Interactive Training on Countable and Uncountable Nouns and Articles
Welcome to this interactive training about countable and uncountable nouns and using articles with them.
Image from: https://www.graphicsprings.com/logographics/computer-mouse-book
If you do this training, you will reduce grammar mistakes in your speaking and writing.
Welcome to this interactive training about countable and uncountable nouns and using articles with them.
Image from: https://www.graphicsprings.com/logographics/computer-mouse-book
If you do this training, you will reduce grammar mistakes in your speaking and writing.
What are COUNTABLE nouns?
Countable nouns are used for things and living beings that we can count using numbers.
one apple, two apples
one dog, two dogs,
one student, 100 students,
one child, a lot of children
one person, one million people
Some countable nouns are abstract:
one idea, two ideas
one mistake, 10 mistakes
one dream, many dreams
If we want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, we ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun:
How many apples are on the table?
How many students passed the exam?
How many dreams have come true?
The following words are used with countable nouns only to indicate quantities:
many
too many ( negative meaning)
several (formal)
a few
a (great) number of
multiple ( formal)
- Were there many mistakes in my test? - Yes, too many! I'm afraid you failed.
There are several problems with this proposal.
A great number of people would disagree with you.
I know a few colleagues who will be happy to participate.
What are COUNTABLE nouns?
Countable nouns are used for things and living beings that we can count using numbers.
one apple, two apples
one dog, two dogs,
one student, 100 students,
one child, a lot of children
one person, one million people
Some countable nouns are abstract:
one idea, two ideas
one mistake, 10 mistakes
one dream, many dreams
If we want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, we ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun:
How many apples are on the table?
How many students passed the exam?
How many dreams have come true?
The following words are used with countable nouns only to indicate quantities:
many
too many ( negative meaning)
several (formal)
a few
a (great) number of
multiple ( formal)
- Were there many mistakes in my test? - Yes, too many! I'm afraid you failed.
There are several problems with this proposal.
A great number of people would disagree with you.
I know a few colleagues who will be happy to participate.
Tick the correct sentences only
There were too much people in the park.
I have a few friends in London.
A great amount of visitors came to the centre.
Did you have much problems with this?
A small number of incidents occurred during the first two years.
There were multiple problems with this application.
How many students are absent?
I didn't have much problems.
Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form.
A countable noun in a singular form is NOT used in a sentence on its own.
Can you see what's wrong with these sentences?
*This is good idea.
*I don't have key.
*I like film.
*Give me pencil.
*Desk is over there.
*I only made mistake!
The following sentences are correct:
This is a good idea.
I don't have the key.
I like this film.
Give me your pencil.
Jane's desk is over there.
I only made one mistake!
You can see from the sentences above that a countable noun in its singular form needs one of these words before it:
an article ( a, an or the)This is a good idea. I don't have the key.
OR
a demonstrative pronoun ( this, that) I like this film.
OR
a possessive adjective ( my, your, his, her, our, their) Give me your pencil.
OR
a noun in possessive form ( Jane's, Michael's, my brother's) Jane's desk is over there.
OR
a numeral "one" I made one mistake.
Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form.
A countable noun in a singular form is NOT used in a sentence on its own.
Can you see what's wrong with these sentences?
*This is good idea.
*I don't have key.
*I like film.
*Give me pencil.
*Desk is over there.
*I only made mistake!
The following sentences are correct:
This is a good idea.
I don't have the key.
I like this film.
Give me your pencil.
Jane's desk is over there.
I only made one mistake!
You can see from the sentences above that a countable noun in its singular form needs one of these words before it:
an article ( a, an or the)This is a good idea. I don't have the key.
OR
a demonstrative pronoun ( this, that) I like this film.
OR
a possessive adjective ( my, your, his, her, our, their) Give me your pencil.
OR
a noun in possessive form ( Jane's, Michael's, my brother's) Jane's desk is over there.
OR
a numeral "one" I made one mistake.
Tick the correct sentences:
I enjoyed film. It was really funny.
Can you pass me pen, please?
Do you have key to this door?
I'd like one pastry and two sandwiches please.
How old is Michael's car?
Can I borrow your pencil?
I can't see mistake. Where is it?
It was such big problem!
The book was long and boring.
I don't agree with this idea.
COUNTABLE NOUNS IN PLURAL FORMS
The plural form normally needs an ending (e)s:
Students, houses, puppies, oranges, apples, wishes
Remember to NOT use an apostrophe before the plural ending 's!
It is a common mistake that many native speakers of English make but it is NEVER acceptable, not even in informal English.
These are wrong:
*Fresh apple's and pear's
*Home-baked pie's
*Today's special's
*All dessert's half price
These are correct:
Fresh apples and pears
Home-baked pies
Today's specials
All desserts half price
COUNTABLE NOUNS IN PLURAL FORMS
The plural form normally needs an ending (e)s:
Students, houses, puppies, oranges, apples, wishes
Remember to NOT use an apostrophe before the plural ending 's!
