Learn how to make uncountable nouns countable, such as turning a piece of advice into a countable form and understanding the difference between an advice (incorrect) and a piece of advice (correct).
Uncountable nouns refer to things that cannot be counted individually, but you can make them countable by using expressions like 'a piece of', 'a bit of', or 'a lot of'.
Making uncountable nouns countable allows for better communication when discussing quantities of things like advice, information, or furniture.
'A piece of' is used with uncountable nouns to express a countable unit. For example: a piece of advice, a bit of information, and a loaf of bread.
I have a piece of advice for you. (Correct)
She gave me a bit of information. (Correct)
There is a lot of work to do. (Correct)
Rules for Making Uncountable Nouns Countable
Use 'a piece of' with uncountable nouns to express a countable unit
Use 'a bit of' for small amounts of uncountable nouns
Use 'a lot of' for large amounts of uncountable nouns
Special Cases & Exceptions:
Certain uncountable nouns don't need an additional unit word like 'piece' or 'bit'. For example, 'bread' and 'water' are commonly used without these words.
In some cases, uncountable nouns, like 'advice', cannot be used in the plural form or with articles like 'a'. For example, saying 'an advice' is incorrect.
| Example | Tense | Use |
|---|---|---|
| She gave me a piece of advice. | Present | 'A piece of' for uncountable nouns to make them countable |
| There is a bit of sugar in my coffee. | Present | 'A bit of' for small amounts of uncountable nouns |
| We have a lot of work to do. | Present | 'A lot of' for large amounts of uncountable nouns |
| I need a bit of help with this task. | Present | 'A bit of' for small amounts of uncountable nouns |
Learn More with Video Lessons
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.
