UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS

English Major

Countable and Uncountable nouns

Members:

Miguel Bravo Yèpez

Cristian Yumisaca

Eduardo Barreno

Semester:

Fifth

Riobamba June 25th, 2015.

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

It's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs.

COUNTABLE NOUNS

Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an". If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun.

Singular Pluralone dog two dogsone horse two horsesone man two menone idea two ideasone shop two shops

Examples

She has three dogs. I own a house. I would like two books please. How many friends do you have?

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. They usually do not have a plural form.

Examples

tea sugar water air rice knowledge beauty anger fear love money research safety evidence

We cannot use a/an with these nouns. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day of. If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?"

Examples

There has been a lot of research into the causes of this disease. He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview. Can you give me some information about uncountable nouns? He did not have much sugar left. Measure 1 cup of water, 300g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt. How much rice do you want?

Tricky spots

Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are:accommodation, advice, baggage, behavior, bread, furniture, information, luggage, news, progress, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work

Examples

I would like to give you some advice. How much bread should I bring? I didn't make much progress today. This looks like a lot of trouble to me. We did an hour of work yesterday.

Be careful with the noun hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural. It can be countable only when referring to individual hairs.

Examples

She has long blond hair. My father is getting a few grey hairs now. (refers to individual hairs) I found a hair in my soup! (refers to a single strand of hair)

When using countable or uncountable nouns, pay attention to articles and adjectives! Some articles and adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. However, others can be used with only countable or only uncountable nouns.

Used with Uncountable Nouns Only

much much money, much time, much food, much energy, much water

little little trouble, little equipment, little meat, little patience

a little bit of a little bit of confidence, a little bit of sleep, a little bit of snow

Used with Countable & Uncountable Nouns

the countable the monkeys, the teachers, the boats, the bananas

uncountable

the cheese, the machinery, the luggage, the grass, the knowledge

some countable some tables, some stores, some grapes, some nurses

uncountable

some time, some news, some bread, some salt

any countable any forks, any socks, any bathrooms, any waiters, any beliefs

uncountable

any advice, any soap, any transportation, any gold, any homework

no countable no magazines, no chocolates, no pilots, no rings, no markers

uncountable

no trouble, no grass, no scenery, no money, no furniture

a lot of countable a lot of animals, a lot of coins, a lot of immigrants, a lot of babies

uncountable

a lot of help, a lot of aggravation, a lot of happiness, a lot of fun

lots of countable lots of computers, lots of buses, lots of parties, lots of colleges

Used with Countable Nouns Only

a a doctor, a pen, a meal, a class

many

many cups, many books, many libraries, many flights

few few questions, few tables, few apples, few holidays, few countries

a few a few questions, a few problems, a few issues

uncountable

lots of cake, lots of ice cream, lots of energy, lots of laughter

enough countable enough plates, enough onions, enough restaurants, enough worries

uncountable

enough courage, enough wisdom, enough spaghetti, enough time

plenty of

countable plenty of houses, plenty of concerts, plenty of guitars, plenty of

uncountable

plenty of oil, plenty of sugar, plenty of cheese, plenty of space

List of Uncountable Nouns (These are sample uncountable nouns only! There are many more.)

General

homework equipment luggage clothing furniture machinery gold silver cotton glass jewelery perfume soap paper wood petrol gasoline baggage hair traffic

Abstract

advice help fun recreation enjoyment information knowledge news

patience happiness progress confidence courage education intelligence space energy laughter peace pride

Food

food flour meat rice cake bread ice cream cheese toast pasta spaghetti butter oil honey soup fish fruit salt tea coffee

Weather

thunder lightning snow rain sleet ice heat humidity hail wind light darkness

Languages

English Portuguese Hindi Arabic Japanese Korean Spanish French Russian Italian Hebrew Chinese

Subjects/Fields

mathematics economics physics ethics civics art architecture music photography grammar chemistry history commerce engineering politics sociology psychology vocabulary archaeology poetry

Sports

golf tennis baseball basketball soccer football cricket hockey rugby chess poker

bridge

Activities

swimming walking driving jogging reading writing listening speaking cooking sleeping studying working

Classroom Activiy.

Wich of the next statemenst are correct or incorrect. If the statement is incorrect you must say the correct form of that statement.

1. The money are insufficient. Incorrect

The money is insufficient

2. They have many works to do. Incorrect

They have a lot of work to do.

3. The news are very hopeful Incorrect

The news is very hopeful

4. She gave me a good advice. Incorrect

She gave me some good advice.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. Extracted from: http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/countable-and-uncountable-nouns/

2. Extracted from: http://www.engvid.com/english-resource/countable-and-uncountable-nouns/

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS

CARRERA DE IDIOMAS

TEST

Name: ____________________________________________

Date: _____________________________________________

Objective:

The next test i made for that students reinforcement their knowledge about that they had seen in the previous presentation.

Time: 10 minutes

Grade: You have an opportunity to reach 10 points as highest grade and 0 as lowest grade; each correct answer has a value of 1 point.

Fill in each space in the following sentences with an appropiate form of a countable or uncountable noun.

1. I need some __________________ about buying a house. I`ve never bought one before.

2. This type of bear has been declare dan endangered ___________________

3. You should eat fresh ___________________ such as oranges every day.

4. _______________ wich is used by dentist should be kept clean.

5. Beverly Hills 90210 is a TV ________________ about Young people in America.

6. She got __________________ to leave class early because she wasn`t feeling well.

7. Jane has blond long __________ that comes down to her shoulders.

8. Kids can use _______________ for games but they also have Access to the internet.

9. You`ll find all the ________________ you need in the shed.

10. I have so much maths ______________________ to do that I won`t be able to watch TV.