|
 |
 |
DISEÑADO EN |
|
60 |
|
LECCIONES |
|
Countable
& Uncountable Nouns |
|
|
The
meaning of highlighted words is explained at the end of the
passage.
|
-
Countable nouns are easy to
recognize and express
things you can count. For example: "chair". You can count chairs.
You can have one, two, three or more chairs at home. Here are some more countable
nouns:
dog,
cat, animal, man, person, bottle,
box, litre, coin,
note, dollar, cup,
plate, fork, table,
chair, suitcase.
-
Countable nouns can be singular or plural:
My cat is playing; My
cats are hungry.
-
You can use the indefinite article
A/AN
with countable nouns:
A
cat is an animal.
-
When a countable noun is singular,
you must use a
word like A/THE/MY/THIS with it: I
want an orange. (not I want orange); Where
is my bottle? (not Where is bottle?).
-
When a countable noun is plural,
you can use it
alone:
I
like oranges; Bottles
can break.
-
You can use
SOME and ANY with
countable nouns:
I've
got some dollars; Have
you got any pens?
-
You can use
A FEW and MANY with
countable nouns:
I've
got a few dollars; I
haven't got many pens.
|
|
TIP |
"People" is countable.
"People" is the plural of "person". You can count
people.
i.e. There is one person here. There are
three people here.
|
-
Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts, etc.
that you cannot divide into separate elements. You cannot "count"
them. For example, you cannot count "milk". You can count
"bottles of milk" or "litres of milk", but YOU CANNOT
COUNT "milk" itself. Here are some more uncountable nouns:
music,
art, love, happiness, advice,
information, news, furniture,
luggage,
sugar, butter, water, electricity,
gas, power, money
(YOU CANNOT SAY: one money, two moneys, BUT you can say: ONE
dollar note, TWO dollar notes).
-
You usually
consider uncountable nouns as singular. In that case, you must
use a SINGULAR VERB. For example: This
news is very important;
Your
luggage looks heavy.
-
You do not usually use the indefinite article
A/AN
with uncountable nouns. You CANNOT SAY "an information" or
"a music". But you can say a "something" of: a
piece of
news,
a
bottle of
water,
a
grain of
rice, a can of Coke, etc.
-
You can use
SOME and ANY with
uncountable nouns:
I've
got some money; I need some water; Have
you got any rice?
-
You can use
A LITTLE and MUCH with
uncountable nouns: I've
got a little money; I
haven't got much rice.
|
|
TIP |
Drinks
(coffee, water, juices, etc.) are usually uncountable. But if you
are thinking of a cup/glass, we can also say: Two
teas and one
coffee, please. |
|
Countable
and Uncountable Nouns
|
|
Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and
uncountable, often with a change of meaning.
|
|
COUNTABLE |
NOUNS |
UNCOUNTABLE |
|
There are two hairs in my coffee!
|
hair |
I don't have much hair.
|
|
There are two lights in our bedroom.
|
light |
Close the curtain. There's too much light!
|
|
Shhhhh! I thought I heard a noise.
|
noise |
I
can't work when there is too much noise.
|
|
Have you got a
newspaper to read?
|
paper |
I want to draw. Have you got some paper?
|
|
Our house has seven rooms.
|
room |
Is there room for me to sit here?
|
|
We had a great time at the party.
|
time |
Have you got time for a coffee?
|
|
La Traviata is one of Verdi's works.
|
work |
I have no money. I need work!
|
|
