Countable and Uncountable Nouns

ICI. Ma. Guadalupe Zapata Nava May 2011

Countable nouns
e.g. I eat an apple every day. I like apples.

Apple is a countable noun.

Countable nouns
Countable nouns are things we can

count. So we can say one apple ,two apples etc.

A countable noun can be

1. singular (apple) or
2. plural (apples)

Countable nouns
Examples of countable nouns singular plural apple apples

pineapple cucumber strawberry grape

pineapples cucumbers strawberries grapes

Countable nouns
Singular Form: a/an Before a consonant we use A, e.g. a mountain a park a horse a giraffe Before a vowel we use AN, e.g. an university an airport an ant an elephant

Countable Singular Nouns a/an Practice!!!

Countable nouns - Plural

We add -s to most nouns: star stars chair clock chairs clocks

Countable nouns - Plural

We add -es to nouns finishing in sh, -ch, -ss, -x: dish
match kiss fox

dishes
matches kisses foxes

Countable nouns - Plural

We add -es to most nouns in -o: tomato tomatoes potato potatoes
But we just add -s to: radio radios photo photos

Countable nouns - Plural

In nouns finishing in vowel + y: toy toys boy boys

In nouns finishing in consonant + y: party parties fly flies

Countable nouns - Plural

In nouns finishing f, -fe we add -ves wolf wolves life lives

Countable nouns - Plural

Some nouns have irregular plural forms. child children foot feet man men person people mouse mice woman women tooth teeth

Countable nouns - Plural

The plural form of some nouns is the same as the singular form. fish sheep deer fish sheep deer

species

species

Countable Plural Nouns Game!!!

Uncountable nouns
e.g. I eat rice everyday. I like rice.

Rice is an uncountable noun.

Uncountable nouns
An uncountable noun has only one form.

(rice)

Uncountable nouns are things we cannot count. We cannot say one rice, two rices, etc.

Uncountable nouns
Examples of uncountable nouns:
salad dressing lettuce ham water milk

Uncountable nouns exercise

Match the columns. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Ignorance is Honesty is Time is Laughter is Beauty is A. the best teacher B. the best medicine C. power D. bliss E. in the eye of the beholder F. money G. the best policy

6. Knowledge is 7. Experience is

Students book: page 16 exercises 3a and 3b

Uncountable Nouns Homework

Complete the sentences by using uncountable nouns. a. Name 4 good qualities you admire in a person. b. Name 4 bad qualities people can have.

Patience, _____, _____, and _____. Greed, _____, _____, and _____. Love, _____, _____, and _____.

c. What are some of the most important things in life?

d. What are the worst conditions in the world?

Hunger, _____, _____, and _____.

Is/are some
Study the following table:
is There are some meat cheese in the fridge.

rulers pencils

on the desk.

Is/are some
We use is some when the noun is

uncountable. (meat, cheese.)

We use are some when the countable

noun is plural. (rulers, pencils.)

Isnt/arent any
Study the following table:
isnt There arent any milk coffee in the shop.

dishes watches

under the bed.

Isnt/arent any
We use isnt any when the noun is

uncountable. (milk, coffee.)

We use arent any when the countable

noun is plural. (dishes, watches)

I. Put the correct form of the given words into the spaces.
potatoes 1.John is eating some __________(potato). water 2.Is there any ___________ (water) in the jar? 3.Mother says, Gogo, please give me some jam __________ (jam). fish 4.There are some _________ (fish) in the river. tomatoes 5.There arent any ______________(tomato) on the table.

II. Put the correct answer into the spaces with some or any.
1.There is not ________sugar in the coffee. any some 2.There are ___________ stars in the sky. any 3.There arent ________ roses on the table. some 4.Father says, Please give me ________ oil. 5.Is there ________ orange juice? any 6.There is ________ paper on the desk. some

Look! How many mark(s) do you get?

8-11 Well done! 4-7 You can do much better! 0-3 Work hard! Dont give up!

Useful Link in Internet

You can find more useful information about Countable and Uncountable Nouns from the following internet site: http://stufun.com/nouns/ Hope you enjoy it and learn more!!!