NOUNS

Countable, uncountable and plural nouns in English.

COUNTABLE NOUNS  
Countable nouns are individual objects, people, places and things that
can be counted. 
For example, books, houses, Americans, cats, dogs, cars, etc.
A countable noun can be singular (a book) or plural (two books)
The singular form of a verb is used with a singular countable noun :
the apple is red
The plural form of a verb is used with a plural countable noun : the
apples are red.

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS 
Uncountable or mass nouns are substances, concepts, information,
materials, etc. 
which are not individual objects and cannot be counted. They have no
plural form. 

Some examples: 

 Liquids and gases:   milk, cream, water, coffee, smoke, air,

oxygen
 Solid and granular substances:   bread, cheese, meat, rice,
sugar, salt, sand
 Materials:    wood, plastic, glass, paper 
 Concepts/abstract ideas:    hope, peace, beauty, entertainment,
freedom
 Feelings and qualities :    joy, anger, efficiency, honesty, pride,
happiness
 Activities :    homework, sleep, surveillance, work

Uncountable or mass nouns are :

 used with no indefinite article (a/an) :   Drink water if you are

thirsty. (not: a water)
 take a singular verb : Water is safe to drink in this area.

Common uncountable nouns :

advice, accommodation, baggage, bread, cheese, equipment,

furniture,  
happiness, information, knowledge, literature, luggage, money,
music,  
news, pasta, progress, research, sadness, travel, water, work ...

Examples of use : 
  Water is a necessity.
 Could I have a slice of bread please?
 Have some cream with your strawberries.
 That's an interesting piece of information.
 Here is the latest news.

To talk about a certain quantity, we use :

some/ a piece of/ a drop of/ a glass of/ a slice of, etc.

 some milk / a drop of milk

 a piece of cheese/cake/pizza
 a slice of bread
 a glass of water
 a piece of advice/information/news/luggage
 a news item

Examples of words used to quantify uncountable nouns:

Food Liquids General

A bag of flour/oats A drop of milk/rain A bar/cake of soap

A bar of chocolate
A bowl of rice/cereal/fruit
A carton of cream/yogurt
A clove of garlic
A cube of ice
A grain of rice
A handful of olives/nuts
A head of lettuce
A jar of jam/honey
A knob/pat of butter
A loaf of bread
A lump of sugar
A pinch of salt
A scoop of ice-cream
A slice of bread/cake
A sprig of parsley/thyme
A square of chocolate
A stalk of celery/rhubarb
A stick of cinnamon
A bottle of wine A bottle of perfume
A bowl of soup A ball of cotton
A can of coke/beer A cloud of smoke
A cup of tea A coat of nail polish
A dash of lemon juice A dab of perfume
A dose of medicine A flash of lightning
A litre/gallon of petrol A piece of news
A glass of water/wine An item of clothing
A jug/pitcher of water A piece of luggage
A mouthful of coffee A pile of money
A pint of milk/beer A ray of sunshine
A pot of tea A roll of toilet paper
A pool of blood A sheet of paper
A quart (2 pints) of milk A stick of chalk
A shot of vodka A tube of toothpaste
A sip of water/tea/beer A speck of dust
A spoonful of medicine A stick of deodorant
A thimble of whisky A string of pearls
A trickle of water A stroke of luck

PLURAL NOUNS 

Plural nouns with no singular form

Some plural nouns have no singular form.  
Examples are : earnings, (reading) glasses, trousers, savings, shorts,
scissors, binoculars.

These nouns take a plural verb :

  The company's earnings are increas ing every year. 
 Our savings are kept in the bank
 These scissors are rusty.

To refer to one item of clothing, tools or instruments which consist of

two parts, a pair of is used :

A pair of trousers/shorts/jeans/pyjamas.
A pair of scissors/clippers/pliers.

Some nouns appear to be plural in form but take a singular verb.

For example : news, gymnastics, athletics, economics, physics,
politics, series

 Athletics is a competitive sport.

 The news is not very good I'm afraid.
 They say politics is a complicated business.
 Gymnastics is fun to watch.
 Linguistics is the study of language.
 Physics is a difficult subject for many students.
 The new adventure series on television is very exciting.