COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS, QUANTIFIERS FORM AND USE SINGULAR PLURAL Some nouns are called COUNTABLE NOUNS: In the singular, they can be preceded by a/an or one. They have a plural form: -s or –es. COUNTABLE NOUN a chair one chair chairs two chairs some chairs several chairs a lot of chairs many chairs a few chairs few chairs UNCOUNTABLE NOUN furniture some furniture a lot of furniture much furniture a little furniture little furniture Some nouns are called UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS: They are NOT preceded by a/an or one. They do NOT have a plural form (NO final –s is added). Most UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS are things which we clearly cannot count. We use zero article, or some. Gas, liquid, material iron water paper air Grains rice sugar flour coffee Abstract ideas health time fun peace Feelings anger pity courage boredom Activities travel work research behaviour Other common UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS which do not normally have plural -s, and use a singular verb: accommodation experience information money advice furniture knowledge rubbish equipment hair luggage scenery work homework weather traffic PRACTICE 1 Complete a, an, or some and circle uncountable nouns. _____ cup _____ dog _____ flower _____ knowledge _____ guitar _____ love _____ meat _____ music _____ ear _____ oil _____ photo _____ advice _____ river _____ salt _____ snow _____ sugar _____ women _____ wool _____ information _____ article 2 Complete the sentences with the correct form, singular or plural, of the given nouns. When necessary, choose the correct word in parentheses in some of the sentences. 1 chair I bought some _______________________. 2 furniture I bought some _______________________. 3 information There (is, are) a lot of _______________________ in an encyclopaedia. 4 fact There (is, are) a lot of _______________________ in an encyclopaedia. 5 vocabulary I’m learning a lot of new _______________________. 6 word I’m learning a lot of new _______________________. 7 homework I have a lot of _______________________ to do tonight. 8 assignment The teacher gives us a lot of _______________________. 9 patience Teaching children to read requires a lot of _______________________. 10 news There (isn’t, aren’t) any interesting _______________________ in today’s paper. 3 Complete the sentences with MUCH or MANY and the singular or plural form of the noun. 1 How ____________________ (apple) did you buy? 2 Louise drinks too ____________________ (coffee). 3 How ____________________ (letter) did you get yesterday? 4 Billy has a stomach ache. He ate too ____________________ (sandwich). 5 I didn’t have ____________________ (fun) at the party. It was boring. 4 Complete the sentences with, FEW, A FEW, LITTLE, or A LITTLE. 1 She has ______________ self-confidence. She has a lot of trouble talking to new people. 2 I’m not finished with my work. I need ______________ more time. 3 I have ______________ good friends. I’m not lonely. 4 Very ______________ people think that there are other planets in our solar system with human life. 5 I need to do ______________ work before I go out tonight. 6 I have got ____________________ magazines. I prefer books. 7 We know very ______________ about the deep oceans. 8 I still have ______________ money in the bank, so I’ll wait till January to look for a job.