Brottin

TOPIC · Nouns (Nomen)

Countable nouns and uncountable nouns

A1

After this lesson you can tell whether a German noun is countable or uncountable and choose correctly between words like „viel“ and „viele“.

In this lesson you learn how to distinguish countable and uncountable German nouns and which words combine with them.

Countable nouns (with plural forms)

Countable nouns name things you can count as separate items. They normally have singular and plural forms.

Typical features:

  • They can stand with numbers: „zwei“, „drei“, „vier“ …
  • They can be used with „ein“, „kein“, „viele“, „wenige“.

Examples

SingularPluralMeaning
ein Tischzwei Tischea table / two tables
eine Blumedrei Blumena flower / three flowers
ein Buchvier Büchera book / four books

Example sentences:

  • Ich habe ein Buch. (I have a book.)
  • Wir kaufen drei Blumen. (We are buying three flowers.)
  • In der Klasse stehen zwölf Tische. (There are twelve tables in the classroom.)

Note: Countable nouns usually form a plural, though sometimes they are used in plural only rarely or in special meanings.

Uncountable nouns (no normal plural)

Uncountable nouns (also called „Stoffnamen“, „Sammelnomen“) often describe:

  • materials: Wasser, Holz, Metall
  • liquids: Milch, Öl, Saft
  • abstract ideas: Glück, Lärm, Liebe

They are normally used in the singular only. You don’t count the substance itself, but a unit of it.

Examples

Noun (uncountable)UnitMeaning
Wasserein Glas Wasserwater / a glass of water
Milcheine Flasche Milchmilk / a bottle of milk
Reisein Kilo Reisrice / one kilo of rice

Example sentences:

  • Ich trinke ein Glas Wasser. (I am drinking a glass of water.)
  • Wir kaufen eine Flasche Milch. (We are buying a bottle of milk.)
  • Sie kocht ein Kilo Reis. (She is cooking one kilo of rice.)

Note: In cafés or restaurants you often hear „ein Wasser“, „eine Cola“, „zwei Bier“. Here people mean „ein Glas Wasser“, „eine Flasche Cola“, „zwei Gläser Bier“.

Special cases: both possible

Some nouns can be countable and uncountable, depending on the context.

  • Ich habe ein paar Haare auf meinem Kopf. (I have a few hairs on my head.)
    → separate hairs, countable.
  • Deine Haare sehen fantastisch aus. (Your hair looks fantastic.)
    → „Haare“ as a whole mass, used like an uncountable noun.

More examples:

  • Ich bestelle zwei Kaffee. (I order two coffees – two cups of coffee.)
  • Ich mag Kaffee. (I like coffee – in general, uncountable.)

„viel“ or „viele“?

  • viele + countable nouns (in the plural):

    • Ich habe viele Freunde. (I have many friends.)
    • In der Straße stehen viele Häuser. (There are many houses in the street.)

  • viel + uncountable nouns:

    • Ich trinke viel Wasser. (I drink a lot of water.)
    • Sie hat viel Geduld. (She has a lot of patience.)

Some fixed expressions with viel:

  • Viel Spaß! (Have fun!)
  • Viel Glück! (Good luck!)
  • Viel Erfolg! (Much success / Good luck with your project!)

Summary

Remember:

  • If you can count separate items (eins, zwei, drei …), you have a countable noun with a plural.
  • If you count a unit (Glas, Flasche, Kilo) or talk about a material or idea in general, you usually have an uncountable noun.

summaryEn: After this lesson you can tell whether a German noun is countable or uncountable and choose correctly between words like „viel“ and „viele“.