This document discusses countable and uncountable nouns in English. It provides examples of uncountable nouns like accommodation, traffic, news, which cannot be pluralized or counted. Some nouns like hair, coffee, paper can be either countable or uncountable depending on their meaning in a sentence. Uncountable nouns can be limited using expressions like a bit or a piece. Determiners like a/an, some, much can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. The difference between a few/few and a little/little is also explained, with the former conveying a more negative tone.

1. WEEK 3
ENGLISH VI

2. COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS
A noun can be either countable or uncountable. Uncountable nouns
cannot be made plural, and they only have one form. They take a singular
verb. Uncountable nouns are often the names of things or substances or
abstract ideas which cannot be counted.
Examples of uncountable nouns:
• Accomodation
• Traffic
• News
• Bread
• Milk
• Wine
• Information
• Advice
• electricity

3. Some nouns can be countable and uncountable and have a different
meaning.
Example:
HAIR
a. Her hair is very long. (Uncountable noun)
b. There’s a hair in this sandwich. (Countable noun)

4. COFFEE
c. Coffee grows in Brazil. (Uncountable noun - product)
d. Would you like to come round for a coffee?. (Countable noun – a cup of coffee)

5. PAPER
e. I don’t have enough paper left to finish this composition. (Uncountable noun)
f. Run out and buy me a paper, will you? (Countable noun – a newspaper)

6. Uncountable nouns can be limited by using a countable expression. A bit
or a piece are often used with uncountable nouns, although it is usually
better to use a more specific expression such as:
• A piece of/ a slice of cake
• A clap of thunder
• An item of news
• A loaf of bread

7. Determiners can be used with countable and uncountable nouns.
Singular countable nouns can use a/ an and the
Example
• A new table was delivered this morning
• The man next door is a chef.
With uncountable nouns
• How much
• A lot of
• Lots of
• Little
• A little
• Some/ any/ no
• The
• Plenty of
• A large amount of
• A great deal of
With countable nouns
• How many
• A lot of
• Lots of
• Few
• A few
• Several
• Some/ any/ no
• The
• Plenty of
• A large amount of

8. There is an important difference in meaning between a few/ few and a little/
little:
a. I’ve seen little improvement in your work recently.
b. I’ve seen a little improvement in your work recently.
Sentence a is considerably more negative than b in tone.
Compare:
a. There were few people at the meeting. (It was disappointing because not
many people were there)
b. There were few people at the meeting. (There weren’t many people there,
but there is no suggestion that more were expected)