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UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS
English Major
Countable and Uncountable nouns
Members:Miguel Bravo YèpezCristian YumisacaEduardo Barreno
Semester:Fifth
Riobamba June 25th, 2015.
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
It's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs.
COUNTABLE NOUNS
Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an". If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun.
Singular Pluralone dog two dogsone horse two horsesone man two menone idea two ideasone shop two shops
Examples
She has three dogs. I own a house. I would like two books please. How many friends do you have?
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers. They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.). Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form.
Examples
tea sugar water air rice knowledge beauty anger fear love money research safety evidence
We cannot use a/an with these nouns. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day of. If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?"
Examples
There has been a lot of research into the causes of this disease. He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview. Can you give me some information about uncountable nouns? He did not have much sugar left. Measure 1 cup of water, 300g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt. How much rice do you want?
Tricky spots
Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are:accommodation, advice, baggage, behavior, bread, furniture, information, luggage, news, progress, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work
Examples
I would like to give you some advice. How much bread should I bring? I didn't make much progress today. This looks like a lot of trouble to me. We did an hour of work yesterday.
Be careful with the noun hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural. It can be countable only when referring to individual hairs.
Examples
She has long blond hair. My father is getting a few grey hairs now. (refers to individual hairs) I found a hair in my soup! (refers to a single strand of hair)
When using countable or uncountable nouns, pay attention to articles and adjectives! Some articles and adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. However, others can be used with only countable or only uncountable nouns.
Used with Uncountable Nouns Only
much much money, much time, much food, much energy, much water
little little trouble, little equipment, little meat, little patience
a little bit of a little bit of confidence, a little bit of sleep, a little bit of snow
Used with Countable & Uncountable Nouns
the countable the monkeys, the teachers, the boats, the bananas
uncountable
the cheese, the machinery, the luggage, the grass, the knowledge
some countable some tables, some stores, some grapes, some nurses
uncountable
some time, some news, some bread, some salt
any countable any forks, any socks, any bathrooms, any waiters, any beliefs
uncountable
any advice, any soap, any transportation, any gold, any homework
no countable no magazines, no chocolates, no pilots, no rings, no markers
uncountable
no trouble, no grass, no scenery, no money, no furniture
a lot of countable a lot of animals, a lot of coins, a lot of immigrants, a lot of babies
uncountable
a lot of help, a lot of aggravation, a lot of happiness, a lot of fun
lots of countable lots of computers, lots of buses, lots of parties, lots of colleges
Used with Countable Nouns Only
a a doctor, a pen, a meal, a class
many
many cups, many books, many libraries, many flights
few few questions, few tables, few apples, few holidays, few countries
a few a few questions, a few problems, a few issues
uncountable
lots of cake, lots of ice cream, lots of energy, lots of laughter
enough countable enough plates, enough onions, enough restaurants, enough worries
uncountable
enough courage, enough wisdom, enough spaghetti, enough time
plenty of
countable plenty of houses, plenty of concerts, plenty of guitars, plenty of
uncountable
plenty of oil, plenty of sugar, plenty of cheese, plenty of space
List of Uncountable Nouns (These are sample uncountable nouns only! There are many more.)
General
homework equipment luggage clothing furniture machinery gold silver cotton glass jewelery perfume soap paper wood petrol gasoline baggage hair traffic
Abstract
advice help fun recreation enjoyment information knowledge news
patience happiness progress confidence courage education intelligence space energy laughter peace pride
Food
food flour meat rice cake bread ice cream cheese toast pasta spaghetti butter oil honey soup fish fruit salt tea coffee
Weather
thunder lightning snow rain sleet ice heat humidity hail wind light darkness
Languages
English Portuguese Hindi Arabic Japanese Korean Spanish French Russian Italian Hebrew Chinese
Subjects/Fields
mathematics economics physics ethics civics art architecture music photography grammar chemistry history commerce engineering politics sociology psychology vocabulary archaeology poetry
Sports
golf tennis baseball basketball soccer football cricket hockey rugby chess poker
bridge
Activities
swimming walking driving jogging reading writing listening speaking cooking sleeping studying working
Classroom Activiy.
Wich of the next statemenst are correct or incorrect. If the statement is incorrect you must say the correct form of that statement.
1. The money are insufficient. Incorrect
The money is insufficient
2. They have many works to do. Incorrect
They have a lot of work to do.
3. The news are very hopeful Incorrect
The news is very hopeful
4. She gave me a good advice. Incorrect
She gave me some good advice.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
1. Extracted from: http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/countable-and-uncountable-nouns/
2. Extracted from: http://www.engvid.com/english-resource/countable-and-uncountable-nouns/
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS
CARRERA DE IDIOMAS
TEST
Name: ____________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________________
Objective:
The next test i made for that students reinforcement their knowledge about that they had seen in the previous presentation.
Time: 10 minutes
Grade: You have an opportunity to reach 10 points as highest grade and 0 as lowest grade; each correct answer has a value of 1 point.
Fill in each space in the following sentences with an appropiate form of a countable or uncountable noun.
1. I need some __________________ about buying a house. I`ve never bought one before.
2. This type of bear has been declare dan endangered ___________________
3. You should eat fresh ___________________ such as oranges every day.
4. _______________ wich is used by dentist should be kept clean.
5. Beverly Hills 90210 is a TV ________________ about Young people in America.
6. She got __________________ to leave class early because she wasn`t feeling well.
7. Jane has blond long __________ that comes down to her shoulders.
8. Kids can use _______________ for games but they also have Access to the internet.
9. You`ll find all the ________________ you need in the shed.
10. I have so much maths ______________________ to do that I won`t be able to watch TV.