Nouns

Introduction In English there are countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns have two forms – singular and plural. Uncountable nouns, however, have only one form. Mike and his sister Sandra are shopping. They need milk, apples, and bread. Sandra wants to make a cake tomorrow. She needs 6 eggs, 400 grams of flour, a block of chocolate and some strawberries. At the checkout, Mike doesn’t have any money, just a few coins in his pocket – oops!

Countable Nouns Most English nouns are countable nouns. This means they can be used in both the singular and the plural. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are healthy.

Countable Nouns one banknote, two banknotes one coin, two coins We can put numbers and indefinite articles in front ofcountable nouns. one banknote, two banknotes one coin, two coins a cake, a sister We cannot use singular countable nouns without articles or possesive pronouns (a/the/your). I saw your sister yesterday. (not: I saw sister yesterday.) Can you give me a hand? (not: Can you give me hand?)

Countable Nouns However, we can use plural countable nouns alone. Did you buy apples? Yes, but I forgot to buy stawberries. We can use some/any/(a) few/many with plural countable nouns. We need some apples. I don’t have any eggs. There are a few strawberries in the fridge. Mike dosen’t have many coins.

Countable Nouns suitcases, bags, trunks = baggage Some collections of countable nouns have a corresponding uncountable noun which describes them as one item. suitcases, bags, trunks = baggage tables, chairs, couches = furniture peaches, bananas, apples = fruit (but: one vegetable, two vegetables) socks, dresses, t-shirts = clothes

Uncountable Nouns Some English nouns are uncountable nouns. This means that they have only one form. I drink milk every day. Milk is healthy. (not: Milks are healthy.) We cannot usually put numbers in front of uncountable nouns. money (not: one money/two moneys) milk (not: one milk/two milks)

Uncountable Nouns We can use many uncountabel nouns without an article or possesive pronoun. We need flour and chocolate to make a cake. (not: …a flour and a chocolate…) Can you buy milk on the way home? (not: can you buy a milk…)

Uncountable Nouns We use some/any/little/much with uncountable nouns. We can buy some bread at the bakery. We don’t have any milk. There’s a little flour in the pantry. Mike doesn’t have much money.

Uncountable Nouns Material, liquids, and collections are often uncountable nouns. materials – paper, wood, gold, glass etc. liquids – water, milk, oil, coffee, etc. collections – furniture, luggage, traffic etc.

Counting Uncountable Nouns Although we can’t count uncountable nouns we can use different units to count them (for example: a bottle/grain/glass/loaf/piece/kilo/gram of…). Here we are counting the units and not the uncountable nouns. Can I have a glass of milk and 2 glasses of water, please? I can’t drink more than 2 cups of a coffee a day. Molly eats 2 slices of bread for breakfast every morning. Laura forgot to tell them an important piece of information.

Singular/Plural Uncountable Nouns Some uncountable nouns are plural and some are singular. Many uncountable nouns are always used in the singular (singular uncountable). This means that the verb is conjugated in the third person singular. Some singular uncountable nouns are: advice, bread, chewing gum, equipment, fun, furniture, grass, information, knowledge, luck, luggage, money, milk, news, pasta, poetry, progress, rain, research, rice, snow, traffic, travel, weather, work, …

Singular/Plural Uncountable Nouns money – Money makes the world go around. (not: Money make the world go around.) milk – The milk has gone sour. (not: The milk have gone sour.) news – The news was wonderful. (not: The news were wonderful.)

Singular/Plural Uncountable Nouns Certain other nouns are only used in the plural (plural uncountables). This means that the verb is always conjugated in the plural. Some plural uncountables are: clothes, remains, thanks, groceries, glasses, jeans, scissors, trousers/pants clothes – His clothes are too big. (not: His clothes is too big.) groceries – The groceries were expensive.. (not: The groceries was expensive.)

Exercises Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect. 1. There are some chairs and tables in the kitchen. o 2. We need some new furnitures for our kitchen. o 3. Two breads, please. o 4. That’s an important information. o 5. He saw three rare birds on his last birdwatching trip. o 6. I saw a lot of bird migrating south.

Exercises Complete the sentences with a, an, or nothing (-). 1. Rita bought…dress in the sales. 2 I need…milk. 3. Lawrence has…new furniture. 4. Have you ever seen…elephant? 5. We ate…sweets for breakfast.

Exercises Choose the correct countable/uncountable noun to complete the sentences. 1. Rita asked for a glass of… 2. Alex eats 6…every week. 3. Can you buy a block of…at the shops? 4. There are a few….in the fridge. 5. I got home quickly because there was very little…on the road.

Exercises Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect. 1. There are some chairs and tables in the kitchen. 2. We need some new furnitures for our kitchen. 3. Two breads, please. 4. That’s an important information. 5. He saw three rare birds on his last birdwatching trip. 6. I saw a lot of bird migrating south.

Exercises Complete the sentences with a, an, or nothing (-). 1. Rita bought…dress in the sales. 2. I need…milk. 3. Lawrence has…new furniture. 4. Have you ever seen…elephant? 5. We ate…sweets for breakfast.