Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns

What are Countable Nouns? Things we can count: 1, 2, 3... They have singular and plural forms. Examples: apple/apples, book/books, chair/chairs Affirmative: I have two books. Negative: I don’t have any books. Interrogative: Do you have a book?

Uncountable nouns

Things we cannot count individually. They have only singular form (no plural -s). Examples: water, rice, milk, money, information Affirmative: I have some rice. Negative: I don’t have any rice. Interrogative: Do you have any rice?

How to know the difference

Countable: objects, people, things you can count one by one.Examples: I have three pens. She bought two apples. There are four chairs in the room.

Uncountable: substances, liquids, materials, abstract ideas. Examples: I drink water every day. She gave me some advice. There is sugar on the table.

Using some and any

SOME: used in affirmative sentences (countable & uncountable). Examples: I have some apples. There is some milk in the fridge. We need some chairs for the party. ANY: used in negatives and questions. Examples: I don’t have any apples. Do you have any water? There aren’t any students in the class.

IMPORTANT!

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable with different meanings: Chicken → uncountable (meat: I eat chicken every day.) / countable (animal: There are three chickens in the farm.) Paper → uncountable (material: I need paper to write on.) / countable (newspaper: I bought two papers today.) Coffee → uncountable (the substance: Coffee is popular in Brazil.) / countable (a cup: I’d like two coffees, please.) Remember: Uncountable nouns always take singular verb. The information is useful. (not are useful)

Countable nouns

Countable nouns

Uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns

EXAMPLES

• Uncountable nouns (cannot be counted, no plural form):
• Substances and liquids: water, milk, juice, honey, oil
• Materials: wood, metal, plastic, glass
• Abstract ideas: advice, information, knowledge, love
• Other: bread, rice, furniture, luggage, money, music

• Countable nouns (can be counted, have plural form):

• Examples: apple, banana, car, house, student, chair, dog, computer, pen, teacher

Let's practice!

• Choose: I need (a/some) water.
• Choose: Do you have (some/any) books?
• Choose: There isn’t (some/any) milk in the fridge.
• Choose: She has (an/some) apple in her bag.
• Choose: He doesn’t have (some/any) money.
• Choose: We bought (a/some) chairs for the room.
• Choose: Do you have (an/some) idea?
• Correct the mistake: I have two breads.
• Correct the mistake: She doesn’t have a money.
• Choose: There are (some/any) students in the classroom.

Let's practice!

• I need (some) water.
• Do you have (any) books?
• There isn’t (any) milk in the fridge.
• She has (an) apple in her bag.
• He doesn’t have (any) money.
• We bought (some) chairs for the room.
• Do you have (an) idea?
• I have two breads. → I have two pieces of bread.
• She doesn’t have a money. → She doesn’t have any money.
• There are (some) students in the classroom.

Practice makes perfect!

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/3396606/countable-and-uncountable-nouns

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/19944170/food-countable-and-uncountable-nouns

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/countable-uncountable-nouns