countable

/ˈkaʊntəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkaʊntəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

countable — adjective

  • countablepositive
  • more countablecomparative
  • most countablesuperlative

1. describes a noun type that uses 'a' or 'an' in its singular form and has a separ

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a noun type that uses 'a' or 'an' in its singular form and has a separate plural form, for example 'table' becomes 'tables'.

例句

Yuki looked up the word 'furniture' in the dictionary to check if it was countable.

be + countable in grammar context

The teacher explained that 'child' becomes 'children' because it is a countable noun.

反義詞
  • uncountable

    describes nouns that do not take 'a/an' and lack a regular plural form, such as 'water' or 'advice'

  • mass

    another term for uncountable in grammar contexts, especially 'mass noun'

文法句型

countable + noun

be + countable

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 describes a linguistic property of nouns, while sense 2 describes real-world items that can be tallied.

常見錯誤

❌I learned that information is a countable noun.
✅I learned that information is an uncountable noun.
💡'information' does not take 'a/an' and has no plural form in standard English.
❌She said that children are a countable nouns.
✅She said that children are countable nouns.
💡'children' is the plural form of 'child'; the plural noun itself does not need 'a' or 'an' before it.

2. describes separate items whose total number can be determined by counting each o

2.形容詞A2
釋義

describes separate items whose total number can be determined by counting each one individually.

例句

The items on the warehouse shelf were countable, so the worker listed each one.

be + countable in literal counting context

Ananya organized the books on her desk into a neat, countable pile.

countable + noun describing physical objects

同義詞
  • quantifiable

    more formal; refers to anything that can be expressed as a number, not just by counting individual items

  • numerable

    rare and very formal; means exactly the same as countable in this sense

  • talliable

    less common; focuses on the act of keeping a running total

反義詞
  • uncountable

    too many or too diffuse to count; also the grammar term

  • innumerable

    too many to be counted; stronger emphasis on vast quantity

文法句型

be + countable

remain + countable

easily + countable

用法筆記

Frequently used in the negative to express that a quantity is too large or too diffuse to tally: 'not countable' often implies 'too many to count' rather than a grammatical restriction.

常見錯誤

❌The number of stars is countable because you can see them at night.
✅The number of stars is not countable because there are too many.
💡Even though individual stars can in theory be counted, in everyday speech 'not countable' expresses that the quantity is too vast or impractical to count.
❌Please put the countable items in this box.
✅Please put the items that can be counted in this box.
💡'Countable items' can be ambiguous between grammar-noun sense and this sense; clarify with phrasing when needed.

3. able to be officially included when calculating a final amount, result, or categ

3.形容詞B2
釋義

able to be officially included when calculating a final amount, result, or category membership.

例句

Only receipts with a valid date and amount are countable for the company's expense report.

countable + for + noun phrase (purpose)

Dr. Chen asked whether the extra credit points would be countable toward the final grade.

countable + toward + noun (contribution)

同義詞
  • eligible

    broader meaning; can apply to people or things being allowed to participate

  • valid

    focuses on meeting the formal criteria rather than being included in a total

  • includable

    very rare; directly means 'able to be included'

反義詞
  • ineligible

    not meeting the criteria for inclusion

  • excluded

    deliberately left out of the total or group

文法句型

be + countable + for + noun phrase

be + countable + toward + noun phrase

be + countable + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common in institutional, academic, and financial contexts. The objects are typically abstract (points, hours, votes, expenses) rather than physical items. Frequently passive in construction.

常見錯誤

❌The apples in the basket are countable for the picnic.
✅The apples in the basket count for the picnic.
💡Sense 3 applies to abstract totals (points, hours, votes), not physical objects. Use sense 2 or rephrase with 'count' for physical items.
❌Is this receipt countable to the tax office?
✅Is this receipt countable for tax purposes?
💡Use 'for' or 'toward' rather than 'to' after 'countable' in this sense.