Using Units Of Measure With Noncount Nouns

 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.