Use of "increase" as a countable and uncountable noun

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello everyone,
I am new here. I would like to ask a question about countable and uncountable noun “increase”. Bellow is the definition and examples from Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
increase [uncountable and countable noun]
a rise in amount, number, or degree
Examples:

  1. an increase in the crime rate
  2. Recent tax increases have affected the poor more than the rich.
    According to the definition of “increase”, it seems to me that “increase” is only an uncountable noun. Therefore, I am confused with the use of countable noun “increases” in #2. Could you explain what is really meaning of “increase” in #2 and why it is used?
    Thank in advance.
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2

There has been more than one rise in the tax rate recently. Each separate rise is countable, so in (2), the plural form is used.

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3

Thank you very much Beeesneees,
Do you mean that there are many types of tax and each type increased or there is only one type of tax but it is increased in many times?

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4

It could be either.

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5

Thank you!

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6

Hi. Beees

Why did the longman dictionary said increase(uncount and count nouns)
I know INCREASE to be countable, why could the dictionary said it is as well UNCOUNTABLE.

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7

Student numbers in English language schools in this country increased last year. <- uncountable
Last year, there was an increase in the number of students in English language schools in this country. <- countable

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