It is a common mistake that many native speakers of English make but it is NEVER acceptable, not even in informal English.
These are wrong:
*Fresh apple's and pear's
*Home-baked pie's
*Today's special's
*All dessert's half price
These are correct:
Fresh apples and pears
Home-baked pies
Today's specials
All desserts half price
Tick the correct option
Home-baked pies
Home-baked pie's
Tick the correct option
French dessert's
French desserts
Tick the correct option
Farm-fresh strawberrie's
Farm-fresh strawberries
Tick the correct option
Today's specials
Todays special's
Tick the correct option
Free teas for mums with kids
Free tea's for mum's with kid's
PLURAL FORMS: SPELLING
Study the following spelling rules:
1: if a noun ends in s, sh, ch, tch, x, we add -es:
boss – bosses, wish – wishes, glitch – glitches
2: If a noun ends in a vowel + z, we double the “z” and add –es:
quiz - quizzes
3: if a noun ends in a consonant+y , we change “y” into “i” and add -es:
puppy-puppies
4: if a noun ends in a consonant+o, we add –es:
potato-potatoes, hero- heroes
BUT: photo-photos ( This is an exception because it's a shortened word, originally the word was "photograph")
PLURAL FORMS: SPELLING
Study the following spelling rules:
1: if a noun ends in s, sh, ch, tch, x, we add -es:
boss – bosses, wish – wishes, glitch – glitches
2: If a noun ends in a vowel + z, we double the “z” and add –es:
quiz - quizzes
3: if a noun ends in a consonant+y , we change “y” into “i” and add -es:
puppy-puppies
4: if a noun ends in a consonant+o, we add –es:
potato-potatoes, hero- heroes
BUT: photo-photos ( This is an exception because it's a shortened word, originally the word was "photograph")
IRREGULAR PLURAL NOUNS
Some countable nouns have special plural forms. These are called irregular plurals.
person - people
child – children
man-men
woman-women ( pronounced |ˈwɪmɪn| )
tooth - teeth
foot – feet
goose-geese
mouse – mice (but it is acceptable to say ‘computer mouses’)
sheep – sheep
deer – deer
Nouns ending in –f or –fe usually have plurals ending in –ves but there are some exceptions:
wife-wives
life-lives
half-halves
thief-thieves
Dwarf – dwarfs/ dwarves (both forms are fine)
Hoof – hoofs / hooves (both forms are fine)
Scarf – scarfs / scarves (both forms are fine)
Wharf- wharfs /wharves (both forms are fine)
IRREGULAR PLURAL NOUNS
Some countable nouns have special plural forms. These are called irregular plurals.
person - people
child – children
man-men
woman-women ( pronounced |ˈwɪmɪn| )
tooth - teeth
foot – feet
goose-geese
mouse – mice (but it is acceptable to say ‘computer mouses’)
sheep – sheep
deer – deer
Nouns ending in –f or –fe usually have plurals ending in –ves but there are some exceptions:
wife-wives
life-lives
half-halves
thief-thieves
Dwarf – dwarfs/ dwarves (both forms are fine)
Hoof – hoofs / hooves (both forms are fine)
Scarf – scarfs / scarves (both forms are fine)
Wharf- wharfs /wharves (both forms are fine)
From the list of words below, tick the words which are plural:
Children
Men
Person
Woman
Women
Teeth
Man
Mice
Deer
Goose
How much milk do we need? - One and a _____ litre.
Give me both __________please.
"The Merry ________ of Windsor" is a comedy about two clever women, written by Shakespeare.
Your ex-______ has just called. She needs to talk to you.
He has lived a good _______.
"The ______ of Others" is a German drama film set in East Berlin.
The two ________ stole all the jewellery.
One _____ managed to escape.
WHAT ARE UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS?
UNCOUNTABLE nouns are used for the things that we cannot count with numbers.
They may be the names for
- abstract concepts, ideas and experiences (love, information, advice)
- qualities (beauty, warmth)
- physical substances like liquids, powders, gases ( water, salt, oxygen)
- weather words (weather, thunder, rain)
- names for groups or collections of things (furniture, luggage)
Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They do not normally have a plural form and do not need the article a/an.
Love is all you need.
Beauty is only skin-deep.
Oxygen has run out.
What's this rubbish over here?
If we want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, we ask "How much?"
How much salt have you put in this?!
These words are used only with uncountable nouns to indicate amount:
a little
little/very little (means: not enough)
a bit of
a (great/small) amount of
a great deal of...
Note that the words "some" and "a lot of" can be used with both uncountable nouns and countable plural nouns. Note how the verb changes between the singular and plural forms:
There is a lot of sugar in this cake.
