NOUNS

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.

For example :

• Substances :    milk, cream, sugar, bread, flour, water, wine
• Concepts : hope, peace, beauty, entertainment, freedom
• Feelings and qualities :      anger, joy, honesty, pride
• Activities :  homework, sleep, surveillance

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.

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

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.
   

Plural nouns with no singular form 

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

These nouns take a plural verb :

• The company's earnings are increasing every year.
• 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
• A pair of scissors.

Some nouns appear to be plural in form but take a singular verb.
For example : news, gymnastics, athletics, economics, physics, politics

• 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.