Countable & uncountable nouns

I) Introduction
Some nouns can be counted:

One flower Two flowers

Others can’t be counted: water, rice, milk... You can count glasses of water, but not water
for example.

General rules
Countable Uncountable
- The article a can be used: - The article a can’t be used
An apple A water
A chair A rice
- They can be used in plural - They can’t be used in plural
Apples Waters
Chairs Rices

© Núria Abad Riva

Grammar Sheet 11
Level A1 – Elementary
EOI Martorell
 II) Some, any

Affirmative Countable - a/an + singular We need an apple.

sentences nouns - number + plural We need two apples.
- some + plural We need some apples.

Uncountable - some + singular We need some butter.

nouns
Negative Countable - a + singular We don’t need an apple.
sentences nouns - number + plural We don’t need two apples.
- any + plural We don’t need any apples.

Uncountable - any + singular We don’t need any water.

nouns We don’t need any rice
Interrogative Countable - a + singular Do we need an apple?
sentences nouns - number + plural Do we need two apples?
- any + plural Do we need any apples?

Uncountable - any + singular Do we need any sugar?

nouns Do we need any rice?

III) Asking about quantity

To ask about quantity, we use how much and how many:
- How much + uncountable nouns how much sugar do you need?
- How many + countable nouns how many chairs are there in the class?

IV) Expressing quantity

A lot of Quite a lot of Not much/many – (A) few/little Any/no

X X X X
+ -

© Núria Abad Riva

Grammar Sheet 11
Level A1 – Elementary
EOI Martorell
 a) Big quantity a lot of + countable/uncountable nouns
I drink a lot of water.
I eat a lot of sweets.
Quite a lot of + countable/uncountable nouns
I drink quite a lot of water.
I eat quite a lot of sweets.

b) Small quantity not ... much + uncountable nouns

I don’t drink much water.
not ... many + countable nouns
I don’t eat many sweets.
(a) little + uncountable
I drink (a) little water.
(a) few + countable
I eat (a) few sweets.

c) Zero quantity any + countable (plural) / uncountable (singular) nouns

with a negative verb
I don’t drink any water.
I don’t eat any sweets.
no + countable (plural) / uncountable (singular) nouns
with a positive verb
I drink no water.
I eat no sweets.

V) Expressing quantity in excess

- too much + uncountable nouns There’s too much sugar in my coffee.
- too many + countable nouns There are too many chairs in the class.

With adjectives, we use too.

This sofa is too old.

© Núria Abad Riva

Grammar Sheet 11
Level A1 – Elementary
EOI Martorell
 VI) Expressing the appropriate quantity
- Enough + countable and uncountable nouns:
There’s enough sugar in my coffee.
There are enough chairs in the class.

NOTES
1) When we refer to a verb, we don’t use a lot of, we use a lot:
Peter smokes a lot. (verb + a lot)
Peter smokes a lot of cigarettes. (a lot of + noun)
2) We can use the expressions of quantity in short answers:
How much water do you drink?
A lot / quite a lot / not much / (a) little / none.
How many sweets do you eat?
A lot / quite a lot / not many / (a) few / none.

© Núria Abad Riva

Grammar Sheet 11
Level A1 – Elementary
EOI Martorell