Grammar ELearning Center
Grammar ELearning Center
Countable and uncountable noun
No.1 Countable noun Uncountable noun
1 Countable nouns are easy to recognize Uncountable nouns are substances,
such as individual objects,people,places, concepts , abstract ideas, etc that we cannot
we can count divide into separate elements.
We cannot "count" them
• dog, cat, animal, man, person
•
• music, art, love, happiness
bottle, box, litre
•
• advice, information, news
coin, note, dollar
•
• furniture, luggage
cup, plate, fork
• rice, sugar, butter, water
•
• electricity, gas, power
table, chair, suitcase, bag
• money, currency
2 Countable nouns can be singular or uncountable nouns are singular (using a
plural singular verb)
• This news is very important.
• My dog is playing. • Your luggage looks heavy.
• My dogs are hungry.
3 We can use the indefinite article a/an We do not usually use the indefinite article
with countable nouns: a/an with uncountable nouns. We cannot
A dog is an animal. say "an information" or "a music". But we
When a countable noun is singular, we can say a something of:
must use a word like a/the/my/this with
• a piece of news
it:
• I want an orange. (not I want • a bottle of water
orange.)
• Where is my bottle? (not Where • a grain of rice
is bottle?)
When a countable noun is plural, we can
use it alone:
• I like oranges.
• Bottles can break.
4 We can use some and any with We can use some and any with uncountable
countable nouns: nouns:
• I've got some dollars. • I've got some money.
• Have you got any pens? • Have you got any rice?
5 We can use a few and many with We can use a little and much with
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haninhcfl@gmail.com
Grammar ELearning Center
Grammar ELearning Center
countable nouns: uncountable nouns:
• I've got a few dollars. • I've got a little money.
• I haven't got many pens. • I haven't got much rice.
Note:
You cannot use a/an before an uncountable noun. Instead, you can use a measurement
and the word of:
A carton of orange juice Countable Uncountable
dollar money
A tin of paint
song music
A bottle of wine
suitcase luggage
A box/packet of cereal
table furniture
A jar of jam battery electricity
bottle wine
A tube of toothpaste
report information
A glass of water
tip advice
A cup of coffee journey travel
job work
A kilo of cheese
view scenery
Five metres of cable
Twenty litres of petrol
A piece of wood
A slice of bread
A piece/sheet of paper
A bar of chocolate
A loaf of bread
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