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Nouns - Countable and Uncountable

Countable - Part 1

  • a pen

  • the pen

  • one pen

  • two pens

  • three pens

We looked at countable nouns in Nouns - Lesson 1

These nouns are easy to count (one, two, three). 

A few, some, a lot of 

a couple of pens

(2)

a few pens

(3)

some pens

a lot of pens

Answer

three bananas / a few bananas

Answer

five bananas / some bananas

Uncountable - Part 1

is + nounnoun phrase

verb + nounnoun phrase

There are two main types:

Liquids
Too difficult to count

Example sentences:

This is water. 

That is rice. 

Can I have wine please?

I drank some water.

Incorrect sentences

This is one water. 

That is rices

Can I have four wine please?

I drank some waters.

NEVER add an 's' to the end of liquids or things which are hard to count.

Determiners: a little, some, a lot of 

No water

no water

A little water

a little water

Some water

some water

A lot of water

a lot of water

'Countable' forms of liquids

To count uncountable nouns you must use a 'countable' form, or the container the liquid is in. 

can of countable

can of...

can of Coca-cola

bottle of countable

bottle of...

bottle of wine

bottle of water

cup of countable

cup of...

cup of tea

cup of coffee

glass of wine
pint of countable

glass of...

glass of wine

glass of water

pint of...

pint of beer

mug of countable

mug of...

mug of tea

mug of coffee

glasses of countable

four glasses of beer

cups of countable
bottles of
Answer

five cups of coffee

Answer

eight bottles of water

Answer

a bottle of Coca-cola and two glasses of wine

Uncountable - Part 2

Previously liquid

All of these items are uncountable because they were liquid.

However, they might have countable forms.

Bread
loaves of bread countable

These are called 'loaves of bread' - countable

One loaf of bread

Two loaves of bread

Three loaves of bread

slice of bread countable

These are called 'slices of bread' - countable

One slice of bread

Two slices of bread

Three slices of bread

This is just 'bread' and it is uncountable.

Example correct sentences: 

  • I baked a loaf of bread.

  • She bought two loaves of bread at the shop. 

  • Would you like a slice of bread with your dinner?

  • How many slices of bread do you want for your sandwich?

Example incorrect sentences:

  • I baked some breads.

  • She bought breads at the shop.

  • Would you like a slice of breads with your dinner?

  • How many slices of breads do you want for your sandwich?

Cake

There are three countable forms: whole, slice and piece. 

a cake countable

a cake

one cake

two cakes

three cakes

piece of cake countable

a piece of cake

two pieces of cake

three pieces of cake

one slice of cake

two slices of cake

three slices of cake

slice of cake countable

a piece of cake

two pieces of cake

three pieces of cake

one slice of cake

two slices of cake

three slices of cake

'Cake' is uncountable because it stays as 'cake' even in its smallest form.

Examples

I made a cake.

She bought a birthday cake. 

We ate a cake today.

We had two slices of chocolate cake.

I bought two pieces of cake at the supermarket. 

My colleague had two slices of cake for lunch!

I baked four cakes. 

Chocolate

There are three common countable forms: chocolate, bars and pieces.  

chocolates countable

These chocolates are easy to count:

one chocolate

two chocolates

three chocolates

bar of chocolate countable

one bar of chocolate

two bars of chocolate

three bars of chocolate