Nouns - Countable and Uncountable
Part 2
Review of countable nouns
One chair
One table
Two chairs
Three tables
Three chairs
Four tables
Five chairs
Six tables
These nouns are easy to count so we count them.
Review of uncountable nouns
Liquids / Hard to count
water
water
water
water
There are different amounts of water in each picture, but all are still called water.
rice
rice
rice
rice
There are different amounts of rice in each picture, but all are still called rice.
Uncountable material but with countable forms
cake - uncountable
slice of cake - countable form = slice
cake - countable as a whole cake
piece of cake - countable form = piece
'Cake' is uncountable but it has three countable forms: slice, whole and piece. For example:
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two slices of cake
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three cakes
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four pieces of cake
'Chocolate' is also uncountable but it has three countable forms: bar, piece and whole.
Nouns where 'pieces' is the countable form
We will look at some uncountable nouns where their countable form is 'piece'.
Food
Is 'food' countable or uncountable?
- 'Food' is uncountable. Let's look at why.
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=
Food
One piece of food
One pizza
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=
Food
Two pieces of food
One pizza
One hamburger
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=
Food
Six pieces of food
Four pizzas
Two hamburgers
On their own, pizzas and hamburgers can be counted. When they are together and called 'food', they can not be counted.
Examples
There is a lot of food on the table. - Correct
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There is a lot of foods on the table. - Incorrect
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'Food' is uncountable and so 'foods' is incorrect.
This is what you need to make Mexican food. - Correct
This is what you need to make Mexican foods. - Incorrect
When I go to a pub, I have snack food. - Correct
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When I go to a pub, I have snack foods. - Incorrect
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There are lots of different types of food here but 'food' is uncountable so it is without the 's'.
Food and the countable form 'pieces'
One piece of food
Five pieces of food
Lots of pieces of food
'Piece' can be counted (one piece, two pieces, three pieces, some pieces etc.) but 'food' remains uncountable.
Furniture
Is 'furniture' countable or uncountable?
- 'Furniture' is uncountable. Let's look at why.
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Furniture
One piece of furniture
One chair
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One chair
One table
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Four chairs
Two tables
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Furniture
Two pieces of furniture
=
Furniture
Six pieces of furniture
Furniture is a noun which describes things in the home. Chairs, tables, sofas, beds, wardrobes etc are pieces of furniture.
There's a lot of furniture.
There's a little furniture.
Both these pictures have furniture. One has more than the other but we still use the uncountable noun 'furniture'. We never say 'furnitures'.
'Pieces' of furniture
There are two chairs and one table in the room. COUNTABLE ITEMS
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There are three pieces of furniture in the room. COUNTABLE FORM
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There is some furniture in the room. UNCOUNTABLE
There are six chairs, one sofa and two lamps in the room.
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There are nine pieces of furniture in the room.
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There is a lot of furniture in the room.
Other example sentences
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I need to buy a lot of new furniture for my new house.
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I'm looking at some new furniture for my bedroom. What do you recommend?
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Old furniture is my favourite. I love the dated look.
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Wooden furniture is the best, but only dark wood.
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I have to make all the flat-pack furniture that came yesterday. I'm going to be tired tomorrow.
Homework
Is 'homework' countable or uncountable?
- 'Homework' is uncountable. Let's look at why.
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Homework
One piece of English homework
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Homework
One piece of English homework
One piece of maths homework
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Homework
Three pieces of English homework
Four pieces of maths homework
The countable form of homework is 'piece'.
Conversation
Mum: Did you get any homework today?
Son: Yes, I got two pieces of English and some maths.
Mum: When are they due?
Son: The maths is for tomorrow and the English is for next Monday.
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Breaking the conversation down
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Mum: Did you get any homework today?
Mum is asking if her son if he received homework. 'Any' is used to prompt a more specific answer - not just 'yes' or 'no'.
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Son: Yes, I got two pieces of English and some maths.
The son replies with the countable form of 'homework' (pieces) for English and the uncountable determiner for maths (some). We do not know if there is one piece, two pieces, or more. We do know there is not a lot.
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Mum: When are they due?
Mum asks when the pieces of homework should be given back to the teachers.
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Son: The maths is for tomorrow and the English is for next Monday.
The maths homework is due for tomorrow and the English homework (two pieces but IT IS NOT 'homeworks') is due next Monday.
Incorrect examples
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I have four homeworks due tomorrow.
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She has not done her three homeworks.
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My teacher gave me three maths homeworks and two science homeworks.
Correct examples
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I have four pieces of homework due tomorrow.
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She has not done her three pieces of homework.
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My teacher gave me three pieces of maths homework and two pieces of science homework.
Other example sentences
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You can play when you've finished all your homework.
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Did you get much homework today?
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I hate Mr. Simpson - he always gives at least two pieces of homework per day.
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Doing homework will never be fun.
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If I don't understand the homework, I ask my older brother.
Fruit
Is 'fruit' countable or uncountable?
- Fruit is uncountable. Let's see why:
One apple
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One piece of fruit
One banana
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One piece of fruit
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One banana
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One piece of fruit
Three strawberries
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Three pieces of fruit
The countable form of fruit is 'piece'.
There is a lot of fruit.
There is some fruit.
There is some fruit.
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There are three piece of fruit
Conversation
A: Can I have some fruit please?
B: How many pieces to do want?
A: Can I have three apples, one pineapple and a few oranges?
B: Here you go.
A: Thanks.
A: Did you buy any fruit?
B: Yes, I got a few pieces.
A: What type of fruit did you buy?
B: I got three peaches.
A: Oh, lovely.
Other example sentences
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Fruit is my favourite dessert to have. It's so refreshing.
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What kind of fruit do you like?
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Would you like a piece of fruit? I've got some delicious pears today.
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You never put tomato in a fruit salad!
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I make a smoothie every morning using lots of different fruit.
Conclusion
'Furniture', 'Homework' and 'Fruit' are uncountable nouns.
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They are words for groups of different items.
Two chairs and one table is a group of furniture.
There is a lot of fruit.
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NOTE: there are lots of pieces of fruit. Fruit is the name of a group of items, like apples, pears, bananas etc.
One chair, one table and two sofas is a group of furniture.
There is some fruit.
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NOTE: there are three pieces of fruit. Fruit is the name of a group of items, like apples, pears, bananas etc.
More examples
Clothes
Clothes is an uncountable noun. It is used to describe a group of different items.
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The countable form is 'piece' or 'item'.
There are a lot of clothes.
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There are about 25 pieces of clothes.
There are not a lot of clothes.
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There are three pieces of clothes.
Sushi
Sushi is an uncountable noun. It is the game of a group of different items.
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The countable form is 'piece'.
There are six pieces of sushi. = COUNTABLE FORM
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There is some sushi. = UNCOUNTABLE
There are 12 pieces of sushi. = COUNTABLE FORM
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There is a lot of sushi. = UNCOUNTABLE
There is one piece of sushi. = COUNTABLE FORM
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There is not a lot of sushi. = UNCOUNTABLE