Countable & Uncountable Nouns Group 4
Countable Nouns Grammar • Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers, they have singular and plural form. • The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an" and if you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, ask "How many?" combined with the countable plural noun.
Examples Singular
Plural
one dog
two dogs
one horse
two horses
one man
two men
one idea
two ideas
one shop
two shops
For positive sentences we can use a/an for singular nouns or some for plurals. • There's a man at the door. • I have some friends in New York. For negatives we can use a/an for singular nouns or any for plurals. • I don't have a dog. • There aren't any seats.
Uncountable Nouns • Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers. 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.
Examples bread
rice
coffee
information
money
advice
luggage
furniture
•You're eating some cake. •There's some egg on your t-shirt. •There is any glass of milk. •There is some water in the pool
When do you use indefinite article (a-an)? •The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is unknown. •There are certain situations in which a noun does not carry an article. •a (before a singular noun that begins with a consonant sound) •an (before a singular noun that begins with a vowel sound)
Examples: •I think there is an animal in the garage. •That man is a firefighter. •Yesterday I had an apple. The apple was juicy and delicious.
The quantifiers some and any •Some: Is an unspecified quantity. It could be big or small, we don't know. Normally it is medium. •Any: Is also an unspecified quantity. It refers to one, some or all. So it's a quantity from 1 to infinity.
Examples: •I have some money. •I must go home. I have some homework to do. •Do you have any homework to do?