English grammar today

Countable phrases for uncountable nouns

We can sometimes use countable noun phrases to talk about an individual example of the thing an uncountable noun refers to.

uncountable	Countable
accommodation	a house, a flat, a place to live, a place to stay
baggage/luggage	a suitcase, a bag, a rucksack
Bread	a loaf (of bread), a (bread) roll
lightning	a flash of lightning
Luck	a stroke of luck
money	a note, a coin, a sum of money, a euro, a dollar
poetry	a poem
Rain	a shower, a downpour, a storm
Travel	a journey, a trip
Work	a job, a task

Finding a place to live is difficult if you’re a student and you’ve got no money. (or Finding accommodation …)

Not: Finding an accommodation …

She brought two big suitcases and a rucksack with her.

Not: She brought two big luggages …

I read a poem once about someone riding a horse at night.

Not: I read a poetry …

We went on a trip to the Amazon when we were in Brazil.

Not: We went on a travel …

Countable and uncountable nouns with different meanings

Some nouns can be used either countably or uncountably, but with different meanings.

Compare

Countable use	Uncountable use
We bought a new iron and an ironing board.	People believed that ships made of iron would sink.
I broke a glass yesterday.	The table was made of hardened glass.
Would you like a chocolate?	Would you like some chocolate?
Let’s get a paper and see what’s on at the cinema.	The printer has run out of paper.
‘Hamlet’ is one of Shakespeare’s most famous works.	I had work to do so I couldn’t go out.