Grammar reference 3

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Please watch this video to clearly understand this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SbJ1B1MTQg
Publicado por: 7ESL Learning English

Definition Definición Singular form (Forma singular) Plural form (Forma plural)

Forma de los Uso de Forma de los Uso de

verbos: quantifiers verbos: quantifiers

Countable Are individual Son personas, Singular verbs You can only Plural verbs (are, You can say:
nouns people, animals, animales, lugares (is, has, looks, use: have, look, etc.)
places, or things o cosas que etc.) are used are used with We have a lot of

which can be pueden ser with singular a (a dog) plural countable pancakes.

counted. contadas. countable nouns. nouns

or We have many

It can be singular – My sister is My two sisters are pancakes.

an (an
a dog, a house, a Pueden ser beautiful. pretty.
umbrella) We have several
friend, etc. or singular – a dog,
pancakes.
plural – a few a house, a friend,
I have a dog.
books, lots of etc. o plural – a
We have only a
oranges, etc. few books, lots of I have an few pancakes.
oranges, etc.. umbrella.
 Uncountable Cannot be counted. No pueden ser Only singular There are some - -
nouns Some examples of contados. verbs are used words that you
uncountable nouns with can use with
are: milk, flour, uncountable uncountable
Uncountable Uncountable
electricity, Ejemplos: milk, nouns (is, has, nouns: nouns nouns
happiness, flour, electricity, looks, etc.) (remember that don’t have plural don’t have plural
information, love, happiness, uncountable forms forms
money. information, love, Milk is very nouns are
money. important to always singular)
You cannot say one grow healthy.
electricity or ten I have a lot of
milks. money

I have much
No se puede decir: money
one electricity o
ten milks. I have some
money
I have only a
little money

* The quantifier any can only be used for questions or negative sentences (singular or plural):
Is there any milk in the fridge? No, there isn't any milk in the fridge.
Are there any flowers in the basket? No there aren't any flowers in the basket.

* The quantifier some can only be used for affirmative sentences (singular or plural):
There is some milk in the fridge.
There are some flowers in the basket.

You can add some words that can let you count an Uncountable noun: a container or unit you can count.

Examples:

• Garbage – There are nine bags of garbage on the curb.

• Water – Try to drink at least eight glasses of water each day.
• Advice – She gave me a useful piece of advice.
• Bread – Please buy a loaf of bread.
• Furniture – A couch is a piece of furniture.
• Cheese – Please bag ten slices of cheese for me.