In the first post of this series we looked at 10 nouns which can be both countable and uncountable depending on the meaning. Now, let’s look at another 10…
#10. HAIR
This noun is countable only when it means a single piece of hair:
I’ve got a few grey hairs.
Don’t ever pluck nasal hairs.
The cat has left white hairs all over the sofa.
Otherwise, it is uncountable:
Her hair was short and dark.
He’s a short fat man with no hair on his head.
I’m having my hair cut tomorrow. (Read about the construction “have something done” here.)
#9. GLASS
Glass is uncountable when it means the transparent solid substance for making windows, bottles, etc. (1), and when it means objects made of the substance (2):
Sand is used in the production of glass. (1)
There is a priceless collection of Venetian glass in the museum. (2)
A glass is a container used for drinking made of glass (1), or the amount of a drink contained in a glass (2):
I’ll get you a clean glass. (1)
She poured a glass of wine. (2)
#8. PAPER
Paper is uncountable when it means thin, flat material used for writing on, covering things in, etc. (1) It is countable if it means a newspaper (2) or a piece of writing about a particular subject written by someone who has been studying that subject (3):
He wrote his phone number on a scrap of paper. (1)
I buy a paper every morning. (2)
She’s just published a paper on language acquisition. (3)
#7. WORK
The noun “work” can be countable only when it means something produced by a writer, painter, musician, or other artist:
This is a minor but moving work of literature.
Some of the youthful works of the artist are gathered in this room.
In most of its meanings, “work” is an uncountable noun:
Communities in which people are working are much healthier than communities where work is scarce.
What kind of work do you do?
Further reading: “Work vs. Job”
#6. ROOM
“Room” is uncountable if it means the amount of space that is needed for a particular purpose (1), or the possibility for something to exist or happen (2):
There isn’t much room in here. (1)
There’s no room for doubt as to who did this. (2)
Otherwise, the noun is countable:
On the second floor were two large empty rooms.
I need to book a single room.
#5. TIME
The noun “time” is mostly uncountable, but it can be countable when it means an occasion (1), an experience (2), a particular amount of time (3), or when it’s used for saying how often something happens (4):
Do you remember the times when we smiled at one another, when we laughed together? (1)
It’s my job to make sure the guests have a good time. (2)
She left a short time ago. (3)
Check the temperature two or three times a day. (4)
More often than not though, “time” is uncountable:
She left the bar a few minutes before closing time.
It was six o’clock in the morning, Pacific Standard Time.
Time is money.
#4. MEMORY
“Memory” is a variable noun if it means the ability to remember (1), but it’s countable if it means something that you remember:
She has a photographic memory. (1)
Complete loss of memory is called amnesia. (1)
I don’t have very fond memories of my school days. (2)
Remember the following phrases:
- from memory: He recited the poem from memory.
- in memory of sb.: They built a statue in memory of those who died in the fire.
- in living memory: No one in living memory has come back from that place alive.
#3. BEAUTY
A beauty is a beautiful woman (1) or something that you think is very good or a good example of its type (2):
The girl is such a beauty. (1)
That last goal was a beauty. (2)
The beauties of something are the features of something that are beautiful to look at:
He painted the beauties of the sea his whole life.
The beauties of nature are innumerable.
Compare the meaning of “the beauties of” and “the beauty of:”
The beauty of working at home is that you don’t have to travel to work. (= the advantage;
the beauties of…)I shall not attempt to describe the majestic beauties of the mountains. (= the beautiful features, = the majestic beauty of…)
More often than not, the noun is uncountable:
She had brains and beauty.
I always enjoy the beauty of her poetry.
#2. FAILURE
Failure is a situation in which someone or something does not succeed, and a failure is someone or something that does not succeed:
His fear of failure was holding him back. (uncountable)
All my life I’ve felt like a failure. (countable)
“Failure” is a variable noun if it means a situation in which something does not work, or stops working as well as it should:
All trains were delayed due to a power failure.
Heart failure occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
Further reading: “Idioms about Success & Failure”
#1. GOSSIP
Gossip is conversation or reports about other people’s private lives that might or might not be true, and a gossip is someone who likes to talk about other people’s private lives:
That was an interesting piece of gossip. (uncountable)
My uncle Michael was a great gossip. (countable)
A gossip can also mean an occasion on which people gossip:
He liked a good gossip when he arrived at the office.
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