Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns

· A countable noun has a singular and a plural for. The plural may be irregular. We can use numbers with it:

- One book / three books - one possibility / two possibilities - one cat / four cats

- One child / two children - one person / ten people - one woman / five women

· An uncountable noun has only one form. We cannot use numbers with it.

- Work love progress water information

Typical uncountable nouns are:

- Material and substances: plastic, iron, wood, paper, water, air, coffee

- Abstract ideas: life, fun, freedom, progress, health, time

- Activities: work, travel, sleep, football, help, research

- Human feelings: happiness, anger, honesty, hope, respect, courage

· Note the words below which are uncountable in English but countable in many other languages:

Accommodation, advice, behavior, business, cash, equipment, furniture, health, homework, information, knowledge, luggage, money, permission, rubbish, scenery, traffic, travel, weather, work.

· Countable nouns can be singular or plural.

The book is over there.

The books are over there.

Uncountable nouns are always singular.

French is difficult.

His advice was very useful.

· With countable nouns we can use a/an and some.

Sue has got a book / some books about Ancient Egypt.

Could I have some information?

· Some is common in positive sentences. Any is common in question and negatives.

We’ve got some money to go on holiday this year.

Have you got any cups?

· Many and much

Many is used for countable nouns and much is used for uncountable nouns. They are used mainly in questions and negatives.

How many chairs are there? There aren’t many cushions.

How much money has she got? There isn’t much water here.

Changing of meaning

· Some words can be countable or uncountable with a change of meaning. The countable meaning is specific and the uncountable meaning is general.

A fish (the animal)	Some fish (a portion of food)
A business (a company)	Some business (in general)
A noise (a specific noise)	Some 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)

- I heard a strange noise. - I can’t stand noise.

- I bought a painting last week. -Do you like painting?

- Diana had a very good education. - Education is very important.

Problems:

· The word ‘news’ is followed by a singular verb and the word ‘police’ is followed by plural.

The news is on. The police are coming.

1) Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence:

a) How much / How many pasta have we got?

b) Where is / are my trousers?

c) I put some / any chocolate, but where is it?

d) Peter went to buy a / some glass so he could fix the broken windows.

e) I’m afraid we haven’t got much / many time.

2) Put one word in each space. Put a dash (-) if the space should be blank:

a) My trousers need ironing. Have you got _________ iron?

b) Could you go the baker’s and by ________ loaf, please?

c) I’d like ______________ information about trains to Paris.

d) Louise has ___________ very good health.

e) The war ended ___________ years ago.

f) Vanessa bought _________ paper and read it on the bus.

g) Could you give me _________ advice, please?

h) Do you know __________ people in this village?

3) Choose the best alternative, 1 or 2 to complete each sentence:

a) The fire is going to go out. Can you go and get ___________________?

1. A wood 2. Some wood

b) ______________________ money all over the floor!

1. There was 2. There were

c) Lemonade? Sorry, no, we haven’t go ________________________

1. Some 2. any

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