Uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that we cannot count: money, milk, rain, etc. We cannot say one money, two moneys, etc. So, uncountable nouns do not have a plural form; they only have a singular form: money, milk, rain, etc.

Do NOT use a/an

We cannot use a/an + uncountable noun. A/an means ‘one’, and we cannot count uncountable nouns.

I need a money. 

I need money. 

We need to buy a sugar. 

We need to buy sugar. 

Types of words that are uncountable

Some types of words that are typically uncountable are:

Food, drinks and liquids: cheese, bread, pasta, coffee, milk, petrol, fuel, etc.

Materials: iron, wood, metal, paper, plastic, etc.

Abstract ideas and feelings: information, advice, strength, time, love, excitement, etc.

Illnesses: diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, etc.

Languages: English, French, Spanish, etc.

Uncountable in English but not in other languages

Some nouns are uncountable in English, but they are countable in other languages. Some of them are advice, news (it ends in -s, but it’s a singular word), furniture, luggage, baggage, bread, cheese, toast, etc.