Countable and Uncountable Nouns

There are two types of nouns:

• Countable
  
• Uncountable
  

COUNTABLE NOUNS 

As their name suggests, count nouns can be counted.

Examples:

1 dog, 3 chairs, 5 houses, 7 people, 10 pencils

Count nouns can be single or plural.

1 pencil       2 pencils
1 dog           3 dogs
1 chair         5 chairs

Words for Countable Nouns

There is	Single
There are	Plural

• There is 1 pencil on the table.
  
• There are 2 pencils on the table.
  

• There is 1 dog in the park.
  
• There are 3 dogs in the park.
  

     Many Plural

• There are many cats in the house.
  
• Are there many dogs in the park?
  
• I need many books for my English class.
  

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS 

They are things that we can not count:

Examples:

• Tea, sugar, water, air, rice, etc.
  

Uncountable nouns do not have a plural form.

Incorrect:        I have 3 rices.

Remember:  If you can’t count it…..it’s an uncountable noun!! 

Words for Uncountable Nouns

   - There is Uncountable Nouns

• There is salt on my pasta.
  
• There is water on the table.
  

  - Much Uncountable Nouns

• There is much sugar in this coffee.
  
• There is not much pollution in Toronto.
  
• Is there much juice in the glass?
  

How Much and How Many

Use how much and how many to ask questions about countable and uncountable nouns.

• How many pens do you have?
  
• How many books are on the table?
  

• How much sugar would you like?
  
• How much salt do you have?
  

As you can see, how much is for uncountable nouns and how many is for countable nouns.