoyed everyone.
He spoke with a certain arrogance that annoyed everyone.
There is little room for error in this calculation.
There is little room for error in this calculation.
I'd like two coffees, please.
I'd like two coffees, please.
The sheer volume of data being processed is staggering.
The sheer volume of data being processed is staggering.
Such experiences are what shape a person's character.
Such experiences are what shape a person's character.
The milk of human kindness seems to have dried up.
The milk of human kindness seems to have dried up.
The sands of time are running out.
The sands of time are running out.
間違えやすい
Learners often use 'some' in negative sentences or 'any' in positive ones.
The difference between 'a few' (some) and 'few' (not enough) is subtle.
Hair is usually uncountable, but can be countable when referring to single strands.
よくある間違い
I have two breads.
I have two loaves of bread.
I need a water.
I need some water.
Many money.
Much money / A lot of money.
Three homeworks.
A lot of homework.
How much people?
How many people?
An advice.
Some advice.
I have a few time.
I have a little time.
The news are good.
The news is good.
All the furnitures.
All the furniture.
A research.
Some research / A piece of research.
The datas are clear.
The data is clear.
文型パターン
I need to buy some ___ and a few ___.
How much ___ do you have, and how many ___ are there?
There isn't much ___ left, but we have plenty of ___.
A piece of ___ is often better than a lot of ___.
Real World Usage
I need a carton of milk and six eggs.
Can I have two coffees and some sugar?
How many pieces of luggage are you checking?
I have extensive experience in this field.
This post got so much engagement!
There will be a lot of rain tomorrow.
'a lot of' を何にでも使おう！
A lot of や lots of は、数えられる名詞にも数えられない名詞にもバッチリ使えます。もし迷ったら、これらを使うのが一番安全な方法ですよ！"A lot of or lots of` works perfectly with both countable and uncountable nouns. If you're ever in doubt and want to play it safe, these are your go-to quantifiers!"「偽りの友達」に注意して！
advice, information, furniture, news, luggage）があります。迷ったら、いつも確認してくださいね！"Some nouns are countable in your native language but uncountable in English (e.g., advice, information, furniture, news, luggage). Always double-check if you're unsure!"数えられない名詞には「入れ物」を考えよう。
many が使えますよ。To count an uncountable noun, put it in a container:a slice of bread,a cup of coffee,a piece of advice. This makes it countable and lets you use numbers or many.
'coffee' は文脈で変わる！
two coffees」と言うのは、「コーヒーを2杯」という意味で通じます。でも、もっとフォーマルな場面や一般的な文脈では、coffee（物質としてのコーヒー）は数えられません。"In a casual coffee shop, saying two coffees is perfectly fine and understood as 'two cups of coffee.' But in a more formal or general context, coffee (the substance) is uncountable."よくある不可算名詞のカテゴリーを覚えよう。
love, happiness）、液体（milk, juice）、材料（wood, glass）、細かい粒（rice, sand）は、だいたい数えられない名詞です。これらのカテゴリーを知っておくと、とっても役立ちますよ！Many abstract ideas (e.g., love, happiness), liquids (milk, juice), materials (wood, glass), and small particles (rice, sand) are typically uncountable. Knowing these categories helps a lot!
Smart Tips
Try putting a number like 'two' in front of it. If it sounds weird (two informations, two musics), it's uncountable.
Avoid 'a lot of' and use 'many' or 'much' for a more professional tone.
Remember that 'work' is uncountable, but 'job' is countable.
Gerunds (verbs acting as nouns) like 'swimming', 'reading', or 'shopping' are always uncountable.
発音
Plural -s endings
Countable plurals end in /s/, /z/, or /iz/ depending on the last sound of the noun.
Linking 'some'
The 'm' in 'some' often links to the following vowel in uncountable nouns.
Rising intonation in questions
Do you have any milk? ↗
Polite inquiry for an uncountable substance.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Countable is for 'Things' (T), Uncountable is for 'Stuff' (S). Remember: Many Things, Much Stuff.
視覚的連想
Imagine a basket of apples (countable) next to a flowing river (uncountable). You can pick up one apple, but you can't pick up 'one water'.
Rhyme
If you count it one, two, three, it's countable as can be. If it's a mass or just a thought, 'much' and 'some' is what you've got.
Story
A traveler has three bags (countable) but too much luggage (uncountable). He asks for a piece of advice (uncountable) on how to find many taxis (countable) in the city.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room. Name 5 countable items and 5 uncountable items (e.g., air, light, furniture) in English.
