1. 1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS English Major Countable and Uncountable nouns Members: Miguel Bravo Ypez Cristian Yumisaca Eduardo Barreno Semester: Fifth Riobamba June 25th, 2015.
2. 2. COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS It's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs. COUNTABLE NOUNS Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have a singular and a plural form. The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an". If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun. Singular Plural one dog two dogs one horse two horses one man two men one idea two ideas one shop two shops Examples She has three dogs. I own a house. I would like two books please. How many friends do you have? UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers. They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.). Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form. Examples tea sugar water air rice knowledge beauty anger fear love money research safety evidence
3. 3. We cannot use a/an with these nouns. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day of. If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?" Examples There has been a lot of research into the causes of this disease. He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview. Can you give me some information about uncountable nouns? He did not have much sugar left. Measure 1 cup of water, 300g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt. How much rice do you want? Tricky spots Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are: accommodation, advice, baggage, behavior, bread, furniture, information, luggage, news, progress, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work Examples I would like to give you some advice. How much bread should I bring? I didn't make much progress today. This looks like a lot of trouble to me. We did an hour of work yesterday. Be careful with the noun hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural. It can be countable only when referring to individual hairs. Examples She has long blond hair. My father is getting a few grey hairs now. (refers to individual hairs) I found a hair in my soup! (refers to a single strand of hair) When using countable or uncountable nouns, pay attention to articles and adjectives! Some articles and adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. However, others can be used with only countable or only uncountable nouns. Used with Countable Nouns Only a a doctor, a pen,a meal,a class many manycups, manybooks,manylibraries,many flights few fewquestions,fewtables,few apples,few holidays,few countries
4. 4. Used with Uncountable Nouns Only much much money,muchtime,muchfood,muchenergy,muchwater little little trouble,little equipment,little meat,littlepatience a little bitof a little bitof confidence,alittle bitof sleep,alittlebitof snow Used with Countable & Uncountable Nouns the countable the monkeys,the teachers,the boats,the bananas uncountable the cheese,the machinery,the luggage,the grass,the knowledge some countable some tables,some stores,some grapes,some nurses uncountable some time,some news,some bread,some salt any countable any forks,anysocks,any bathrooms,anywaiters,anybeliefs uncountable any advice,anysoap, any transportation,anygold,any homework no countable no magazines,nochocolates,nopilots,norings,nomarkers uncountable no trouble,nograss,no scenery,nomoney,nofurniture a lot of countable a lot of animals,a lotof coins,a lot of immigrants,alot of babies uncountable a lot of help,a lotof aggravation,alot of happiness,alotof fun lotsof countable lotsof computers,lotsof buses,lotsof parties,lotsof colleges uncountable lotsof cake,lotsof ice cream, lotsof energy,lotsof laughter enough countable enoughplates,enoughonions,enoughrestaurants,enough worries uncountable enoughcourage,enoughwisdom, enoughspaghetti,enoughtime plenty of countable plentyof houses,plentyof concerts,plentyof guitars, plentyof uncountable plentyof oil,plentyof sugar,plentyof cheese,plentyof space List of Uncountable Nouns (These are sample uncountable nouns only! There are many more.) General homework a few a few questions,afewproblems,afew issues
5. 5. equipment luggage clothing furniture machinery gold silver cotton glass jewelery perfume soap paper wood petrol gasoline baggage hair traffic Abstract advice help fun recreation enjoyment information knowledge news patience happiness progress confidence courage education intelligence space energy laughter peace pride Food food flour meat rice cake bread
6. 6. ice cream cheese toast pasta spaghetti butter oil honey soup fish fruit salt tea coffee Weather thunder lightning snow rain sleet ice heat humidity hail wind light darkness Languages English Portuguese Hindi Arabic Japanese Korean Spanish French Russian Italian Hebrew Chinese Subjects/Fields mathematics economics physics ethics
7. 7. civics art architecture music photography grammar chemistry history commerce engineering politics sociology psychology vocabulary archaeology poetry Sports golf tennis baseball basketball soccer football cricket hockey rugby chess poker bridge Activities swimming walking driving jogging reading writing listening speaking cooking sleeping studying working Classroom Activiy. Wich of the next statemenst are correct or incorrect. If the statement is incorrect you must say the correct form of that statement.
8. 8. 1. The money are insufficient. Incorrect The money is insufficient 2. They have many works to do. Incorrect They have a lot of work to do. 3. The news are very hopeful Incorrect The news is very hopeful 4. She gave me a good advice. Incorrect She gave me some good advice. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 1. Extracted from: http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/countable-and- uncountable-nouns/ 2. Extracted from: http://www.engvid.com/english-resource/countable-and- uncountable-nouns/
9. 9. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS CARRERA DE IDIOMAS TEST Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________________________________ Objective: The next test i made for that students reinforcement their knowledge about that they had seen in the previous presentation. Time: 10 minutes Grade: You have an opportunity to reach 10 points as highest grade and 0 as lowest grade; each correct answer has a value of 1 point. Fill in each space in the following sentences with an appropiate form of a countable or uncountable noun. 1. I need some __________________ about buying a house. I`ve never bought one before. 2. This type of bear has been declare dan endangered ___________________ 3. You should eat fresh ___________________ such as oranges every day. 4. _______________ wich is used by dentist should be kept clean. 5. Beverly Hills 90210 is a TV ________________ about Young people in America. 6. She got __________________ to leave class early because she wasn`t feeling well. 7. Jane has blond long __________ that comes down to her shoulders. 8. Kids can use _______________ for games but they also have Access to the internet. 9. You`ll find all the ________________ you need in the shed. 10. I have so much maths ______________________ to do that I won`t be able to watch TV.