Key Difference

• “Amount” is used with uncountable nouns, things we measure as a whole rather than by individual units.
• “Number” is used with countable nouns, things we can count individually.

Here’s a breakdown to understand when to use each term.

1. When to Use “Amount”

“Amount” refers to a quantity of something that cannot be counted in individual units but instead is seen as a whole or mass.

Examples of Using “Amount”

• Uncountable nouns: water, sand, money, love, time, courage
• Sentences:
  • “She has a large amount of patience.” (Patience is not something you can count; it’s a quality that you measure as a whole.)
  • “We used a small amount of sugar in the recipe.” (Sugar is a substance we measure, not count.)

🌟 Tip: Use “amount” when describing things that you can’t count individually, but instead measure as a whole.

2. When to Use “Number”

“Number” is used with countable nouns—things that can be counted as individual units.

Examples of Using “Number”

• Countable nouns: apples, books, people, cars, mistakes
• Sentences:
  • “A large number of students attended the event.” (Students can be counted individually.)
  • “There’s a small number of errors in the report.” (Errors are individual and countable.)

🌟 Tip: Use “number” with things that you can count one by one.

Visual Analogy 🌄

Imagine you have a beach:

• If you’re referring to sand, you’d talk about the amount of sand because it’s a mass we don’t count.
• However, if you talk about seashells on that beach, you’d use the number of seashells because they’re countable items.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many learners mix up “amount” and “number” because in daily conversation, people may use them interchangeably. Here are some examples to help you remember:

• Incorrect: “The amount of people at the concert was huge.”
  • Correct: “The number of people at the concert was huge.” (“People” is countable, so use “number.”)
• Incorrect: “The number of milk we need is two liters.”
  • Correct: “The amount of milk we need is two liters.” (“Milk” is uncountable, so use “amount.”)

Practice Exercise 🎓

Choose either “amount” or “number” to complete each sentence correctly.

1. The ____ of stars in the sky is beyond counting.
2. She has a great ____ of knowledge about history.
3. There is a limited ____ of tickets available for the concert.
4. We need a small ____ of flour to make the cake.

Answers:

1. number
2. amount
3. number
4. amount