Contable and uncountable nouns

1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS
ENGLISH MAJOR
Countable and Uncountale nouns
Miguel Bravo Y.
Cristian Yumisaca
Eduardo Barreno
Grammar V

2. COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
It's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because
their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs.
COUNTABLE NOUNS
Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form.
Singular Plural
one dog two dogs
one horse two horses
one man two men
Examples
 She has three dogs.
 I own a house.
 I would like two books please.
 How many friends do you have?

3. UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too
small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.). Uncountable nouns are
used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form.
Examples
 tea
 sugar
 water
 air
 rice
 knowledge
 beauty

4. We cannot use a/an with these nouns. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a
word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact
measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day
of. If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?"
Examples
 There has been a lot of research into the causes of this disease.
 He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview.
 Can you give me some information about uncountable nouns?
 He did not have much sugar left.
 Measure 1 cup of water, 300g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
 How much rice do you want?

5. Tricky spots
Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must
follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are:
accommodation, advice, baggage, behavior, bread, furniture, information, luggage,
news, progress, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work
Examples
 I would like to give you some advice.
 How much bread should I bring?
 I didn't make much progress today.
 This looks like a lot of trouble to me.
 We did an hour of work yesterday.

6. When using countable or uncountable nouns, pay attention to articles and adjectives!
Some articles and adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
Used with Countable Nouns Only
a a doctor, a pen, a meal, a class
many many cups, many books, many libraries, many flights
few few questions, few tables, few apples, few holidays, few
countries
a few a few questions, a few problems, a few issues
Used with Uncountable Nouns Only
much much money, much time, much food, much energy, much water
little little trouble, little equipment, little meat, little patience
a little bit of a little bit of confidence, a little bit of sleep, a little bit of snow

7. Used with Countable & Uncountable Nouns
the countable the monkeys, the teachers, the boats, the bananas
uncountable the cheese, the machinery, the luggage, the grass, the
knowledge
some countable some tables, some stores, some grapes, some nurses
uncountable some time, some news, some bread, some salt
any countable any forks, any socks, any bathrooms, any waiters, any beliefs
uncountable any advice, any soap, any transportation, any gold, any
homework
no countable no magazines, no chocolates, no pilots, no rings, no markers
uncountable no trouble, no grass, no scenery, no money, no furniture
a lot of countable a lot of animals, a lot of coins, a lot of immigrants, a lot of
babies
uncountable a lot of help, a lot of aggravation, a lot of happiness, a lot of
fun
lots of countable lots of computers, lots of buses, lots of parties, lots of colleges
uncountable lots of cake, lots of ice cream, lots of energy, lots of laughter
enough countable enough plates, enough onions, enough restaurants, enough
worries
uncountable enough courage, enough wisdom, enough spaghetti, enough
time
plenty of countable plenty of houses, plenty of concerts, plenty of guitars, plenty
of
uncountable plenty of oil, plenty of sugar, plenty of cheese, plenty of space

8. Uncountable Nouns List
General
 homework
 equipment
 luggage
 clothing
 furniture
Abstract
 advice
 help
 fun
 recreation
Food
 food
 flour
 meat
 rice
Weather
 thunder
 lightning
 snow
 rain
Languages
 English
 Portuguese
 Hindi
 Arabic
Subjects/Fields
 mathematics
 economics
 physics
 ethics
Sports
 golf
 tennis
 baseball
 basketball
Activities
 swimming
 walking
 driving
 jogging

9. Classroom Activiy.
Wich of the next statemenst are correct or incorrect. If the statement is incorrect you must
say the correct form of that statement.
1. The money are insufficient. Incorrect
The money is insufficient
2. They have many works to do. Incorrect
They have a lot of work to do.
3. The news are very hopeful Incorrect
The news is very hopeful
4. She gave me a good advice. Incorrect
She gave me some good advice.