Countable/Uncountable nouns.
What is an uncountable noun?
It’s a noun that one can’t count or unitize example, sugar / coffee / fruit whereas a countable noun can be counted example, a pen / a car. Uncountable nouns are always singular e.g. fruit is good for you.
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 single 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.
Positive sentences use ‘some’
I have some sugar in the cupboard.
Negative / interrogative sentences use any in both countable plural and uncountable nouns.
I don’t have any sugar - uncountable
Do you have any brothers and sisters in your family? – countable plural
We can only use the indefinite article a or an before countable singular nouns.
I have a friend who lives in China.
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?
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?
How much time do you have?
Sorry, I don’t have any time or not much.
Whereas we use a lot in positive sentences in 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 countable nouns in negative / question sentences.
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 plural nouns
I read a few books during my holidays….
Friday, May 13, 2011
articles
Articles:
1.
You use the indefinite article a/ an as we saw above with countable singular nouns.
I have a pen.
I’d love an orange.
2.
Describing jobs:
He’s a doctor.
She is a student
3.
When we talk about something for the first time..
I have a brother who lives in Cork.
4.
When we describe something / someone
He is a nice guy
Cork is a very beautiful city
She is beautiful ×
She is a beautiful girl √
Definite articles (the)
1.
when something is unique – only one exists
The moon /The sun
The president of Ireland
2.
When you talk about something that was already mentioned before.
I saw a man in Grafton street playing and singing today.
The man was dressed like Clown and he was giving sweets to the kids.
3.
When it is clear which thing or person we mean.
Turn off the tv and the lights please before you go to bed.
Can you close the door please – (you know which door )
4.
Certain geographic places
The liffey, the Amazon etc.
The andes, the Philippines
The Hilton
5.
Describing a group of people,
The rich / the poor
The French / the irish…
6.
Superlatives
the most expensive/ the smallest / the cheapest etc
7.
Musical instruments
I play the guitar
No articles:
1.
abstract nouns / uncountable nouns and plural nouns used in a general sense.
Love makes the world go around
Money is a necessary evil
People only think of themselves
Cars are very expensive to run
2.
most geographic names / street names
I went to France last week.
I adore Paris.
3.
certain places / institutions / names of people / shops / days of the week / months of the year
I went to Hospital last night
1.
You use the indefinite article a/ an as we saw above with countable singular nouns.
I have a pen.
I’d love an orange.
2.
Describing jobs:
He’s a doctor.
She is a student
3.
When we talk about something for the first time..
I have a brother who lives in Cork.
4.
When we describe something / someone
He is a nice guy
Cork is a very beautiful city
She is beautiful ×
She is a beautiful girl √
Definite articles (the)
1.
when something is unique – only one exists
The moon /The sun
The president of Ireland
2.
When you talk about something that was already mentioned before.
I saw a man in Grafton street playing and singing today.
The man was dressed like Clown and he was giving sweets to the kids.
3.
When it is clear which thing or person we mean.
Turn off the tv and the lights please before you go to bed.
Can you close the door please – (you know which door )
4.
Certain geographic places
The liffey, the Amazon etc.
The andes, the Philippines
The Hilton
5.
Describing a group of people,
The rich / the poor
The French / the irish…
6.
Superlatives
the most expensive/ the smallest / the cheapest etc
7.
Musical instruments
I play the guitar
No articles:
1.
abstract nouns / uncountable nouns and plural nouns used in a general sense.
Love makes the world go around
Money is a necessary evil
People only think of themselves
Cars are very expensive to run
2.
most geographic names / street names
I went to France last week.
I adore Paris.
3.
certain places / institutions / names of people / shops / days of the week / months of the year
I went to Hospital last night
determiners a/ an / some / much / any / many / much / a few / a little
Countable/Uncountable nouns.
What is an uncountable noun?
It’s a noun that one can’t count or unitize example, sugar / coffee / fruit whereas a countable noun can be counted example, a pen / a car. Uncountable nouns are always singular e.g. fruit is good for you.
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 single 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.
Positive sentences use ‘some’
I have some sugar in the cupboard.
Negative / interrogative sentences use any in both countable plural and uncountable nouns.
I don’t have any sugar - uncountable
Do you have any brothers and sisters in your family? – countable plural
We can only use the indefinite article a or an before countable singular nouns.
I have a friend who lives in China.
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?
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?
How much time do you have?
Sorry, I don’t have any time or not much.
Whereas we use a lot in positive sentences in 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 countable nouns in negative / question sentences.
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 plural nouns
I read a few books during my holidays….
What is an uncountable noun?
It’s a noun that one can’t count or unitize example, sugar / coffee / fruit whereas a countable noun can be counted example, a pen / a car. Uncountable nouns are always singular e.g. fruit is good for you.
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 single 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.
Positive sentences use ‘some’
I have some sugar in the cupboard.
Negative / interrogative sentences use any in both countable plural and uncountable nouns.
I don’t have any sugar - uncountable
Do you have any brothers and sisters in your family? – countable plural
We can only use the indefinite article a or an before countable singular nouns.
I have a friend who lives in China.
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?
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?
How much time do you have?
Sorry, I don’t have any time or not much.
Whereas we use a lot in positive sentences in 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 countable nouns in negative / question sentences.
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 plural nouns
I read a few books during my holidays….
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