Countable and uncountable nouns

• 9 Countable and uncountable nouns

  9.1

  Countable vs Uncountable

  

  

  English nouns are divided into two categories:

  • Countable nouns: can be counted, have singular and plural forms. a book → two books.
  • Uncountable nouns: cannot be directly counted, have no plural form. water, music, money, information.

  我I 买了bought 三three 苹果apples.

  I bought three apples. (Countable)

  我I 需要need 一些some 水water.

  I need some water. (Uncountable, no ~~waters~~)

  Note

  • Uncountable nouns take a singular verb: The news is good. (The news is good.)
  • To count uncountable nouns, use measure words: a glass of water, a piece of information.

  9.2

  some and any

  

  

  some and any mean "some", used before plurals or uncountable nouns:

  • some: used in affirmative sentences (also used in polite requests / invitations).
  • any: used in negative sentences and interrogative sentences.

  （有）There 有are 一些some 鸡蛋eggs 在in （冠词）the 冰箱里fridge.

  There are some eggs in the fridge.

  （有）There 没有isn't 任何any 牛奶milk.

  There is no milk left.

  （助动词）Do 你you 有have 任何any 问题questions?

  Do you have any questions?

  Note: When offering drinks to others, some is commonly used to sound polite: Would you like some tea?

  9.3

  much / many / a lot of

  Used to express "a lot":

  • many + countable plural: many books.
  • much + uncountable: much water (mostly used in negative sentences / questions).
  • a lot of + both types (most common in positive sentences).

  （有）There 有are 许多many 人people 这里here.

  There are many people here.

  我们We 没有don't 有have 多少much 时间time.

  We don't have much time left.

  她She 有has 许多a lot of 朋友friends.

  She has a lot of friends.

  Note: In positive sentences, much is rarely used; instead use a lot of: ~~I have much money~~ → I have a lot of money.

  Common Errors

  • ❌ ~~informations / advices / homeworks / furnitures~~ → ✓ information / advice / homework / furniture — These words are uncountable in English (although Chinese can say "several pieces of advice" or "pieces of furniture"). They never take a plural form.
  • ❌ ~~a bread / a paper~~ → ✓ a piece of bread / a piece of paper — Uncountable nouns require measure words to be counted.
  • ❌ ~~How much apples do you want?~~ → ✓ How many apples…? — Use many for countable plurals and much only for uncountable nouns.
  • ❌ ~~There aren't some eggs.~~ → ✓ There aren't any eggs — Replace some with any in negative sentences.

All topics · English Grammar · A2