Many nouns in English are "noncount" (or mass nouns), meaning they refer to a substance, concept, or mass that we don't count directly. To quantify them, we use units of measure.
How to Use Units of Measure
You can make a noncount noun countable by adding a unit of measure before it, often in the structure: a [unit] of [noun].
To count more than one unit, you make the unit of measure plural, not the noncount noun itself.
* Singular: a cup of coffee
* Plural: two cups of coffee (not "two coffees" unless you mean two servings)
Common Units for Different Categories
Here are some common units of measure used with noncount nouns.
Liquids 💧
Common units include cup, glass, bottle, liter, gallon, carton, pitcher, and drop.
* a glass of water
* a bottle of juice
* a liter of milk
* a cup of tea
* a carton of orange juice
Food and Dry Goods 🍞
Common units include slice, loaf, piece, gram, kilogram, pound, bag, box, bar, and grain.
* a slice of bread
* a loaf of bread
* a piece of cheese
* a kilogram of sugar
* a bar of chocolate
* a grain of rice
Abstract Concepts & General Items 💡
For abstract nouns or general items, the units are often more specific to the noun itself.
* a piece of advice
* an item of information
* a bit of news
* a work of art
* a fit of anger
* a stroke of luck
Materials & Substances 💨
* a sheet of paper
* a bar of soap
* a cloud of smoke
* a tube of toothpaste
* a pane of glass
By using these units, you can effectively count, quantify, and discuss any noncount noun in English.
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