Countable and uncountable nouns

What are countable and uncountable nouns?

Countable nouns are things that we can count. For example, a book is a countable noun.

With countable nouns:

• we can use the article a or an: this is a book on contract law

• we can use numbers: I have three books on contract law

• we can use plurals: there are lots of books on contract law

Uncountable nouns are things that are more abstract, which we cannot count separately. For example, information is an uncountable noun.

With uncountable nouns:

• we cannot use the article a or an, but we can use the word on its own: there is information about contract law on our website

• we cannot use numbers but we can use units such as a piece of or an item of, so we cannot say ‘I have two informations for you’, but we can say ‘I have two pieces of information for you’.

• we only use the singular form: there is some information on contract law on our website, but we can use a plural form with a unit: there are two important pieces of information.

With both countable and uncountable nouns we can use some or any:

• Do you have any books on contract law?

• Do you have some books on contract law?

• Do you have any information about contract law?

• Do you have some information about contract law?

How can I check if a noun is countable or uncountable?

A good dictionary will tell you whether a noun is countable or uncountable. For example in the online Cambridge Dictionary, countable nouns are expressed by [C] and uncountable nouns by [U]: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

Some legal English uncountable nouns

Here are 5 examples of legal English uncountable nouns:

1.       advice

❌The client wants an advice about a contract.

✅ The client wants (some) advice about a contract.

2.       evidence

❌ You will need more evidences to prove discrimination.

✅ You will need more evidence to prove discrimination.

Note: proof is also an uncountable noun when it means evidence.

❌ You will need more proofs of discrimination.

✅ You will need more proof of discrimination.

3.       research

❌ I did some researches on data protection.

✅ I did some research on data protection.

4.       legislation

❌There are new legislations due this year on consumer rights.

✅There is new legislation due this year on consumer rights.

✅There are [two] new pieces of legislation due this year on consumer rights.

5.       insurance

❌Does the contractor have insurances against the risks of fire and flooding?

✅Does the contractor have insurance against the risks of fire and flooding?

Note: an insurance policy is countable.

✅Does the contractor have insurance policies against the risks of fire and flooding?