Count and Noncount Nouns

Nouns  Count nouns: English speakers use them for things with numbers.  For example, one egg, five cups or three meals.  Noncount nouns: Speakers may talk about amounts of these items but not numbers.  For example, a lot of food, a little water and some advice.

Count Nouns 1. Count nouns have both singular and plural forms. 1 meal 3 meals 2. They can have a/an before them (singular nouns only) a chair an egg 3. Most plural count noun have an s/es endings. restaurants eggs

Noncount Nouns 1. Noncount nouns are always singular, they have no plural form (no –s/-es) endings. butter juice salt water sugar 2. Most noncount nouns name an item made up of smaller or different parts. jewellery traffic 3. Some noncount nouns name abstract things such as ideas, feelings and concepts. freedom anger advice

Some & Any 1. Some and any are used to describe “an unspecified amount or number.” some advice any plates 2. They can appear before both count and noncount nouns. some milk some chairs

Some  Use some in affirmative statements and questions. Please buy some napkins. Do you have some shopping bags?

Any Use any in negative statements: There aren’t any plates on the table. Use any in affirmative and negative questions: Do you have any pots in your kitchen? isn’t there any fish?

- Not any before noncount and plural count nouns means no. - - For example: - There aren’t any potatoes= There are no potatoes.