Countable versus Uncountable . Food Nouns Countable versus Uncountable . Copyright 2017 Lanternfish ESL www.bogglesworldesl.com

Countable Versus Uncountable Some foods are usually countable. Some foods are usually uncountable. Some foods can be countable or uncountable depending on the context.

Examples of Countable Foods Foods that you usually eat as wholes are countable.

Cookies: usually countable I have some cookies. (countable-plural) Would you like a cookie? (countable-singular)

Bananas: usually countable Can I have a banana? (countable-singular) There are some bananas on the counter. (countable-plural)

Eggs: usually countable Can you pass me an egg? (countable-singular) I’m cooking bacon and eggs for breakfast. (countable-plural)

Examples of Uncountable Foods Foods that usually come in small grains or powder are uncountable. There are usually too many grains to count.

Salt: usually uncountable There is some salt on the counter. (uncountable) The salt is next to the pepper.

Rice: usually uncountable Would you like some rice? (uncountable) There is some rice in the cooker.

Flour: usually uncountable I need some flour for the recipe. (uncountable) The flour is in the cupboard.

Examples of Uncountable Foods Things you spread over other food are usually uncountable.

Jam: usually uncountable There is some jam on the table. (uncountable) Do you want some jam on your toast?

Peanut Butter: usually uncountable I’d like some peanut butter. (uncountable) The peanut butter is next to the jam.

Honey: usually uncountable I bought some honey at the store. (uncountable) Honey is sweet.

Examples of Uncountable Foods Liquids are uncountable.

Milk: usually uncountable Do you want some milk in your coffee? (uncountable) There is some milk in the fridge.

Olive Oil: usually uncountable There is some olive oil on the salad. (uncountable) Olive oil is healthy.

Juice: usually uncountable Do you want some juice? (uncountable) There is some juice in the fridge.

Examples of uncountable foods. Foods usually served in portions, slices, and pieces are uncountable.

Cheese: usually uncountable There is some cheese in the fridge? (uncountable) Would you like some cheese on your sandwich?

Pie: usually uncountable when served There is some leftover pie in the fridge? (uncountable) Would you like some pie?

Watermelon: usually uncountable when served This watermelon is juicy and sweet. (uncountable) Do you want some watermelon?

Caution! Foods usually served in portions, slices, and pieces are often countable when bought or made as ‘wholes’.

Watermelon: usually uncountable when served but countable when bought. I bought a watermelon. (countable) There is some watermelon in the fridge. (uncountable)

Pizza: countable and uncountable a pizza countable singular some pizzas countable plural some pizza uncountable

A normal person “I ate some pizza.”

A hungry person “I ate a pizza.”

A very hungry person “I ate some pizzas.”

Chicken: countable and uncountable a chicken countable singular some chickens countable plural some chicken uncountable

Exceptions There are many exceptions: foods that don’t follow the rule or contexts where the rule changes.

Exceptions: Some cuts of meat Some standard cuts of meat are countable.

Exceptions: Cuts of meat a steak

Exceptions: Cuts of meat a chicken breast

Exceptions: Cuts of meat a pork chop

Exceptions: Cuts of meat However, steak, pork, and chicken breast can also be uncountable.

Another Exception: Hamburger Hamburger, the meat, is uncountable but hamburger, the sandwich, is countable. hamburger (the meat) uncountable hamburger (the sandwich) countable

Exceptions: Ordering a ‘serving’ Sometimes we order a serving by using the countable noun.

Exceptions: Ordering a serving I’d like a coffee, please. Can I have a large cola please? (We really mean ‘a cup of coffee’ or ‘a large glass of cola’)

Exercise: What’s in the fridge? Look at a picture of a fridge full of groceries. In your notebooks describe what is in the fridge. Use both countable and uncountable nouns. Writing