Countable & Uncountable Nouns

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Introduction

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Questions for Countable and Uncountable Nouns!

In questions we use a/an, any or how many with countable nouns.

Is there an email address to write to?

Are there any chairs?

How many chairs are there?

And we use any or how much with uncountable nouns.

Is there any sugar?

How much orange juice is there?

But when we are offering something or asking for something, we normally use some.

Do you want some chocolate?

Can we have some more chairs, please?

We also use some in a question when we think the answer will be 'yes'.

Have you got some new glasses?

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Other Expressions of Quantity!

A lot of (or lots of) can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

There are lots of apples on the trees.

There is a lot of snow on the road.

Notice that we don't usually use many or much in positive sentences. We use a lot of instead.

They have a lot of money.

However, in negative sentences we use not many with countable nouns and not much with uncountable nouns.

There are a lot of carrots but there aren't many potatoes.

There's lots of juice but there isn't much water.

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A continuation note!

A few and a bit of or a little mean some. Often we feel this amount is enough or more than we expected. We use a few with plural nouns and a bit of or a little with uncountable nouns.

I have a few ideas.

I've brought a few friends.

There's a bit of milk left.

It needs a little more work.

 We use few and very little to show that we are talking about a small amount. Often we feel this amount is not enough or less than we expected. Few is for countable nouns and very little is for uncountable nouns.

Few people came to the meeting.

There are few places where you can still see these birds.

We have very little time.

I have very little money.

Note that you can use little without very, but it is less common and sounds quite formal.

Example:

She had little water.

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Different Examples for Countable and Uncountable Nouns!

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More Examples of Countable and Uncountable Nouns!

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Partitive Structure with Uncountable Nouns!

To count or quantify an uncountable noun we use a unit of measurement - a measure word. 

For example, we cannot usually say “two breads” because “bread” is uncountable. 

So, if we want to specify a quantity of bread we use a measure word such as “loaf” or “slice” in a structure like “two loaves of bread” or “two slices of bread”. We call this structure a partitive structure.

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More info about Countable and Uncountable Nouns!

*Hint: The word "partitive" indicates that only "part" of a whole is being referred to. The partitive structure using a measure word(e.g, cup, boxes, cans) is common with uncountable nouns, but it can also be used with countable nouns, for example: a series of accidents, two boxes of matches, a can of worms.

We can use the same uncountable noun in different partitive expressions with different meanings. 

For example, a loaf of bread and a slice of bread are partitive expressions with different meanings. A loaf of bread is what we call a whole unit of bread that we buy from a baker. A slice of bread is what we call a smaller unit of bread after it has been cut from a loaf. 

Here are some more examples:

Don't forget to buy a bag of rice when you go shopping.

Can I have one cup of coffee and two cups of tea.

The police found some items of clothing scattered around the     floor.

I need a truck that will take at least three pieces of furniture.

You'd think a tablespoon of honey would be more than enough.

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Additional Notes!

Nouns that can be Countable and Uncountable

Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning.

*Hint: 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.

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More additional notes!

These are some more additional notes regarding countable & uncountable nouns!

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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:

music, art, love, happiness

advice, information, news

furniture, luggage

rice, sugar, butter, water

electricity, gas, power

money, currency

We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular and do not have a plural form – you can’t add an ‘s’ to it. E.g., dirt, rice, information and hair. Some uncountable nouns are abstract nouns such as advice and knowledge, and some use a singular verb. For example:

This news is very important.

Her jewelry is designed by a well-known celebrity.

I needed some advice, so I went to see the counselor.

Your luggage looks heavy.

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Countable Nouns!

Noun refers to;

A word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance or quality; can be either countable or uncountable.

There are several ways to classify nouns. One way is whether they are countable (also known as count) or uncountable (also known as non-count) nouns.

Countable nouns have singular and plural forms while uncountable nouns can be used only in the singular form.

Countable nouns, as the term suggests, refer to things that can be counted.

E.g.

table, tables 

month, months

pen, pens.

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Additions to Uncountable Nouns!

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 (uncountable noun):

a piece of news

a bottle of water

a grain of rice

We can use some and any with uncountable nouns:

I've got some money.

Have you got any rice?

We can use a little and much with uncountable nouns:

I've got a little money.

I haven't got much rice.

*Hint: Uncountable nouns are also called "mass nouns".

Some nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on the context or situation.

E.g.

We’ll have two coffees (countable).

I don’t like coffee (uncountable).

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Additions to Countable Nouns!

A countable noun becomes plural by adding ‘s’ at the end of the word. Of course, there are exceptions –

E.g.

man, men 

child, children 

goose, geese.

For positive sentences, we can use a/an for singular nouns or some for plurals nouns.

For example:

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.

For example:

I don't have a dog.

There aren't any seats.

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