Countable and Uncountable Nouns Grammar Guide

Introduction: Difference Countable Nouns  are the names of separate objects, people, ideas etc. which can be counted, e.g.: a pen five girls three newspapers some facts

Introduction: Difference Uncountable (or Mass) Nouns  are the names of materials, liquids, abstract qualities, collections and other things which we see as masses without clear boundaries, and not as separate objects, e.g.: woodwaterriceknowledge

NOUNS COUNTABLEUNCOUNTABLE singularpluralsingular a/ansome [+] [?]* some [+] [?]* any [-] [?] any [-] [?] (how) many [-] [?] (how) much [-] [?] a few [+] a little [+] a lot of / lots of [+] a lot of / lots of [+] [?]* : offers and requests

Countable Nouns  There is a cat.  There is an apple.  There are some trees.  There are a lot of cars.  There are a few oranges.  There aren’t any houses.  There aren’t many flowers.  How many children are there?  Would you like some bananas? (= offer)

Uncountable Nouns  There is some wine.  There is a little cheese.  There is a lot of rice.  There isn’t any sugar.  There isn’t much coffee.  How much information is there?  Can I have some water? (= request)  Shall I buy some pasta? (= offer)

Words Usually Uncountable in English  Not all languages treat things in the same way, e.g. hair is uncountable in English, but is plural countable in many languages (including Polish).  Here is a list of some common words which are usually uncountable in English: accommodation accommodation advice advice baggage baggage bread bread

Words Usually Uncountable in English equipment equipment furniture furniture glass glass hair hair information information knowledge knowledge luck luck luggage luggage money news progress research rubbish traffic travel work

Words Both Countable and Uncountable Some nouns can be countable or uncountable, but have different meanings:  coffee [C] I'd love a coffee, please. (= a cup of coffee) [U] Do you drink coffee? (= the liquid)  chicken [C] I'll buy a chicken for dinner tonight. (= the whole bird) [U] Would you like some chicken for dinner? (= a part of / the meat)

Words Both Countable and Uncountable  drawing [C] This is an amazing drawing by Leonardo. (= a picture) [U] My son is very good at drawing. (= the activity)  stone [C] Someone threw a stone at our window. (= one item) [U] In that flat landscape of bushes and stone... (= the material)  time [C] I go out with friends two of three times a week. (= how often?) [U] I don’t have much time for relaxation. (= clock time)

Words Both Countable and Uncountable  This applies to all drinks: tea / a tea beer / a beer wine / a wine lemonade / a lemonade  Not all nouns of the type can be both countable and uncountable: a duck / duck, a fish / fish, but: beef [U], pork [U]; a duck / duck, a fish / fish, but: beef [U], pork [U]; a painting / painting, a sculpture / sculpture, but: art [U], poetry [U]; a painting / painting, a sculpture / sculpture, but: art [U], poetry [U]; a paper / paper, a rock / rock, but: wool [U], cotton [U]. a paper / paper, a rock / rock, but: wool [U], cotton [U].

Expressions Used with Countable and Uncountable Nouns  We can refer to a specific example of an uncountable noun with: a / an + countable noun + of + uncountable noun a bottle of milk / perfume a bottle of milk / perfume a glass of wine / orange juice a glass of wine / orange juice a cup of coffee a cup of coffee a mug of tea a mug of tea

Expressions Used with Countable and Uncountable Nouns a can of Coke / beer a can of Coke / beer a tin of sardines a tin of sardines a bowl of salad / rice a bowl of salad / rice a loaf of bread a loaf of bread a bar of chocolate / soap a bar of chocolate / soap a square of chocolate a square of chocolate a box of chocolates / matches a box of chocolates / matches a packet of biscuits / coffee / cigarettes a packet of biscuits / coffee / cigarettes

Expressions Used with Countable and Uncountable Nouns a jar of jam a jar of jam a cube of ice a cube of ice a grain of sand a grain of sand a pinch of salt a pinch of salt a slice of ham / cheese / bread a slice of ham / cheese / bread a segment of an orange a segment of an orange a bunch of flowers / keys a bunch of flowers / keys a tube of toothpaste a tube of toothpaste a carton of orange juice / milk a carton of orange juice / milk

Countable and uncountable nouns are not difficult. Just think about them.

Survey On an average day, how many people … … put some sugar in tea or coffee. … eat some chips. Find out.

Survey  Write down questions: Do you put any sugar in tea or coffee on an average day? Do you eat any chips on an average day?

Survey  Ask the questions, listen to the answers Yes, I do.  No, I don’t.  and make notes: Do you put any sugar in tea or coffee on an average day?  / / Do you put any sugar in tea or coffee on an average day?  / / Do you eat any chips on an average day? /  / Do you eat any chips on an average day? /  /

Survey  Look at the ticks and crosses. Write down some sentences to sum up the survey. A lot of people put some sugar in tea or coffee on an average day. One person doesn’t put any sugar in tea or coffee on an average day. A few people eat some chips on an average day. Ten people don’t eat any chips on an average day.

Game Shuffle the cards and deal. Don’t show the cards. Try to collect the items from a group. A: Do you have a banana? any water? B: Yes, I do. A: Can I have it please? B: Here you are. A: Thank you.

Grammar Cards  COUNT: advertisement / inhabitant / meal / tradition / festival / invitation / experience  MASS (UNCOUNT): fun / housework / stress / information / money / meat / seafood / training / news / butter / work / advice / nightlife / energy  MASS or COUNT: chocolate / coffee / exercise / fish / time / wine / yoghurt

Grammar Practice Complete using the correct form of the verb in brackets. 1. The clothes you bought me for my birthday ……… (be) wonderful. 2. It turned out that the information we had received ……… (be) wrong. 3. My new jeans ……… (be) in the wash and I wanted to wear them tonight. 4. The luggage on a plane ……… (take) up a lot of room. 5. Your hair ……… (look) really nice and shiny. 6. I could tell by the look on her face that the news ……… (not / be) good. 7. Oh, no! My money ……… (be) in my other jacket!

Grammar Practice Check the answers. 1. The clothes you bought me for my birthday are / were wonderful. 2. It turned out that the information we had received was wrong. 3. My new jeans are in the wash and I wanted to wear them tonight. 4. The luggage on a plane takes up a lot of room. 5. Your hair looks really nice and shiny. 6. I could tell by the look on her face that the news wasn’t good. 7. Oh, no! My money is in my other jacket!