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Nouns

Countable and uncountable

nouns

© Pearson Education Limited

Today, you will review some common countable and
uncountable food nouns. You will also learn some
words that can be both countable and uncountable.
Countable / uncountable nouns
Take a look at this food pyramid.
Countable / uncountable nouns

Let’s find out if these

words are countable or
uncountable!
Countable / uncountable nouns
Countable nouns

Uncountable nouns
• yoghurt
• cheese
• milk
Countable / uncountable nouns
Countable nouns
• peas • tomatoes
• beans
• carrots
• potatoes

Uncountable nouns
• yoghurt • lettuce
• cheese
• milk
• broccoli
Countable / uncountable nouns
Countable nouns
• peas • tomatoes
• beans • noodles
• carrots
• potatoes

Uncountable nouns
• yoghurt • lettuce
• cheese • pasta
• milk • rice
• broccoli
Countable / uncountable nouns
Countable nouns
• peas • tomatoes • cherries
• beans • noodles • grapes
• carrots • longans
• potatoes • lychees

Uncountable nouns
• yoghurt • lettuce
• cheese • pasta
• milk • rice
• broccoli
Countable / uncountable nouns
Countable nouns
WHAT
!? • peas • tomatoes • cherries
• beans • noodles • grapes
• carrots • longans
• potatoes • lychees

Uncountable nouns
• yoghurt • lettuce • pork
Wait!
Do you know • cheese • pasta • beef
that chicken • milk • rice • chicken
can also be a • broccoli • steak
countable
noun?
Countable / uncountable nouns
Chicken can be both countable and uncountable.

le uncounta
countab bl e

Chicken is countable Chicken is uncountable

when we talk about it when we talk about it as
as a whole animal. a kind of meat.

I saw two chickens on I had some chicken

the farm. for lunch.
Countable / uncountable nouns
Countable nouns
• peas • tomatoes • cherries
• beans • noodles • grapes
Other than chicken, • carrots • longans
which of these words • potatoes • lychees
can also be both
countable and
uncountable? Uncountable nouns
• yoghurt • lettuce • pork
• cheese • pasta • beef
• milk • rice • chicken
• broccoli • steak
Countable / uncountable nouns
How do we use the words lettuce and steak?

le uncounta
countab bl e

Lettuce is countable Lettuce is uncountable

when we talk about it as when we talk about it as
a whole vegetable. part of a vegetable.

Can I have three Let’s add some lettuce

lettuces, please? to the salad.
Countable / uncountable nouns
How do we use the words lettuce and steak?

le uncounta
countab bl e

Steak is countable Steak is uncountable

when we talk about it when we talk about it
as a piece of meat. as a kind of meat.

My dad can eat two

I don’t like steak.
steaks each time!
Countable / uncountable nouns

When we talk about eating habits, we

usually refer to chicken, lettuce and steak
as a kind of food so in this chapter, we will use
them as uncountable nouns.
Quick Check

1. Which of these nouns can only be uncountable?

water
beef
butter These are countable
grape nouns.

carrot
chicken
This can be both countable and uncountable.
Quick Check

2. Which of these nouns can only be uncountable?

milk
yoghurt
bean lychee
These are countable nouns.

lettuce rice
This can be both countable and uncountable.
Quick Check

3. Choose the correct answer.

chicken or chickens ?

chicken for dinner

Dad had some _________
last night.
Quick Check

4. Choose the correct answer.

steak or steaks ?

steaks shall we cook tonight?

A: How many ________
B: There are six of us. Let’s cook four
steaks
________ tonight.
Well done!
Acknowledgements
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