/*(1)*/ SELECT COUNT(*) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 6 rows

/*(2)*/ SELECT COUNT(1) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 6 rows

/*(3)*/ SELECT COUNT(Column1) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 5 rows

/*(4)*/ SELECT COUNT(ALL Column1) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 5 rows

/*(5)*/ SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT 1) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 1 row

/*(6)*/ SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT Column1) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 4 rows

/*(7)*/ SELECT COUNT('T') FROM #TmpCounts; --6 rows

/*(8)*/ SELECT COUNT(CONVERT(int, NULL)) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 0 rows

/*(9)*/ SELECT DISTINCT(COUNT(1)) FROM #TmpCounts; -- 1 row

for all of the above sql statement one row is returned with a value.. count returns single row value.. i am not sure why "rows" are mentioned in the comments.