The rule, as people use it
Some things you count one by one: an apple, three apples, a chair, ten chairs. Other things come as a mass you can't split into single pieces: water, rice, money, advice, information, furniture. These are called non-count nouns, and they behave differently in three ways. They have no plural, so you never say "rices" or "advices". They don't take "a" or "an". And they use "much" and "a little" where count nouns use "many" and "a few".
When you need to count a non-count thing, you count the container or the piece instead: a glass of water, two bags of rice, a piece of advice, a slice of bread. That's how you order in a café or a store without sounding off.
The mistake you'll hear most is "an information" or "some advices". Both are clear, and both mark you as a learner. Say "some information" and "a piece of advice", and the sentence sounds finished.
Examples
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Fill the gap
Type the missing words, then check. The full sentence plays when you get it.
- 1
How (much / many) water do you drink a day?
- 2
How (much / many) cups of coffee did you have?
- 3
Can you give me some (advice)?
- 4
I bought two (bag) of rice.
- 5
There's only a (little / few) bread left.
- 6
We have a (little / few) questions for you.
- 7
I need some (information) about the trains.
- 8
Could I get a (piece) of cake?
Practice · 3 min
Open your fridge or kitchen cupboard, or picture it. Say eight things you see out loud. For each count noun, use a number: "four eggs". For each non-count noun, use a container or "some": "a carton of milk", "some rice". Then ask yourself one "How much" and one "How many" question about what's there, and answer both.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.