Countable unCountable Nouns

Countable and Uncountable nouns
Today we are going to talk about countable and uncountable nouns and learn when and how to use them correctly. Please remember to practice and to do the exercises atthe end of the post.
Countable nouns – Count nouns
A noun renames a person, place or thing. If a noun is viewed as countable if:
• A or an can be used in front of it : a table, an egg
• It has aplural form : there are two tables
• It can be used in a question with how many: How many rooms are there?
• A number can be used before it: four computers
If a noun is viewed as uncountable:
•a/an cannot be used in front of it: Cereal is healthy
• it does not have a plural form: I like butter (NOT BUTTERS)
• it can be in a question with how much: How much sugar would you like?
• a numberisn’t used in front of it: It has little caffeine.
• it always takes a “singular” verb: Milk is good for you.
*** En si los sustantivos contables son aquellos que puedes contar (poner un numero antesdel sustantivo: una mesa pero no una agua Todos los liquidos como agua, leche, cerveza, vino son no contables (EN ESPAÑOL PUEDE SER DISTINTO). Tambien las carnes son no contables como pollo, pescadoetc.
TABLE
USING THERE IS / ARE WITH COUNTABLE and UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS |
Countable | Uncountable |
Singular | Plural | One form |
(+)There is a chair. | There are some chairs. | There is somewater |
(-) There isn’t a table. | There aren’t any tables. | There isn’t any cheese. |
(?) Is there a bathroom? | Are there any bathrooms? | Is there any coffee? |
Conclusions from the table:
•With countable nouns we have two forms: singular and plural and when we refer to uncountable nouns we only use one form.
• When we use the singular form with countable nouns we use a/an and withplurals we use some/any.
• With the uncountable nouns we do not use a/an and we can use some/any
• With countable nouns some/any means “an indefinite number”
• With uncountable nouns some/any means...