Countable nouns uncountable nouns what's the difference
Countable and uncountable nouns English grammar lesson
This lesson you will learn how to tell the difference between a countable and uncountable noun
How to tell if it is a countable or uncountable noun?
If there is a “a”/“an” in front of the word or “s” at the end of a word, then this word will be a countable noun.
Example of telling what is a countable noun
If you see “a motorbike” or “motorbikes”, the word “motorbike” must be countable.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Countable and uncountable nouns
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Countable nouns |
Uncountable nouns |
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oranges, carrots, onions, pineapples, pears, bananas, sweets, noodles, tomatoes, mushrooms, grapes, strawberries, apples, eggs, snacks, potato chips, vegetables, cakes, pounds
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bread, lettuce, milk, cheese, rice, beef, oil, garlic, meat, salt, ice-cream, sugar, pork, food, water, chicken(meat), butter, soup, tea, coffee, money |
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Sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable |
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egg, ice-cream, lettuce, coke, chocolate, chicken,
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Words used with countable nouns |
Words used with uncountable nouns |
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many, a few, few(close to zero), fewer
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much, a little, little(close to nothing), less |
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Words used with both countable and uncountable nouns |
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some, a lot of (=lots of) , plenty of, enough, any, more |
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How to count the uncountable nouns
When we want to count the uncountable nouns, you have to put a phrase in front of the word.
Examples:
a bar of white chocolate, 3 bars of white chocolate
a bottle of milk / juice, four bottles of milk / juice
A jar of coffee / jam, three jars of coffee / jam
a carton of milk / juice, 4 cartons of milk / juice
a bowl of ice, a few bowls of rice
** HINT **
“Milk” and “jam” are uncountable, but “carton”, “bottle” and “jar” are countable.
You cannot say 1 milk, 2 milks, but you can say “1 bottles”, “two jars”.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Talking about countable and uncountable nouns
Sing = singular
pl = plural
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