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Noun Guide for English Learners

This document discusses countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns refer to things that can be counted, like chairs, dogs, or bottles. They can be singular or plural and use articles like "a" or "the". Uncountable nouns refer to substances or abstract concepts that cannot be counted, like milk, music, or happiness. They are usually singular and do not use articles like "a" but can be used with quantities.

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164 views2 pages

Noun Guide for English Learners

This document discusses countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns refer to things that can be counted, like chairs, dogs, or bottles. They can be singular or plural and use articles like "a" or "the". Uncountable nouns refer to substances or abstract concepts that cannot be counted, like milk, music, or happiness. They are usually singular and do not use articles like "a" but can be used with quantities.

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daveturnerspain
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Countable & Uncountable Nouns  

The meaning of highlighted words is explained at the end of the passage.

Countable Nouns
 Countable nouns are easy to recognize and express things you can count. For
example: "chair". You can count chairs. You can have one, two, three or more chairs at
home. Here are some more countable nouns: dog, cat, animal, man, person, bottle,
box, litre, coin, note, dollar, cup, plate, fork, table, chair, suitcase.

 Countable nouns can be singular or plural: My cat is playing; My cats are hungry.

 You can use the indefinite article A/AN with countable nouns: A cat is an animal.

 When a countable noun is singular, you must use a word like A/THE/MY/THIS with
it: I want an orange. (not I want orange); Where is my bottle? (not Where is bottle?).

 When a countable noun is plural, you can use it alone: I like oranges; Bottles can
break.

 You can use SOME and ANY with countable nouns: I've got some dollars; Have
you got any pens?

 You can use A FEW and MANY with countable nouns: I've got a few dollars; I
haven't got many pens.

"People" is countable. "People" is the plural of "person". You can count


TIP people. i.e. There is one person here. There are three people here.  
 

Uncountable Nouns
 Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts, etc. that you cannot divide into
separate elements. You cannot "count" them. For example, you cannot count "milk".
You can count "bottles of milk" or "litres of milk", but YOU CANNOT COUNT "milk"
itself. Here are some more uncountable nouns: music, art, love, happiness, advice,
information, news, furniture, luggage, sugar, butter, water, electricity, gas, power,
money (YOU CANNOT SAY: one money, two moneys, BUT you can say: ONE dollar
note, TWO dollar notes).

 You usually consider uncountable nouns as singular. In that case, you must use a
SINGULAR VERB. For example: This news is very important; Your luggage looks
heavy.

 You do not usually use the indefinite article A/AN with uncountable nouns. You
CANNOT SAY "an information" or "a music". But you can say a "something" of: a
piece of news, a bottle of water, a grain of rice, a can of Coke, etc.

 You can use SOME and ANY with uncountable nouns: I've got some money; I need
some water; Have you got any rice?

 You can use A LITTLE and MUCH with uncountable nouns: I've got a little money; I
haven't got much rice.

Drinks (coffee, water, juices, etc.) are usually uncountable. But if you are
TIP thinking of a cup/glass, we can also say: Two teas and one coffee, please.
 

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