Grammar Reference: Countable & Uncountable Nouns

• Grammar Reference:
• Countable & Uncountable Nouns

• Upgrade 1 - Unit 2

• English nouns can be classified as
• COUNTABLE and UNCOUNTABLE.

• COUNTABLE nouns are the ones we can count. Therefore, they can be used in the plural form.

• On the other hand, UNCOUNTABLE nouns can’t be counted and can only be used in the singular form.

• Let’s start learning more about that!

• They are easy to recognize, since they are things we can count.
• For example, we can have one, two, three or more books.

• They can be singular or plural.
• e.g. My cat is white.
• My cats are very beautiful.

• In the plural, they usually take an S.
• e.g. My brother loves dogs.
• Brazil is famous for growing oranges.

• We can use an indefinite article before a countable noun.
• e.g. I have a cat.
• I had an orange after lunch.

• We can use SOME, ANY, A FEW and MANY.
• e.g. I need some lemons to make a cake.
• I don’t have any French books in my personal library.
• I have a few lemons in my fridge.
• My girlfriend has many French books in her house.

• Uncountable nouns are abstractions, substances, concepts which can’t be separated and counted.

• All uncountable nouns are used in the singular form.
• e.g. That information is very impressive.
• Love is an important thing.

• We can use SOME, ANY, A LITTLE and MUCH.
• e.g. I don’t have much milk in my fridge.
• Do you need any information?
• I just have a little of milk at home.
• The receptionist gave me some information on that topic.

a sack of rice	a loaf of bread	a jar of honey
a box of cereal	a slice of pizza	a cup of coffee

• We don’t use indefinite articles (a/an) with uncountable nouns. We use QUANTIFIERS. Look at the examples:

a piece of cake	a bar of chocolate	a can of soda
a bag of chips	a mug of beer	a spoon of salt
a package of cookies	a carton of milk	a tub of ice-cream

• Brownies

• a small, chewy, cakelike 
• cookie, usually made with chocolate and containing nuts.

• Ingredients to make
• a brownie:

• 6 spoons Unsweetened Cocoa
• 1/4 Cup Butter
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/3 Cup Flour
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup Toasted Pecans

• 6 spoons Unsweetened Cocoa
• 1/4 Cup Butter
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/3 Cup Flour
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup Toasted Pecans

POSITIVE ATTITUDE	NEGATIVE ATTITUDE
A FEW	FEW
A LITTLE	LITTLE

• Let’s create some more examples?

• I’ve got a few friends. (FEW BUT ENOUGH) He’s got a little money. (A LITTLE BUT ENOUGH)

• Few people visited me when I was sick! (HARDLY ANYBODY) I’ve got little money!
• (ALMOST NOTHING)