Abstract Uncountable Noun

Abstract uncountable nouns
Do not refer to things that we can sense, things that we can taste, touch, smell, hear or see. 
They refer to ideas, feelings, emotions qualities and concepts. Some examples of this kind of noun are:

love, fun, happiness, kindness, patience, truth, hope, childhood

Take note: general and specific statements and the definite article

When we use an abstract uncountable noun to make a general statement, we don’t use the.

When we use an abstract uncountable noun to refer to a specific example of a noun, we use the before the noun.

Compare these examples:

Money can’t buy you happiness.
This is a general statement about happiness; that it can’t be bought.


I can’t express the happiness (that) I felt when my son was born.
This statement refers to a particular time of happiness. The defining relative clause (that) I felt when my son was born identifies which time of happiness.

 Enthusiasm is important in any line of work.
This is a general statement about the importance of enthusiasm.

The enthusiasm she has for her craft is obvious.
This statement refers to enthusiasm for a specific activity. The phrase she has for her craft indentifies the particular activity.

A quality I look for in a partner is intelligence.
This statement refers to intelligence in general, as an appealing quality.

She’s got the intelligence to get to the very top of her profession.
This statement refers to a particular level of intelligence needed for a specific achievement. The phrase to get to the very top of her profession defines which achievement.

Everyone is entitled to freedom.
This is a general statement about the idea of freedom.

Just because you’re 15 now doesn’t mean you have the freedom to come and go as you please.
This sentence focuses on a specific freedom. The phrase to come and go as you please defines the freedom, which in this case is not granted!

Uncountable Noun

An uncountable noun, sometimes called a mass noun is a noun that usually does not have a plural form. Some examples of this kind of noun are:

bread, water, milk, air, snow, accommodation, furniture

Some nouns are usually uncountable, like furniture, accommodation, music and luggage. 
For example, many nouns for food and drink items such as cheese, water, milk, rice, sugar and butter are normally regarded as uncountable nouns. 

Nouns like these however can also be countable, particularly when we think of them as different kinds or varieties of a product.
These days supermarkets sell many different cheeses.
Demarara, muscovado and caster are some of the different sugars we can use when baking.

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Uncountable nouns

What is more important in life: knowledge, money, or happiness?

Can you give me some information about accommodation in the city?

There are three main types of uncountable nouns that students often think are countable:

• activity nouns: travel, work, homework
• information nouns: advice, information, knowledge, research
• group nouns: accommodation, baggage, furniture, money, traffic, weather

Other nouns that are uncountable are:

• liquids and gasses: water, air
• materials and substances: wood, rice
• feelings and ideas: happiness, education
• subjects: geography, history, economics

A few uncountable nouns look plural because they end in -s. But they use a singular verb like other uncountable nouns:

Physics is a very interesting subject.

 

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Uncountable or countable: does it matter?

Yes. Countable and uncountable nouns have different grammar and are used with different words.
Countable nouns can have plural forms. They can be used with the indefinite article.
Uncountable nouns are normally used with singular forms and can't be used with the indefinite article.