Countable & Uncountable Nouns
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 indefinite articles "a" or "an". The plural form
can use the indefinite article "some".
Singular Plural Singular Plural
a dog some dogs An umbrella some umbrellas
a horse some horses An igloo some igloos
a man some men An Indian some Indians
Ex : She has got some dogs.
There are some umbrellas over there.
My brother ate an apple.
If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, use "How many?" combined with
the plural countable noun.
How many + plural noun + ?
Ex : How many books have you got in your bag?
How many elephants did you see in the jungle?
Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with cardinal numbers. Ex -
liquids, powders, gases. Uncountable nouns are used with singular verbs. They usually do
not have a plural form.
Ex – tea, sugar, water, air, rice, money, hair
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, a bit of or use an exact measurement like a cup of, a
bag of, 1kg of, 1L of.
Ex : He gave me some milk.
Can you give me some information about Verona?
He put some sugar in his tea.
If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?"
How much + uncountable noun + ?
Ex - How much rice do you want?
How much sugar do you need?
1
Exercise – Use a / an / some and write C for countable or U for uncountable.
1. ___________ money ___
2. ___________ ponds ___
3. ___________ tea ___
4. ___________ sugar ___
5. ___________ chocolate ___
6. ___________ ice-cream ___
7. ___________ rice ___
8. ___________ water ___
9. ___________ coffee ___
10. ___________ cake ___
11. ___________ eggs ___
12. ___________ orange ___
13. ___________ grapes ___
14. ___________ coins ___
15. ___________ apple ___
16. ___________ salt ___
17. ___________ milk ___
18. ___________ room ___
19. ___________ butter ___
20. ___________ song ___
21. ___________ music ___
22. ___________ minute ___
23. ___________ child ___
2
Exercise – Look at the words and select them into the right category
water – bread – lemons – chocolate – sugar – tea – milk – oranges – cheese – coffee – eggs
– grapes – meat – chicken – butter – phone – peach – a cup of tea – honey – dress – time –
books – pens – hair – chairs – computer – pencils – jam – friends – fingers – flour – apples –
oil – cars – salt – houses – games – tomatoes – cream – carrots -
Countable Uncountable
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
3
Exercise - Ask questions using ‘how much’ or ‘how many’
1. (eggs) ______________________________________________________?
2. (meat) ________________________________________________________?
3. (jam) ________________________________________________________?
4. (people) ________________________________________________________?
5. (flour) ________________________________________________________?
6. (votes) ________________________________________________________?
7. (parties) ________________________________________________________?
8. (oil) ________________________________________________________?
9. (bread) ______________________________________________________?
10. (sugar) ________________________________________________________?
11. (butter) ________________________________________________________?
12. (students) ________________________________________________________?
13. (flour) ________________________________________________________?
14. (information) ________________________________________________________?
15. (friends) ________________________________________________________?
16. (cake) ________________________________________________________?
4
Exercise – Tell whether the underlined noun is countable or uncountable.
1. Would you like some milk with your cereal? __________________
2. You will need eggs and sugar for this recipe. __________________
3. Devon asked for more time to finish his test. __________________
4. Do you have enough information to write your report? __________________
5. Matt should listen to his coach; he gives good advice. __________________
6. The teacher wanted his students to study. __________________
7. Listening to good music makes your worries go away. __________________
8. With enough determination, any task is achievable. __________________
9. These books will help you in your research. __________________
10. Our living room has so much furniture. __________________
11. Lara’s mom told her to add more flour. __________________
12. Humans have made a lot of 0rogress in 100 years. __________________
13. There isn't much milk left in the fridge. __________________
14. You shouldn't eat so many sweets. __________________
15. My friend doesn't eat much fruit. __________________
16. I don't have much time to practice basketball. __________________
17. There aren't many people in the shops today? __________________
5
Exercise – Read the sentence. Circle the correct answer.
1. I’ve got __________ water in my bag. a / some / an
2. There are __________ bananas on the table. a / some / an
3. He has got __________ time. a / some / an
4. I need __________ green paper. a / some / an
5. There is __________ rice in the cupboard. a / some / an
6. I have __________ good idea. a / some / an
7. That’s __________ interesting job! a / some / an
8. They have found __________ gold in that old mine. a / some / an
9. Do the Smiths have __________ yellow van? a / some / an
10. Look! He's having __________ sandwiches. a / some / an
11. He always likes __________ chocolate. a / some / an
12. I have __________ homework to do for tomorrow. a / some / an
13. There's __________ nice girl in the red car. a / some / an
14. Would you like __________ milk with your cookies? a / some / an
15. How about __________ grapes? a / some / an
16. I need __________ information about the city. a / some / an
17. I always have __________ egg for breakfast. a / some / an
18. Can you help me? I need __________ advice. a / some / an
19. We have __________ money. a / some / an
20. Can I have __________ juice, please? a / some / an
21. Have you got __________ pen? a / some / an
22. We see __________ people in the streets. a / some / an
23. Does Peter have __________ magazines in his office? a / some / an
