TYPES OF NOUNS

There are two types of noun in English: Countable Nouns and Uncountable Nouns. Let's study them ...

COUNTABLE NOUNS

Also called COUNTABLES, these nouns can be either singular or plural, and are used with verbs in either the singular or the plural:

-  a meal, meals
-  this dish, those dishes
-  one colour, several colours
-  An Indian meal consists of a variety of dishes.
-  The dishes vary in colour, texture and flavour.

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Also called UNCOUNTABLES or NON-COUNTABLES, these nouns are always used with a singular verb:

-  beauty, bread, fruit, milk, oil,  water, greed, hunger
-  Fruit is served at the end of a meal.

If you want to talk about separate, countable pieces or quantities of uncountable nouns, you use an expression like:

-  a bit of,   a bottle of,  a piece of,  a slice of

The following nouns are uncountable:

-  advice,  equipment,  evidence,  furniture,  homework
-  information,  knowledge,  luggage,  news,  work

Uncountable nouns never take the indefinite article (a or an), but they do take singular verbs. The is sometimes used with uncountable nouns in the same way it is used with plural countable nouns, that is, to refer to a specific object, group, or idea. Let's see...

-  Information is a precious commodity.
-  The information in your files is correct.
-  Sugar has become more expensive recently.
-  Please pass me the sugar.

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE

Some nouns can be either countable or uncountable. It depends how they are used:

PLURAL OF COUNTABLE NOUNS

The plural of most countable nouns is -s. But can you remember what is the plural of these nouns?

-  bus/buses   bush/bushes   box/boxes   match/matches
-  country/countries   knife/knives   potato/potatoes .
-  child/children   foot/feet   tooth/teeth   mouse/mice
-  person/people   man/men   woman/women

Also remember that some nouns only exist in the plural:

-  clothes,   scissors,   sunglasses,   trousers

SOME / ANY WITH COUNTABLES AND UNCOUNTABLES

You use some and any in front of plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

a) Some is usually used in positive statements:

Some pickles and preserved chutneys may be added.
Here is some information about Indian food.

b) Any is usually used in negative statements and questions:

We don't serve any drinks during the night.
Is there any milk left in the fridge?

c) Some can also be used in questions when you expect the answer to be 'yes', or you want to encourage someone to say 'yes':

Could you get me some lemons?
Would you like some orange juice?

d) Any can also be used in positive statements when you don't want to mention a specific person or thing:

Any bank will accept these traveller's cheques.
Call me any time this evening. I'll be in the whole time.