ENGLISH GRAMMAR B1

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

1. Countable nouns

Countable nouns refer to nouns which can be counted. They have singular and
plural forms: tree-trees; knife-knives; child-children; man-men

Singular countable nouns can be used with a/an: a book, an elephant.

Plural countable nouns can be used with numbers or with some/any: Our family
has some animals: a dog and three cats.

2. Uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns refer to nouns which cannot be counted. They have no

plural form: advice, furniture, information, homework. To make uncountable
nouns countable, we use countable nouns like piece, slice, spoonful, box, etc: a
piece of advice, three slices of bread, two spoonfuls of sugar, a bowl of rice.

3. Both countable and uncountable

In English, some nouns can be both countable or uncountable. Here are some
examples:

NOUN USED AS AN USED AS A

UNCOUNTABLE COUNTABLE
NOUN NOUN

Iron Material: They tried to Electrical appliance: I

change iron into gold. scorched my dress
with the iron.

Intentaron cambiar o Queimei o meu

ferro por ouro. vestido co ferro.
Glass Material: Glass can be Container:
recycled from old Champagne was
bottles. fizzing in the glass.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR B1

O vidro das botellas O champán fai

vellas pódese reciclar. burbullas na copa.
Time Length of an activity: Number of times:
How much time did it Mary had seen the
take you to sing? film many times.

Canto tempo tardaches María xa vira a

en cantar? película varias veces.
Light Energy form: I closed Lamps/light bulbs: I
my eyes against the switched on the light
bright light. in the bedroom.

Pechei os ollos por Acendín a luz do

causa da luz brillante. cuarto.
Work An activity: Stop A product: This is the
talking and get on work of Shakespeare.
with your work.

Deixa de falar e ponte Isto é obra de

a traballar. Shakespeare.
Lamb An animal: My Meat from a lamb: I
grandfather has two love lamb roast.
lambs.

O meu avó ten dous Encántame o año ó

años. forno.

4. Some and any with countable and uncountable nouns

We use some and any when we can’t or don’t want to specify a number or an
exact amount.

I saw six cars without parking permits in the car park. (It is important that you
know how many cars I saw)

Tr: Vin seis coches sen permiso de aparcamento no aparcadoiro.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR B1

I saw some cars without parking permits in the car park. (I don’t know exactly
how many cars I saw)

Tr: Vin algúns coches sen permiso de aparcamento no aparcadoiro.

In general, we use some in positive sentences and any in negative sentences and
questions.

I got some nice presents for my birthday this year.

Tr: Este ano recibín uns bos agasallos polo meu aniversario.

I didn’t get any nice presents for my birthday this year.

Tr: Este ano non recibín ningún bo agasallo polo meu aniversario.

NOTE: We can also use some in questions when we offer or request something.

Would you like some coffee?

Tr: Gustaríache tomar un pouco de café?

Could I have some juice, please?

Tr: Podería tomar un pouco de zume, por favor?

5. Much, many, a lot of and lots of

These words and phrases tell us how much of something there is.

For large quantities, we use many with plural countable nouns.

There aren’t many trains at night.

Tr: Non hai moitos trens pola noite.

How many times have you been to London?

Tr: Cantas veces estiveches en Londres?

For uncountable nouns in questions and negative sentences, we use much.

How much money do you need?

ENGLISH GRAMMAR B1

Tr: Canto diñeiro precisas?

We don’t have much time.

Tr: Non temos moito tempo.

We use a lot of and lots of with plural countable and uncountable nouns.

A lot of/Lots of students ride bikes to college.

Tr: Moitos estudantes van en bicicleta ó instituto.

You can save a lot of/lots of money if you cycle or walk.

Tr: Podes aforrar moito diñeiro se vas en bicicleta ou andando.

6. Few, a few
We use few when we want to talk about very small quantities with plural
countable nouns.

Few people in my class speak Russian. (hardly any)

Tr: Moi pouca xente da miña clase fala ruso.

We use the phrase a few when we mean some.

A few people in my class speak Russian. (a small number)
Tr: Algunhas persoas da miña clase falan ruso.

7. Little, a little

Little and a little follow the same pattern as few and a few. The only difference
is that we use few and a few with countable nouns in the plural form, and we
use little and a little with uncountable nouns.

We had little time to prepare before the exam started. (hardly any)
Tr: Tivemos moi pouco tempo para prepararnos antes de que comezara o
exame.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR B1

We had a little time to prepare before the exam started. (a small amount)
Tr: Tivemos un pouco de tempo para prepararnos antes de que comezara o
exame.

8. All, almost all, most

The words all, almost and most cause some confusion. Here are the most
important differences between them.

Almost is an adverb which means “nearly”.

I almost failed my driving test. (but I didn’t fail)

Tr: Case suspendo o meu exame de conducir.

He is almost a hundred years old. (he’ll be 100 next month)

Tr: Ten case 100 anos.

Almost all means “nearly all”.

I know almost all the people here. (nearly all the people)
Tr: Coñezo a case todas as persoas que están aquí.

Most means the majority or 60% +.

Most young people would like to be rich and famous.

Tr: Á maioría da xente nova gustaríalle ser rica e famosa.

I have visited most countries in Africa. (but not all)

Tr: Visitei a maioría dos países de África.

We can also use most as a pronoun.

Most of my friends are aged 20 to 30.

Tr: A maioría dos meus amigos ten entre 20 e 30 anos.