Enskubók

1. Overview

2. What does countable mean?

A countable noun refers to something we can treat as a separate item. It has a singular form and usually a plural form.

Countable doesn’t mean “something you can touch”. Ideas, questions, problems and mistakes are countable too.

For the ordinary singular nouns in this unit, use a determiner before the noun: a/an, the, my, this, or a similar word.

• I need a pen. (Any suitable pen.)
• Where’s the pen? (A particular pen.)
• This is my pen. (The pen belongs to me.)

Don’t say I need pen. But a plural noun can appear without an article when you talk generally: I like books.

3. Singular and plural forms

Most countable nouns add -s, but some have different endings or irregular forms.

Use a plural noun after a number greater than one: two children, not two child. People is the usual plural of person in everyday situations: There are five people in the queue.

The verb must agree with the noun:

• The ticket is expensive. / The tickets are expensive.
• This child has a bike. / These children have bikes.

4. What does uncountable mean?

An uncountable noun presents something as a whole, a substance or a general category, rather than as separate items. In its uncountable meaning, it doesn’t normally take a/an, a number directly before it, or a plural -s.

• I need some water, not a water when talking about water as a substance.
• We bought some bread, not three breads when talking about an ordinary amount of bread.
• She gave me useful advice, not useful advices.

Uncountable does not mean impossible to measure. Water can be measured in litres, and bread can be counted in slices. The noun itself is still uncountable in these meanings.

Some uncountable nouns describe things with visible separate parts. Rice is normally uncountable even though it has individual grains. Furniture is uncountable even though a room may contain several chairs and tables.

Use a singular verb with uncountable nouns:

• The water is cold.
• This information is useful.
• The furniture looks expensive.

5. Common uncountable nouns

Learn useful nouns in phrases, not just as a list. A noun may be countable in another language but uncountable in English.

These words often cause mistakes:

• Advice: Can you give me some advice? A suggestion is countable: She gave me two suggestions.
• Information: I need some information about the course. A detail is countable: I need a few details.
• Furniture: There’s some new furniture. Chairs and tables are countable: There are two new chairs.
• Luggage: My luggage is heavy. Bags and suitcases are countable: I have two suitcases.
• Money: I haven’t got much money. Coins and notes are countable: I have three coins.
• News: The news is good. The final -s doesn’t make news plural.

6. A/an, some, any and the

Use a/an with one singular countable noun. The choice depends on the next sound, not simply the next letter.

• a sandwich, a useful book: useful begins with a /j/ sound.
• an apple, an old chair, an hour: the h in hour is silent.

For an unspecified number or amount, some works with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns:

• I bought some apples.
• I bought some milk.

Use any in most neutral questions and negative sentences:

• Are there any eggs? / There aren’t any eggs.
• Is there any butter? / There isn’t any butter.

Some is common in offers and requests: Would you like some tea? Can I have some water, please?

Use the with either type when you mean something specific:

• The apples in this bag are for the children.
• The milk in the fridge is for breakfast.

When speaking generally, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns often have no article: Apples are healthy. Water is important. Compare I like music with I like the music in this film.

7. Counting with containers, portions and units

To give an exact amount of something uncountable, count a container, portion or unit.

a/one/two + unit + of + uncountable noun

The unit becomes plural, not the uncountable noun: two bottles of water, not two bottle of waters.

Use the unit to choose the verb:

• There is some water on the table.
• There is a bottle of water on the table.
• There are two bottles of water on the table.

Different units describe different things: a glass of water tells us the container; a litre of water gives a measurement. Both are possible, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.

8. Asking about amounts

Use How many with plural countable nouns and How much with uncountable nouns.

The same substance can appear in either kind of question, depending on the noun you count:

• How much water do we need? (An amount of water.)
• How many bottles of water do we need? (A number of bottles.)

For simple answers, use a lot of with both types, a few with plural countable nouns, and a little with uncountable nouns:

• We have a lot of apples and a lot of juice.
• We have a few apples and a little juice.
• We don’t have many apples or much juice.

How much is this sandwich? asks about its price. Here, how much refers to money, even though sandwich is countable. The next unit explores quantity words in more detail.

9. Nouns with countable and uncountable meanings

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable. The choice changes how we understand them. Learn the meaning in the sentence rather than giving the word one permanent label.

In a cafe, a coffee or two teas can mean a cup or serving of each drink:

• I don’t drink much coffee. (Coffee as a drink in general.)
• Two coffees, please. (Two servings of coffee.)

This doesn’t mean every uncountable noun can freely take a/an or -s. Use these countable forms only when the meaning and context support them.

10. A practical model: planning a picnic

Notice how the speakers move between food as a substance and food in countable units.

Bread, cheese, water and chocolate are uncountable here. Tomatoes, bottles and apples are countable. A loaf of bread and a bar of chocolate give countable units for uncountable food.

11. Common mistakes and a useful checking method

Before writing, ask yourself:

1. What does the noun mean in this sentence: a separate item, a substance or a general idea?
2. If it’s countable, is it singular or plural?
3. Do I need an article, a quantity word or a unit such as a piece of?
4. Does the verb agree with the noun or unit?

A learner’s dictionary usually marks noun meanings [C] for countable and [U] for uncountable. Check the relevant meaning, especially for words such as paper and room.

12. Exercises