Grammar Lessons

Gabriel Roldán

6th B

Countable and Uncountable nouns

It is 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 Plural

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

A dog. Two dogs.

One bed. Two beds.

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.

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, and 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.

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.

The child's hair was curly.

I washed my hair yesterday.

My father is getting a few grey hairs now. (refers to individual hairs)

How Much and How Many

It is important to understand the difference between uncountable and countable nouns

and when to use how many and much. Uncountable nouns are often used to describe

large categories, while count nouns are usually more specific.

Examples:

There is a car in the street. (singular countable noun)

Question: How many cars are in the street?

Answer: There are a few cars in the street (plural countable noun)

Question: How much traffic is there?

Answer: There is a lot of traffic. (uncountable noun)

Much and Many are usually used with the negative:

Examples:

There are not many students in the classroom. (Perhaps four or 5 students)

There is not much food in the refrigerator. (A small amount of food)

Any + not, never, or without expresses zero:

Examples:

There aren't any students in the classroom (zero)

There is not any food in the refrigerator. It is empty.

He went outside without any shoes. (There are no shoes on his feet.)

They never want to eat any vegetables or drink any milk.

Much and Many are not usually used in the affirmative:

Examples:

There are many apples in the basket. It sounds better to say...

There are a lot of apples in the basket.

There is much milk in the refrigerator. It sounds better to say...

There is a lot of milk in the refrigerator.

Some and Any

The words some and any are used when the speaker cannot specify or does not

need/want to specify a number or an exact amount. Compare the following sentences:

I saw seven deer when riding my bike in the forest yesterday.

(It is important that you know how many deer I saw.)

I saw some deer when riding my bike in the forest yesterday.

(I do not know exactly how many deer I saw. Or: It is not important that you know

exactly

The "rules" that follow apply also to words containing some and any.

Examples:

Somebody

Anybody

Something

Anything

In general, some is used in positive sentences and any is used in negative sentences and

questions.

Examples:

I got some nice presents for Christmas this year.

This job is going to take some time.

I did not get any nice presents for Christmas this year.

I looked in the cupboard but I could not find any biscuits.

In fact, the use of some/any is a little more complicated. Following are two common

occasions when the above "rules" are "broken":

We can use some in questions when offering/requesting and we use any in positive

sentences when we mean it does not matter which...

Examples:

Would you like some more tea?

Could I have some milk, please?

You can come and ask for my help any time.

Should and Shouldn´t

We use should and should not to give advice or to talk about what we think is right or

wrong.

You should means something like I think it is a good idea for you to do it.

You should not means something like I think it is a bad idea for you to do it.

Should is used to express the opinion of a speaker and often follows I think or I do not

think.

Examples:

You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.

Alice works very long hours. She should talk to her boss.

I have an English test tomorrow.

I should not worry if I were you. You have worked hard.

I never have enough money.

I do not think you should go out so much.

Should - Quick Grammar Note

To give advice to someone you can also say:

I should do it if I were you.

I should not be so rude, if I were you.

When you regret not doing something in the past, you can say:

I should not have spoken to him like that.