Countable and uncountable Nouns

Countable Ns Countable Ns & & Uncountable Ns Uncountable Ns 1. 1. Definition Definition 2. 2. Comparison Comparison Countable Ns Countable Ns  can be "counted", they have a singular and can be "counted", they have a singular and plural form. plural form.  E.g. E.g.  A book, two books, three books . A book, two books, three books .  An apple, two apples, three apples An apple, two apples, three apples Uncountable Ns Uncountable Ns  cannot be counted. This means they have cannot be counted. This means they have only a singular form. It also means that only a singular form. It also means that they do not take a/an before them. they do not take a/an before them.  E.g. E.g.  Water Water  Coffee Coffee  Wine Wine  Rice Rice Comparison Comparison  Similarity Similarity  1. Can use some & any 1. Can use some & any  Countable Ns Countable Ns Some dogs Some dogs can be dangerous. can be dangerous. I don't use I don't use any computers any computers at work. at work.  Uncountable Ns Uncountable Ns I usually drink I usually drink some wine some wine with my meal. with my meal. I don't usually drink I don't usually drink any water any water with my wine. with my wine.  2. You can use a lot of & no 2. You can use a lot of & no  Countable Ns Countable Ns No computers were bought last week. No computers were bought last week. A lot of computers were reported broken the A lot of computers were reported broken the week before. week before.  Uncountable N Uncountable N s s A lot of wine is drunk in France. A lot of wine is drunk in France. No wine is drunk in Iran. No wine is drunk in Iran. Difference Difference 1. use a/an or a No in front 1. use a/an or a No in front of countable Ns of countable Ns I eat I eat an apple an apple every day. every day. 1. 1. no no a/an or No with a/an or No with uncountable Ns uncountable Ns I eat I eat rice rice every day. every day. 2. Add (s) to make a 2. Add (s) to make a countable N plural countable N plural I eat I eat an apple an apple every day. every day. Apples are Apples are good for you good for you . . 2. There is 2. There is no no plural form plural form for an uncountable N for an uncountable N I eat I eat rice rice every day. every day. Rice Rice is is good for you. good for you. 3. only use 3. only use many many & & few few with plural countable Ns with plural countable Ns Many elephants Many elephants have have been hunted. been hunted. There are There are few elephants few elephants in England. in England. 3. only use 3. only use much much & & little little with uncountable Ns with uncountable Ns I don't usually drink I don't usually drink much much coffee. coffee. Little wine Little wine is undrinkable is undrinkable though. though. ***Note ***Note  To make uncountable Ns countable, add a To make uncountable Ns countable, add a counting word ( a unit of measurement, or the counting word ( a unit of measurement, or the general word piece). We use the form "a . general word piece). We use the form "a . of ." of ."  Rice= Rice= a grain of rice a grain of rice  Water= Water= a glass of water a glass of water  Rain= Rain= a drop of rain a drop of rain  Music= Music= a piece of music a piece of music Ns that can be Countable and Ns that can be Countable and Uncountable Uncountable Countable Countable Uncountable Uncountable There are There are two hairs two hairs in in my coffee! my coffee! hair hair I don't have I don't have much much hair hair . . There are There are two lights two lights in in our bedroom. our bedroom. light light Close the curtain. Close the curtain. There's too There's too much much light light ! ! Shhhhh! I thought I Shhhhh! I thought I heard heard a noise a noise . . noise noise It's difficult to work It's difficult to work when there is too much when there is too much noise noise . . Have you got Have you got a a paper paper to read? to read? (= newspaper) (= newspaper) paper paper I want to draw a I want to draw a picture. Have you picture. Have you got got some paper some paper ? ? Our house has Our house has seven rooms seven rooms . . room room Is there Is there room room for for me to sit here? me to sit here? We had We had a great a great time time at the party. at the party. time time Have you got Have you got time time for a coffee? for a coffee? Macbeth Macbeth is one of is one of Shakespeare's Shakespeare's greatest greatest works works . . work work I have no money. I have no money. I need I need work work ! ! [...]...***Note    Drinks (coffee, water, orange juice) are usually uncountable But if we are thinking of a cup or a glass, we can say (in a restaurant, …): Two teas and one coffee please . of music Ns that can be Countable and Ns that can be Countable and Uncountable Uncountable Countable Countable Uncountable Uncountable There are There. Countable Ns Countable Ns & & Uncountable Ns Uncountable Ns 1. 1. Definition Definition 2. 2. Comparison Comparison Countable Ns Countable