Ountable Nouns: A Dog Is An Animal
Ountable Nouns: A Dog Is An Animal
Ountable Nouns: A Dog Is An Animal
Countable nouns are easy to recognize. They are things that we can count. For example:
"pen". We can count pens. We can have one, two, three or more pens. Here are some
more countable nouns:
My dog is playing.
My dogs are hungry.
A dog is an animal.
When a countable noun is singular, we must use a word like a/the/my/this with it:
I like oranges.
Bottles can break.
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts etc that we cannot divide into separate
elements. We cannot "count" them. For example, we cannot count "milk". We can count
"bottles of milk" or "litres of milk", but we cannot count "milk" itself. Here are some
more uncountable nouns:
We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a singular verb. For example:
We do not usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns. We cannot say
"an information" or "a music". But we can say a something of:
a piece of news
a bottle of water
a grain of rice
Countable Uncountable
dollar money
song music
suitcase luggage
table furniture
battery electricity
bottle wine
report information
tip advice
journey travel
job work
view scenery
When you learn a new word, it's a good idea to learn whether it's countable or
uncountable.
Countable Uncountable
There are two hairs in my coffee! hair I don't have much hair.
Our house has seven rooms. room Is there room for me to sit here?
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, for example):
Two teas and one coffee please.
Much, many and a lot.
"Much", "many", and "a lot of" indicate a large quantity of something, for example "I
have a lot of friends " means I have a large quantity of friends.
How much money have you got? I haven't got much money.
I have got a lot.
I have got a lot of money.
How many students are in the classroom? There aren't many.
There are a lot.
There are a lot of/lots of students.
It is also possible (and preferable) to use many and much rather than a lot of,
lots of and a lot in formal written English.
Example:
There are many students.
Much time was spent on studying.
So if you're speaking or writing to friends (informal), use a lot, a lot of, lots of. But if
you want to be more formal, perhaps it is preferable to use much and many.
Rememeber:
Examples:
"Carla has so many friends."
"She has as many friends as Sue."
"Kevin has too much money."
Summary:
The expressions (very) little and (very) few mean hardly any or not enough.
Examples Meaning
I've got a little money. I'm going to the cinema. some/enough
I've got a few friends. We meet everyday.
I've got (very) little money. I need to borrow some. hardly any / not enough
I've got (very) few friends. I need to make new friends.
The rules:
Affirmative sentences:
A little, a few, (very) little and (very) few are generally used in affirmative
statements, not negatives or questions.
1. A little and (very) little are used with uncountable nouns (money, bread,
water...)
2. A few and (very) few are used with countable nouns (friends, tables,
teachers..)
Meaning:
Example:
"I have got a little money" = I have got some money. It's enough for me
to do what I want.
"I have got a few friends" = I have got some or enough friends.
We meet every day.
2. (Very) little and (very) few mean; hardly any or not enough.
Examples:
I have got (very) little money = I have got hardly any. I haven't got
enough. I'll borrow some from my friend.
I have got (very) few friends = I have got hardly any. I haven't got
enough. I need to make new friends.
1. The receptionist at the front desk gave me two _______ .a) informations b)
information c) pieces of information d) lots of information
2.My cousin is very beautiful. She has green eyes and ________ .a) long hair b) long
hairs c) a long hair d) a long length of hair
3. _________ have you got in the bank? Is it enough to buy a house?) How many
moneys b) How many money c) How much money d) How much moneys
4. On Saturday, my friend Paul went fishing and he caught ________ .a) three fish b)
three fishes c) three items of fish d) three of fish
5. Can I borrow _______ from you? I've left mine at home and I want to write some
notes.a) paper b) a paper c) a slice of paper d) a piece of paper
6. How many ________ did the teacher give us today? He always gives us a lot to
do.a) homework b) homeworks c) a lot of homework d) pieces of homework
7. Every morning before I come to school, I spend thirty minutes doing _______
.That's how I stay so slim.a) exercise b) an exercise c) some exercises d) some
pieces of exercise
8. Your sister is a great pianist. She played ________ at the party. a) a lovely music b)
some lovely musics c) lovely musics d) a lovely piece of music
children coffee experience fish fish furniture help house work luggage money news
sugar things time times wine women