Countable nouns

Countable nouns can be used in singular or plural form. Many everyday objects are countable:

• una manzana, dos manzanas, varias manzanas, pocas manzanas
  one apple, two apples, several apples, few apples ;
• un teléfono, tres teléfonos, muchos teléfonos, el teléfono
  one phone, three phones, many phones, the phone.

In a sentence, they are always preceded by a definite or indefinite article, a number, a demonstrative or quantity adjective.

• Las manzanas caen de los árboles.
  Apples fall from trees.
• Los pájaros huyen volando por culpa de la gata.
  The birds fly away because of the cat.
• Unos pájaros huyen volando por culpa de esa gata.
  Some birds fly away because of the cat.
• Un árbol se cayó encima de la casa.
  A tree fell on the house.
• Varios árboles se cayeron encima de esta casa.
  Several trees fell on this house.

Uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are usually used in the singular. They designate ideas, abstract notions or substances. If they follow a verb in a sentence and are its direct complement, they are usually not preceded by an article.

• Tengo sed, dame agua.
  I am thirsty, give me water.
• La vida requiere paciencia y coraje.
  Life requires patience and courage.
• Queda vino en la botella.
  There is still wine in the bottle.

They can be preceded by a demonstrative or quantity adjective that brings precision.

• Tengo mucha sed, dame de esta agua.
  I am very thirsty, give me this water.
• La vida requiere bastante paciencia y abnegación.
  Life requires a lot of patience and self-sacrifice.
• Queda poco vino en la botella.
  There is not much wine left in the bottle.

When they are the subject of a sentence, uncountable verbs are preceded by a definite article in the absence of a more precise qualification. This is particularly the case with very common verbs of appreciation like gustar, encantar.

• Me gusta la música. I like music.
• Me encanta la sopa. I love soup.
• No me disgusta el café. I don’t mind coffee.

When they are the object of certain verbs like apreciar, odiar, ignorar, often with the expression of an appreciation, the uncountable ones are preceded by a definite article for lack of more precise qualification.

• Aprecio el valor de los combatientes. I appreciate the courage of the fighters.
• Odia la sopa. He hates soup.
• Ignoramos el miedo. We ignore fear.
• Buscamos la virtud. We seek virtue.

Some uncountable nouns are only used in the plural.

• Tengo agujetas.
  I have aches and pains.
• Lo que le conté hizo añicos su mundo.
  What I told him reduced his world to rubble.
• ¡No me hagas cosquillas!.
  Don’t tickle me!
• El camión lleva comestibles.
  The truck is carrying foodstuffs.
• Dicen que estás en serios apuros.
  They say you are in serious trouble.
• La gente siente muchos celos.
  People are very jealous.

The expression of the presence or absence of an uncountable quantity is very simple.

• Hay agua en el rio. There is water in the river.
• No hay agua en el rio. There is no water in the river.

Expression of countable and uncountable quantity

Todo, la mitad are used exclusively with uncountable nouns:

• la mitad del agua,  half of the water ;
• toda la harina,  all the flour.

Entero, medio are used exclusively with countable nouns:

• la media botella, half of the bottle;
• el pueblo entero, the whole village.

Poco, mucho, varios are used indifferently with countable or uncountable nouns:

• poca gente, few people;
• pocos cuartos libres, few free rooms;
• muchos celos, a lot of jealousy;
• muchos escombros, a lot of waste ;
• varios comestibles, several foodstuffs;
• varias botellas, several bottles.

Countable use of an uncountable noun

An uncountable noun can, in some cases, be used in a countable and quantifiable way. In this case, a quantity adjective is often used.

• Navega entre dos aguas.
  He navigates between two waters.
• ¡Dos cafés con leche y tres cervezas por favor!
  Two coffees with milk and three beers please!
• Esta playa tiene una arena preciosa.
  This beach has beautiful sand.

Uncountable use of a countable noun

A countable noun can, in some cases, be used in an uncountable way, without article.

• Me gusta la pasta con tomate.
  I like pasta with tomato (meaning tomato sauce).

Although there are many similarities with English, it is clear that many common constructions and expressions are unique to Spanish.

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