Ship and water: countable and uncountable nouns

A What is the difference?

COUNTABLE: A countable noun (e.g ship) can be singular or plural. We can count ships. We can say a ship/one ship or two ships. Here are some examples of countable nouns.

We could see a ship in the distance.

Claire has only got one sister.

I've got a problem with the car.

Do you like these photos?

I'm going out for five minutes.

UNCOUNTABLE: An uncountable noun (e.g. water) is neither singular nor plural. We cannot count water. We can say water or some water but NOT a water or two waters. Here are some examples of uncountable nouns.

Can I have some water?

Shall we sit on the grass?

The money is quite safe.

I love music.

Would you like some butter?

B Nouns after the, a/an and numbers

There are some words that go with both countable and uncountable nouns. One of these is the. We can say the ship (singular), the ships (plural) or the water (uncountable). But other words go with one kind of noun but not with the other.

COUNTABLE: A/an or one goes only with a singular noun. I need a spoon. Numbers above one go only with plural nouns. We eat three meals a dav.

UNCOUNTABLE: We do not use a/an with an uncountable noun. NOT a water and NOT a music. We do not use numbers with an uncountable noun. NOT three feeds

C Nouns after some, many/much, etc

Some and any go with plural or uncountable nouns. We can also use plural and uncountable nouns on their own, without some or any.

PLURAL

Tom told some jokes.

Do you know any jokes?

Tom usually tells jokes.

NOT He told joke.

Many and a few go only with plural nouns.

There weren't many bottles.

I made a few sandwiches.

UNCOUNTABLE

We had some fun.

That won't be any fun.

We always have fun.

Much and a little go with uncountable nouns.

I don't drink much wine.

There was only a little bread left.