COUNTABLE, UNCOUNTABLE, QUANTITIES

Expressing quantities

Countable VS Uncountable

They don’t have the plural, but only the singular. We can’t count them.

They have a singular and a plural, because we can count them.

Sugar Water Flour Meat Ketchup Salt Some nouns are uncountable in English but countable in Italian Homework Money Spinach News Advice Furniture Hair Luggage

A potato – four potatoes A computer – two computers A school – three schools A tomato – three tomatoes Etc…

Be careful!

Some nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on the meaning:

EXPRESSING QUANTITY

Some/ Any (indefinite quantities) We use them with plural nouns and uncountable nouns.

A lot of/ Much/ Many: A big quantity of …

A lot of Countable and uncountable, affirmatives. Much Uncountable, negatives and questions. Many Countable (plurals), negatives and questions. I have a lot of homework for tomorrow. There were a lot of old olives. I haven’t much homework for tomorrow. There weren’t many olives. Do you have much homework for tomorrow? / Were there many olives?

SOME: Affirmatives ANY: Negatives and questions I bought some oranges. I’m making some pasta sauce. I didn’t buy any oranges. I’m not making any pasta sauce. Did you buy any oranges? Have you got any salt?

A little/ A few: a small quantity of…

How much…?/ How many…? Ask for quantity

How much Uncountable How many Countable How much salt did you put in this? How many chairs are there in the kitchen?

A little Uncountable. (=not much) A few Countable. (=not many) I put a little cocoa in the milk. There are a few oranges for the juice.