文化メモ
In the UK, 'sport' is often uncountable (I like sport), while in the US, it is countable (I like sports).
In coffee shops, uncountable nouns like 'coffee' or 'tea' are treated as countable to mean 'one cup'.
Words like 'knowledge' and 'research' are strictly uncountable, emphasizing the vast, non-quantifiable nature of learning.
The distinction stems from Proto-Indo-European roots where nouns were categorized by animacy and later by their discrete or continuous nature.
会話のきっかけ
How much coffee do you drink every day?
What kind of music do you like listening to?
If you moved to a new house, what furniture would you buy first?
How much advice do you usually take from your friends?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
How ___ money do you have?
Money は数えられない名詞なので、その量を尋ねるには much を使います。Choose the correct sentence:
Advice は英語では数えられない名詞なので、an は使わず、advices のように複数形にもなりません。Some advice が正しい表現です。Find and fix the mistake:
There were too much people at the concert.
People は複数形の数えられる名詞（person の複数形）なので、much の代わりに many を使わなければなりません。Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesHow ___ sugar do you take in your tea?
I would like ___ orange and ___ water, please.
Find and fix the mistake:
She gave me many advices for my trip.
don't / much / I / have / money / today
Identify the uncountable noun.
1. Information, 2. People
You can use 'a' with the word 'homework'.
A: Do we have ___ eggs? B: No, we need to buy ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesShe needs ___ new shoes for the party.
Choose the correct sentence:
Can I have an water, please?
I don't have many time to finish this task.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the nouns with the appropriate quantifier:
There isn't ___ traffic on the roads today.
Choose the correct sentence:
We need to buy a new equipment for the office.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Classify the following nouns:
Score: /11
よくある質問 (8)
No, 'money' is uncountable. You can count 'dollars', 'coins', or 'pesos', but you cannot say 'one money, two moneys'.
The 's' in 'news' is part of the word, not a plural marker. It is an uncountable noun and always takes a singular verb: 'The news is good'.
In casual English, yes. It is short for 'a cup of coffee'. However, in strict grammar, 'coffee' is uncountable.
'People' is the plural of 'person', so it is countable. You use 'many' with people, not 'much'.
When referring to duration (I don't have much time), it is uncountable. When referring to specific occasions (I've been there three times), it is countable.
No, 'bread' is uncountable. To count it, you must say 'a loaf of bread' or 'a slice of bread'.
Yes, you can use 'some' with plural countable nouns (some apples) and with uncountable nouns (some water).
Usually, it is uncountable (She has brown hair). It is only countable if you are talking about individual strands (There is a hair in my soup!).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Contables e incontables
English has more strictly uncountable abstract nouns.
Noms comptables vs noms massifs
French requires an article (du/des) where English often uses none.
Zählbare und nicht zählbare Substantive
Pluralization rules for countable nouns are more complex in German.
助数詞 (Josuushi)
Japanese lacks plural 's' and uses specific counters for different shapes.
الأسماء المعدودة وغير المعدودة
The existence of the 'dual' form for countable nouns.
可数名词与不可数名词
Mandarin requires measure words for every noun when counting.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
関連動画
05:40 Potato Chip Latkes | Potato Pancakes | Food Wishes
06:42 Tumbleweeds Aren't From Here
English Articles - 3 Simple Rules To Fix Common Grammar Mistakes & Errors
mmmEnglish
English grammar: How to use the zero article with nouns
BBC Learning English
Articles – English Grammar Lessons
Ellii (formerly ESL Library)
Related Grammar Rules
「私の友人」のルール（二重所有格）
誰かが「He's a friend of my brother's」と言っているのを聞いて、「待って、なんで余分な's'がついてるの？」と思ったことはあ...
No と None: ゼロについて話す
Overview 冷蔵庫を開けます。お腹が空いています。スナックが食べたいです。中を見ます。`no` 食べ物がありません。お腹が鳴って...
Some と Any: 基本的な量の表し方
### Overview 英語学習を始めたばかりの皆さん、物の数量について、正確な数がわからないときにどう話せばいいか、少し難しく感...
All 対 The Whole: 全体について話す
Overview TikTokをスクロールしていて、「午前中ずっと (`all the morning`) これに使っちゃった」と思ったことはありませんか？...
所有形容詞: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
### Overview 英語の学習において、所有格（Possessive Adjectives）である `my`, `your`, `his`, `her`, `its`, `our`, `their`...
