1. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns

2. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Articles are a type of noun modifier that precedes a noun. There are two types of articles in English: the definite article the and the indefinite articles a, an, or some. The first step toward knowing how to use these articles before a noun is to be able to classify nouns as either countable or non-countable.

3. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Countable nouns are objects that come in discrete units and thus can be made plural. If the noun is singular, it usually requires the indefinite article a, an or some. If the noun is plural, it requires the article some or no article at all. a banana...some bananas a candy...candies

4. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Non-countable nouns are objects that cannot be divided into discrete units and thus cannot be made plural. They require the indefinite article some, an expression of quantity (a piece of, a lot of), or no article before them. milk... some milk ethanol... some ethanol ethanol... a liter of ethanol

5. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns So, a countable noun has a singular and a plural form. The plural may be irregular. We can use numbers with it. An uncountable noun has only one form. We cannot use numbers with it. Typical unocountables are: Material and substances: Plastic, iron, wood, paper, water, air, coffee Abstract ideas: life, fun, freedom, progress, health, time

6. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Some words can be countable or uncountable with a change in meaning. A fish (the animal) some fish (portion of food) A business (a company) business (in general) A noise ( a specific noise) noise (in general) A hair (a single piece) hair (all together) A painting (one object) painting (the activity/hobby) A work (a work of art) work (in general) A loaf (a loaf of bread) some bread (in general) A coffee ( a cup of coffee) some coffee (the material) A paper ( a newspaper) some paper (the material) A wood (a small forest) some wood (the material) An iron (for pressing clothes) some iron (the material) A glass (for drinking) some glass (the material) The countable meaning is specific The uncountable meaning is general

7. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Countable nouns can be singular or plural: The helmet is over there. There is a helmet over there. You will find the helmets over there.

8. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Uncountable nouns are always singular. Riyan has got no patience with his son anymore. Therefore, with countable nouns we can use a/an and some, while with countable ones we cannot. Ex: Do you want to see my picture (countable) ? Can I have some information (uncountable)?

9. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns

10. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns UncountableCountable Much money Little money Many friends Few friends

11. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Not enoughEnough UncountableI’m afraid there’s little coffee letf. I’ll make some more. I think there’s still a little coffee left. We can have another cup. CounatbleIt’s almost midnight. I’m afraid there are few buses running this time. It isn’t late. I’m sure there are still a few buses running at this time.

12. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns

13. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns SingularPlural -s Automobiles TablesAutomobileTable

14. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Singular Boy Tray Lady City Plural Boys Trays Ladies Cities

15. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Buses Kisses Bus Kiss Foxes Watches Flashes Fox Watch Flash

16. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Thief – leaf – loaf – wolf – half – calf – elf – shelf – wife – knife – life Thieves – leaves – loaves – wolves – halves – calves – elves – shelves – wives – knives – lives

17. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Potato Tomato Radio Photo Singular Potatoes Tomatoes Radios Photos Plural

18. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Singular Basis Analysis Campus Stimulus Phenomenon Criterion Plural Bases Analyses Campi Stimuli Phenomena Criteria

19. Inglês Countable and Uncountable Nouns Singular Child Man Woman Foot Tooth Mouse Sheep Children Men Women Feet Teeth Mice sheep Plural

20. For more information on countable and uncountable nouns and further practice, visit the websites: 1)http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson37/Lesson37.htmhttp://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson37/Lesson37.htm 2) http://www.bio-text.com/ESL2.htmlhttp://www.bio-text.com/ESL2.html 3)http://www.englishonline.org.cn/en/learners/vocabulary- grammar/grammar-questions/countable-non-countablehttp://www.englishonline.org.cn/en/learners/vocabulary- grammar/grammar-questions/countable-non-countable