Intermediate grammar · Unit 69 · B1

Countable and uncountable 1

Articles and nouns

Countable nouns have a singular and a plural and can be counted; uncountable nouns have one form and cannot. The difference decides whether you can use a/an, whether the noun can stand alone, and whether you say many or much.

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A Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable Uncountable
I eat an apple every day. I like apples. I drink milk every day. I like milk.
Apple is countable. It has a singular (apple) and a plural (apples). Milk is uncountable. It has one form only. There is no plural.
You can use numbers: one apple, three apples. You cannot use numbers. Nobody orders two milks in a grammar book, whatever they do at the café counter.

Nouns that are usually countable: song, beach, note, accident, battery, cup.

Nouns that are usually uncountable: music, sand, money, luck, electricity, water.

  • Ollie was humming a tune.
  • There's a lovely beach just past the harbour.
  • Have you got a twenty-pound note?
  • Nobody's to blame. It was an accident.
  • The torch needs new batteries.
  • We haven't got enough chairs.
  • Ollie was listening to music.
  • My towel is full of sand.
  • Have you got any money on you?
  • You didn't do anything wrong. It was just bad luck.
  • The storm cut off the electricity.
  • Take plenty of water with you.

B a/an, and nouns used alone

Countable Uncountable
You can use a/an with a singular countable noun: a beach, a nurse, an orange. You cannot use a/an. We do not say a sand, a music, a milk. You can often say a ... of: a glass of milk, a carton of milk, a drop of milk.
You cannot use a singular countable noun alone, without a/the/my and so on. You can use an uncountable noun alone, without the/my/some and so on.
You can use a plural countable noun alone, when you mean things in general.
  • Would you like an orange?
  • There's been a crash on the M1.
  • I love oranges.
  • Crashes on this road are getting more common.
  • I drink milk every day.
  • There's mud on your trousers.
  • Can you smell smoke?

C some, any, many, much, few, little

Countable Uncountable
some and any with plural nouns: some songs, any apples some and any with uncountable nouns: some music, any milk
many and few with plural nouns much and little with uncountable nouns
  • We bought some postcards.
  • Did you see any dolphins?
  • We didn't meet many people.
  • I've got a few emails to send.
  • We had some rain overnight.
  • Is there any orange juice left?
  • We didn't do much sightseeing.
  • I've still got a little ironing to do.

Exercises

69.1 Some of these sentences need a or an. Correct those sentences. If a sentence is already correct, write OK.

  1. Nadia walks to work. She doesn't have car.

    She doesn't have a car.

    Nadia walks to work. She doesn't have a car.

  2. My grandad was listening to jazz when I rang.

    OK

    My grandad was listening to jazz when I rang.

  3. We had really lovely meal in Whitby on Saturday.

  4. I wash my hair with shampoo.

  5. I use comb to do my hair.

  6. Excuse me, is there chemist near here?

  7. My aunt works for engineering firm.

  8. I can't stand rudeness.

  9. When we were in Cornwall, we rented small cottage.

  10. Give me a ring if you have question.

  11. Thanks for the tip. That's excellent idea.

  12. Can you smell toast?

  13. I love rugby. It's exciting sport.

  14. Mum doesn't usually wear make-up.

  15. Imran was wearing smart new suit.

  16. Has your town got ice rink?

69.2 Complete each sentence with one of these words. Use a/an where necessary.

coatdecisionelectricityinterviewkeymilkminuteoxygenpuncturequestionsandwichthunder

  1. The bike's wobbling. I think I've got a puncture.

    The bike's wobbling. I think I've got a puncture.

  2. Listen! Can you hear thunder?

    Listen! Can you hear thunder?

  3. I couldn't open the shed. I didn't have .

  4. It's freezing outside. Why aren't you wearing ?

  5. Do you take in your tea?

  6. You look starving. Have .

  7. Imagine trying to live without !

  8. Sorry to interrupt, but can I ask you ?

  9. I've nearly finished. Can you wait ?

  10. Our lungs take from the air.

  11. We've talked about it for weeks. Now we need to make .

  12. I had at the bank this morning. I think it went well.

69.3 Complete each sentence with one of these words. Sometimes the word needs to be plural, and sometimes you need a/an.

airbirdbreadcolleagueenvelopelanguagemonthpatiencepeoplequeueroomstory

  1. I took my binoculars, but I didn't see any birds.

    I took my binoculars, but I didn't see any birds.

  2. There are twelve in a year.

  3. I'm trying to eat less , so no toast for me, thanks.

  4. Outside the bakery there was of people waiting for it to open.

  5. My dad loves telling about his time in the navy.

  6. I went to the match with some from work.

  7. There were very few on the beach because of the wind.

  8. Open a window, will you? We need some fresh in here.

  9. My grandad gets cross with his phone. He hasn't got much with technology.

  10. I need to post this card. Have you got ?

  11. How many can your sister speak?

  12. Three children and a dog in a two-bedroom flat. We don't have much .

See also