subject + verb + abstract nounUse the noun in singular form with no number and no plural ending.
Abstract Nouns
B1Nouns like love, advice, and information are often uncountable in English. Don’t add -s or use a/an; use some, a little, or a piece of.
What you'll learn
- Keep common abstract nouns singular in their usual meaning.
- Avoid a/an before uncountable abstract nouns.
- Add quantity with some, a little, or a piece of.
- Match uncountable nouns with the right quantity words.
Structure
quantity phrase + abstract nounUse an amount word or phrase that works with uncountable nouns.
number + piece(s) of + abstract nounUse a unit phrase when you want to count separate items of an uncountable noun.
Build a sentence
Noun
Amount
advice
Good advice can save time.
No article, no plural: advice stays uncountable here.
When to use
General ideas
Use these nouns for broad ideas and states: love, happiness, advice, information, help, progress. They act like uncountable nouns in everyday English.
Talking about amount
Show quantity with some advice, a little help, much love, a lot of information, or a piece of advice.
Markers
somemucha littlelittlea lot oflessa piece of
Common mistakes
Wrong
She gave me useful advices.
Correct
She gave me useful advice.
Advice is uncountable here, so it does not take a plural -s.
Wrong
Tom gave me an advice.
Correct
Tom gave me advice.
Advice is uncountable in this meaning, so do not use an before it.
Wrong
Maria found many information online.
Correct
Maria found a lot of information online.
Information is uncountable, so use a lot of, much, or some, not many.
Wrong
Lisa gave me three advice.
Correct
Lisa gave me three pieces of advice.
To count advice, use a unit phrase like piece of.
Wrong
We made few progress this month.
Correct
We made little progress this month.
Progress is uncountable, so pair it with little, not few.
Common misconceptions
❝ If a noun names an idea, I can count it like a normal thing. ❞
Many idea nouns are uncountable in English. Advice, information, help, and progress stay singular in their common meanings.
❝ I can put any number directly before advice or information. ❞
With uncountable abstract nouns, use a unit phrase to count them: one piece of advice, two pieces of information.
Skills in this rule (5)
TREAT_COMMON_ABSTRACT_NOUNS_AS_UNCOUNTABLEw5Treat common abstract nouns like love, advice, and information as uncountable
Use these nouns without a plural ending and without a number before them. Think of them as ideas or substance, not separate items.
NO_A_AN_WITH_UNCOUNTABLE_ABSTRACT_NOUNSw5Avoid a/an before uncountable abstract nouns
Do not use a/an with nouns like advice, information, help, luck, or progress when you mean them in a general way. Use the noun alone or add a phrase like a piece of if you need one unit.
USE_QUANTITY_PHRASES_FOR_UNCOUNTABLE_NOUNSw5Use quantity phrases like some, a little, and a piece of with abstract nouns
To show amount, use words and phrases that work with uncountable nouns: some advice, a little help, a piece of information. Do not use many or a direct number.
PICK_UNCOUNTABLE_QUANTITY_WORDSw4Choose quantity words that fit uncountable abstract nouns
Use much, a lot of, little, a little, less, or some with these nouns. Avoid countable-only partners like many, few, or a couple of.
USE_ABSTRACT_NOUNS_IN_COMMON_MEANINGSw3Use abstract nouns in their common uncountable meanings
In everyday meanings, nouns like love, happiness, advice, information, help, and progress are treated as mass ideas. Build sentences around amount, not around separate countable items.