Countable and Uncountable Nouns Guide
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ScribdTranslationsCountable and Uncountable Nouns Guide
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ScribdTranslationsApple is an example of a countable noun, because we can count apples, and for
both has a singular form and a plural form.
apple
three apples
Examples of countable nouns:
apples, hamburgers, biscuits, chairs, cups
However, some things, such as liquids, cannot be counted and for that reason
They do not normally go in plural.
milk (It's not possible `milks´)
Examples of uncountable nouns:
milk, soup, money, bread, cheese, meat, rice
A and an
‘A’ and ‘an’ are used only with singular countable nouns. We use
a before consonant sounds and an before vowel sounds.
a pen
an orange
a university
an umbrella
a chair
an apple
a house
an hour (the h is silent)
Some
Some is used with uncountable nouns and also with the plural of.
countable, in affirmative sentences.
I have some milk.
She has some biscuits.
Any
Any is used for uncountable nouns and with the plural of countable ones.
negative phrases and questions.
I don't have any money.
He doesn't have any brothers.
Do we have any sugar?
Are there any chairs?
The definite article 'the'
We use 'the' to refer to a specific thing or person.
Unlike Spanish, the is not used with uncountable nouns or with the
plural of nouns when we talk about things in general. Neither do I
we use with the Saxon genitive (-'s)
I like cheese.
I like cheese.
Tigers are dangerous.
Tigers are dangerous.
English is easy.
English is easy.
John's leg.
John's leg.
Exercises
Are these names countable (c) or uncountable (u)?
water
2. fruit ____________
3. coconut ____________
4. bread ____________
5. DVD ____________
6. meat ____________
7. ball ____________
8. snack ____________
9. glasses ____________
10. pen
11. milk ____________
12. chair ____________
13. gasoline ____________
14. table ____________
cream ____________
16. money ____________
17. oil ____________
insect
19. sofa ____________
20. yogurt ____________
21. school ____________
22. bus ____________
23. food ____________
24. chocolate ____________
25. ship ____________
The correct answers
water (U)
fruit (U)
3. coconut (C)
4. bread (U)
5. DVD (C)
meat (U)
7. ball (C)
8. snack (C)
9. glasses (C)
10. pen (C)
milk (U)
12. chair (C)
13. gasoline (U)
14. table (C)
cream (U)
16. money (U)
17. oil (U)
18. insect (C)
19. sofa (C)
20. yogurt (U)
21. school (C)
22. bus (C)
food (U)
24. chocolate (U)
25. ship (C)
A or an? (Countable nouns)
1. ____________ uncle
2. ____________ hour
3. ____________ bus
4. ____________ dress
5. ____________ oven
6. ____________ beach
7. ____________ teacher
8. ____________ insect
9. ____________ taxi
10. ____________umbrella
11. ____________player
12. ____________eye
13. ____________castle
14. ____________artist
15. ____________river
16. ____________tent
17. ____________doctor
18. ____________exercise
19. ____________lady
20. ____________house
21. ____________envelope
22. ____________ taxi
23. ____________idea
24. ____________computer
25. ____________chair
The correct answers
an uncle
2. an hour
3. a bus
a dress
5. an oven
a beach
7. a teacher
8. an insect
9. a taxi
an umbrella
11. a player
an eye
13. a castle
an artist
15. a river
a tent
17. a doctor
18. an exercise
19. a lady
a house
21. an envelope
a taxi
23. an idea
24. a computer
25. a chair
C. 'a / an', 'some' and 'any'
Lisa's got a towel.
2. Ana´s got a / some rucksack.
Lucía has an insect repellent.
Javi hasn't got any sunglasses.
Antonio has a swimming costume.
6. Ignacio hasn't got any sandwiches.
Angeles has got an apple.
There aren’t any/some cafés in the city.
I haven't got any money.
10. Have you got some / any sun cream?
11. We have some sandwiches.
We need a torch for our camping trip.
There isn't any litter on the beach.
14. I'm going to buy an ice cream.
Can I have some strawberries?
16. You can have this cereal with some milk.
I´ve got some fruit.
There isn't an elephant.
There aren't any sharks.
20. Are there any plants?
Is there a tree?
22. Is there any cheese in the fridge?
Is there any water in the fridge?
The supermarket's got some strawberries.
I have some soup in the fridge.
The correct answers
Lisa's got a towel.
Ana has a rucksack.
Lucía's got an insect repellent.
Javi hasn't got any sunglasses.
5. Antonio has a swimming costume.
Ignacio hasn't got any sandwiches.
7. Angeles has got an apple.
There aren't any cafés in the city.
I haven't got any money.
10. Have you got some sun cream?
We have some sandwiches.
12. We need a torch for our camping trip.
There isn’t any litter on the beach.
I’m going to buy an ice cream.
15. Can I have some strawberries?
You can have this cereal with some milk.
I have some fruit.
There isn't an elephant.
19. There aren't any sharks.
20. Are there any plants?
Is there a tree?
22. Is there any cheese in the fridge?
Is there any water in the fridge?
The supermarket has some strawberries.
25. I’ve got some soup in the fridge.
D. 'a / an', 'some' and 'any'
1. There isn't any electricity at the campsite.
There aren't any sunglasses in the shop.
3. I’ve got an apple in my bag.
There are _________ sandwiches.
5. I´ll buy a bottle of water at the beach.
6. I haven't got any radios in my room.
7. Is there an internet café in your town?
8. There aren't any computers in my classroom.
9. Have you got any brothers and sisters?
10. My teacher's got a new car.
11. There’s some water in the bottle.
12. I´m going to buy some chips.
There is a camera.
14. She's got a pear.
15. You can have any potatoes.
16. Have you got any lemons?
17. I've got __________ cherries.
18. We need some water.
We’ve got some bread.
20. We don’t need any strawberries.
21. Have we got any cheese?
22. Have you got an apple?
23. We need a banana.
24. I’ve got some orange juice.
They haven't got any hamburgers.
The correct answers
There isn't any electricity at the campsite.
There aren't any sunglasses in the shop.
I have an apple in my bag.
There are some sandwiches.
I´ll buy a bottle of water at the beach.
I haven't got any radios in my room.
Is there an internet café in your town?
8. There aren't any computers in my classroom.
9. Do you have any brothers and sisters?
My teacher's got a new car.
There’s some water in the bottle.
12. I'm going to buy some chips.
There is a camera.
She has a pear.
15. You can have some potatoes.
16. Do you have any lemons?
I’ve got some cherries.
18. We need some water.
19. We've got some bread.
20. We don't need any strawberries.
21. Do we have any cheese?
22. Have you got an apple?
We need a banana.
