Jessica eats an
apple every day.
She loves apples.
Apple is a countable noun.
We can count apples.
Countable nouns are nouns
we can count.
An apple, two apples, three apples...
They have a singular and a
plural form.
apple apples
We use a, an or a number
before a countable noun.
apple applesan three
With countable nouns we can
use a singular verb or a plural
verb.
This apple is delicious. These apples are delicious.
Emily drinks milk
every morning.
She loves milk.
Milk is an uncountable noun.
We cannot count milk.
Uncountable nouns are nouns
we can’t count.
We cannot say:"a milk” or “ ten milks”.
They have only a singular
form.
milk
We can’t use a, an or a number
before an uncountable noun.
milka
Uncountable nouns always
use a singular verb.
Milk is white.
To count or quantify an uncountable
noun we use a unit of measurement -
a measure word.
two loaves of bread two slices of bread
We can measure sugar and other
powders in kilograms.
a kilogram of sugar
We can also measure sugar in
packets.
two packets of sugar
Other measure words you can use
with uncountable nouns are:
a piece of cake
two teaspoons of
sugar
Liquids and gases can also be made countable
by counting the containers they are in or by using
a unit of measure.
a glass of water two bottles of juice
Sometimes an uncountable noun is used
in plural form.
I’ve already drunk
two coffees this
morning.
= two cups of
coffee
The country produces
hundreds of different
cheeses.
= different types of cheese.
This is usually connected to drink or
materials.
I’ve already drunk
two coffees this
morning.
= two cups of
coffee
The country produces
hundreds of different
cheeses.
= different types of cheese.
Uncountable nouns can be grouped
as follows:
1. Powder or grains.
rice salt flour sand cheese cake
…
2. Liquids and gases.
soup tea coffee water
smoke fog …
3. Materials.
wood steel gold paper
wool cotton …
4. Data and abstracts.
love luck education intelligence
information advice …
5. Grouped ideas or concepts.
fruit money food news
luggage…
6. Subjects.
maths science
English
economics
…
7. Energy.
heat cold light sunshine
…
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Countable and Uncountable nouns