countable / uncountable nouns

What is an uncountable noun?
It’s a noun that one can’t count or unitize example, sugar / coffee whereas a countable noun can be counted example, a pen / a car.
Uncountable nouns are always singular.


So you can count cars, example there are 10 cars in the parking lot but you can’t count sugar. Countable nouns can be singular or plural.

We use the indefinite article a before countable nouns but we can’t use it before uncountable nouns.

I have a pen √
I have a sugar ×


Instead we must use the determiner some or any before uncountable nouns.

Positive sentences use ‘ some’
I have some sugar
Negative / interrogative sentences use any

I don’t have any sugar
Do you have any brothers and sisters in your family?

If we are requesting or offering something we use ‘some’ in questions.

Would you like some more coffee?
Could I have some more milk please?

We can also use some / any before plural countable nouns but we can only use the indefinite article a before countable singular nouns.

I have some pens here.
I don’t have any pens to lend you.
I have a spare pen if you need it.
If you want to measure uncountable nouns you must use a expression like, a bottle of / a cup of /3 bottles of etc.

I’d like a cup of coffee please.
I’d like 2 cups of coffee please.


Something / somebody/someone and anything / anybody / anyone

The same rules as above apply.

I know someone who speaks French - positive sentence
Would you like something to eat? – request
She doesn’t know anyone who speaks Russian here
Do you know anything about our teacher?

A lot/ much / many

We use much + uncountable noun – in negatives / question sentences

I don’t have much time to spend with you
How much money do you have?

Whereas we use a lot in positive sentences both plural nouns and uncountable nouns.

I have a lot of money in the bank
I have a lot of friends in Dublin

Many: We use many with plural nouns

Do you have many friends in Dublin?
I don’t have many friends in Dublin
I’ve got many friends in Dublin

A lot can be used with all types of sentences

Do you have a lot of friends in Dublin
I don’t have a lot of friends in Dublin
I’ve got a lot of friends in Dublin

A little is used with uncountable nouns
I drank a little wine with my dinner.

A few is used with countable nouns

I read a few books during my holidays….

past continuous

Past Continuous?


Positive Structure:

Was /were + (verb + ing)

I was watching tv last night at 8pm
You were watching ….
He/she was watching tv…
We were watching tv…
You were watching tv…
They were watching tv….

Negative:

I wasn’t watching…
You weren’t watching ..
He / she wasn’t watching tv
We weren’t watching tv
You weren’t watching
They weren’t watching tv…

Question?

Was I watching tv last night at 8pm
Were you watching tv…
Was he / she watching tv…
Were we atching tv…
Were you watching tv..
Were they watching tv?

Uses:

We use it 2 describe a continuous action in the past as opposed to a single action in the past (past simple).

Example:

Last night I was reading a book at 10pm
Last night I read a book about Gorillas.

We also use the past continuous when we contrast a short action (past simple) with a longer continuous action (past continuous) in the same sentence.

Examples:

While I was studying, the doorbell ran or
The doorbell rang while I was studying.

The while clause is always continuous so we use the past continuous here. It contrasts with the shorter action – doorbell ringing – past simple.

past simple tense

Past Simple:

Again we have positive, negative and interrogative sentences.

Positive Sentences:

We have regular and irregular verbs:
Regular verbs end in /ed/ or /d/
Example:
Yesterday I played football
Yesterday I decided to do my homework!

Irregular verbs:
Lots - so please check the handout outlining the irregular verbs.

Example:

Yesterday, I ate a hamburger.

Uses:

The past simple is any action or state in the past with no connection to now. We usually know an action is in the past simple by recognizing the following finished time adverbs: yesterday, last month, 10 minutes ago, in 1999, when I was a young boy/ girl etc.

Negative Sentences:

We use the auxiliary verb didn’t + infinitive

Example:

Yesterday, I didn’t do my homework √
Yesterday I didn’t go to school √

Careful:
Yesterday, I didn’t did my homework ×
Yesterday, I didn’t went to school ×



Interrogative Sentences:

Did + Infinitive?

Example:
Did you do your homework last night?
Did you go to school yesterday?

Point:

Did he played golf yesterday? ×
Did he play golf yesterday? √

More complex interrogative sentences:

What did you do last night?
Where did you go last weekend?
Why did you hurt me last night?
How many pints did you drink last night?
How much money did you spend last night?


 
Exception:

To be

The verb to be is the exception to the norm as we don’t use the auxiliary verbs did / didn’t + infinitive like the regular / irregular verbs mentioned above.

I was at home last night
You were right about the match
He / She /It was upset yesterday
We were wrong
You were great
They were delicious


Negative:

I wasn’t
You weren’t
He / She /It wasn’t
We weren’t
You weren’t
They weren’t

Interrogative:

Was I ?
Were you?
Was he / she / it?
Were we / you / they?

More complex questions:


Why were you sad last night?
Where were you last night when I called?
How was the match?
How much was it?
How many were in the stadium?