Normally uncountable nouns used as countables

Many nouns which are normally uncountable can be used as countables if we refer to particular varieties. When this occurs, the noun is often preceded by an adjective (a nice wine) or there is some kind of specification (a wine of high quality);

This region produces an excellent wine (i.e. a kind of wine which..)

Kalamata produces some of the best olive oil in the world, it's an oil

of very high quality (i.e. a kind of oil which...)

The North Sea produces a light oil which is highly prized in the oi>

industry

Normally uncountable nouns used exceptionally as countables can also occur in the plural:

This region produces some awful wines as well as good ones

I go out in all weathers

Note also many words for drinks, which are uncountable when we think of them as substances: Beer/coffee/tea is expensive these days

Countable and uncountable nouns

However, we can sometimes use a/an to mean e.g. a glass of, etc. [> 2.18] or numbers in front of these words, or we can make them plural, for example when we are ordering in a restaurant: A (or One) beer please Two teas and four coffees, please

Nouns which can refer to something specific or general

e.g. an education/education, a light/light, a noise/noise

As countables, these nouns refer to something specific (He has had a good education I need a light by my bed). As uncountables, the reference is general (Standards of education are falling Light travels faster than sound).

countable ('specific') uncountable ('general')

A good education is expensive Education should be free
Try not to make a noise Noise is a kind of pollution

Some countable nouns like this can be plural (a light/lights, a noise/noises). Other nouns (education knowledge) cannot be plural; as countables they often have some kind of qualification (a classical education, a good knowledge of English).

2.16.5 Nouns ending in '-ing'

e.g. a drawing/drawing, a painting/painting, a reading/reading

-ing forms are generally uncountable [> 16.39.1], but a few can refer to a specific thing or event.

countable ('specific') uncountable ('general')

Are these drawings by Goya? I'm no good at drawing

He has a painting by Hockney Painting is my hobby

She gave a reading of her poems. Reading is taught early

A few -ing forms (a thrashing, a wedding) are only countable.

Selected uncountable nouns and their countable equivalents

Some uncountables cannot be used as countables to refer to a single item or example. A quite different word must be used: