Countable nouns & Uncountable nouns

Countable nouns

e.g. I eat a banana every day. I like bananas.

“Banana” is a countable noun.

A countable noun can be1. singular (banana) or

Countable nouns are things we can count.

So we can say ‘one banana’ ,‘two bananas’ etc.

Countable nouns

2. plural (bananas)

Countable nounsExamples of countable nouns

singular plural apple apples

pineapple pineapples

cucumber cucumbers strawberry strawberries grape grapes

Countable nouns

We add -es to most nouns in -o:tomato tomatoespotato potatoes

But we just add -s to:radio radios

photo photos

Uncountable nouns

e.g. I eat rice everyday. I like rice.

Rice is an uncountable noun.

Uncountable nouns An uncountable noun has only one form.

(rice)

• Uncountable nouns are things we cannot count.

• We cannot say ‘one rice’, ‘two rices’, etc.

Uncountable nouns

Examples of uncountable nouns:

salad dressing

lettuce

ham

water

milk

A dog is an animal. I’m waiting for a bus.

When a countable noun is singular, we must use a word like a/the/my/this with it.

Example: I want an orange. (not I want

orange.) Where is my bottle? (not Where is

bottle?)

The use of “Is/are some”

Study the following table:

is meatcheese

in the f ridge.

There

are

some

rulerspencils

on the desk.

We use ‘is some’ when the noun is uncountable. (meat, cheese.)

We use ‘are some’ when the countable noun is plural. (rulers, pencils.)

Is/are some

Isn’t/aren’t any

Study the following table:

isn’t milkcoff ee

in the shop.

There

aren’t

any

disheswatches

under the bed.

We use ‘isn’t any’ when the noun is uncountable. (milk, coffee.)

We use ‘aren’t any’ when the countable noun is plural. (dishes, watches)

Isn’t/aren’t any

Expression of quantity

Expression of quantity

Used with countable nouns

Used with uncountable

nouns

Oneeachevery

One appleeach clothevery bus

---

Twobotha couple ofa fewseveralmany

Two pencilsboth bottlesA couple of shoesA few booksSeveral pagesMany computers

------

A littlemuch

--

A little riceMuch money

Not any noa lot ofplenty ofmostall

Not any photosNo photosA lot of peoplePlenty of carsMost watchesAll students

Not any waterNo waterA lot of hairPlenty of lightMost sugarAll coffee

Expression of quantity

Used with countable

nouns

Used with uncountable

nouns

I. Put the correct form of the given words into the spaces.

1.John is eating some __________(potato).2.Is there any ___________ (water) in the

jar?3.Mother says, ‘Gogo, please give me

some __________ (jam).’4.There are some _________ (fish) in the

river.5.There aren’t any ______________(tomato)

on the table.

potatoes

water

jam

fish

tomatoes

II. Put the correct answer into the spaces with “some” or “any”.

1.There is not ________sugar in the coffee.2.There are ___________ stars in the sky.3.There aren’t ________ roses on the table.4.Father says, ‘Please give me ________ oil.’5.Is there ________ orange juice?6.There is ________ paper on the desk.

anysome

anysome

any

some

Look! How many mark(s) do you get?

8-11 Well done!

4-7 You can do much better!

0-3 Work hard! Don’t give up!