There are a lot of guests at this party.
Some juice is still left.
Some children are still playing outside.
WHAT ARE UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS?
UNCOUNTABLE nouns are used for the things that we cannot count with numbers.
They may be the names for
- abstract concepts, ideas and experiences (love, information, advice)
- qualities (beauty, warmth)
- physical substances like liquids, powders, gases ( water, salt, oxygen)
- weather words (weather, thunder, rain)
- names for groups or collections of things (furniture, luggage)
Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb. They do not normally have a plural form and do not need the article a/an.
Love is all you need.
Beauty is only skin-deep.
Oxygen has run out.
What's this rubbish over here?
If we want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, we ask "How much?"
How much salt have you put in this?!
These words are used only with uncountable nouns to indicate amount:
a little
little/very little (means: not enough)
a bit of
a (great/small) amount of
a great deal of...
Note that the words "some" and "a lot of" can be used with both uncountable nouns and countable plural nouns. Note how the verb changes between the singular and plural forms:
There is a lot of sugar in this cake.
There are a lot of guests at this party.
Some juice is still left.
Some children are still playing outside.
Tick the sentences that are correct: (Don't forget the form of the verb!)
How much sugar did you put in your tea?
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
I need a bit of help.
A big number of toxic waste is poured into the ocean every day.
A lot of money have disappeared from his account.
This dish contains a large amount of fat.
There is very little oxygen left.
There is so many problems with this car.
Some visitors are still waiting.
Some of the water have evaporated.
COUNTABLE OR UNCOUNTABLE?
Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English.
The best way to find if a noun is countable or uncountable is to check it in good dictionary.
Dictionaries usually have [C] for Countable and [U] for Uncountable.
Below are the most common examples of uncountable nouns that students make mistakes in:
accommodation, advice, baggage, behaviour, bread, homework, housework,
hair( but we can say “a hair” if it means just one individual hair: "The police found a blond hair belonging to the thief.")
furniture, information, luggage, music, news ( don’t be tricked by the ending –s, news is uncountable and singular)
progress, traffic, travel, trouble, attention, work
All of these nouns need to be used with singular verbs and with the phrases suitable for uncountable nouns. They cannot be used with the article a/an.
Your advice was very helpful.
You have such lovely hair!
They gave us a bit of information.
Homework is important.
The news is fantastic!
There is a lot of traffic.
There was some second-hand furniture on sale.
This is too much work!
I have always found housework relaxing.
COUNTABLE OR UNCOUNTABLE?
Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English.
The best way to find if a noun is countable or uncountable is to check it in good dictionary.
Dictionaries usually have [C] for Countable and [U] for Uncountable.
Below are the most common examples of uncountable nouns that students make mistakes in:
accommodation, advice, baggage, behaviour, bread, homework, housework,
hair( but we can say “a hair” if it means just one individual hair: "The police found a blond hair belonging to the thief.")
furniture, information, luggage, music, news ( don’t be tricked by the ending –s, news is uncountable and singular)
progress, traffic, travel, trouble, attention, work
All of these nouns need to be used with singular verbs and with the phrases suitable for uncountable nouns. They cannot be used with the article a/an.
Your advice was very helpful.
You have such lovely hair!
They gave us a bit of information.
Homework is important.
The news is fantastic!
There is a lot of traffic.
There was some second-hand furniture on sale.
This is too much work!
I have always found housework relaxing.
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Samina has bought a lot of new furnitures for her new house.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Jose gave the police a lot of informations about his missing cousin.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? How much housework do you do every week?
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? I listen to a lot of music.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? You have made excellent progress.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? A lot of jobs require a DBS check before you start.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Amelia has such a beautiful thick hair!
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Yuck! There's a hair in my soup!
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Traffic was terrible this morning.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Ali puts too much salts in his food.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? I have a job interview tomorrow and I need some advices.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Students should do homeworks regularly.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Humans need a water and an oxygen to live.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? The news from the front was encouraging.
CORRECT
WRONG
Is this sentence correct or wrong? Thank you for your attention.
CORRECT
WRONG
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE
Some nouns can be sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable.
The meaning often changes in such cases.
glass = material; a glass = you can drink water from it
iron = material; an iron= a household item
paper = material; a paper = one sheet of paper; or a newspaper, or an academic essay
chocolate = ingredient; a chocolate = one individual piece
Other nouns of this type include:
chicken, time, education
COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE
Some nouns can be sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable.
The meaning often changes in such cases.
glass = material; a glass = you can drink water from it
iron = material; an iron= a household item
paper = material; a paper = one sheet of paper; or a newspaper, or an academic essay
chocolate = ingredient; a chocolate = one individual piece
Other nouns of this type include:
chicken, time, education
In each pair of sentences below, tick the sentence where the noun is COUNTABLE:
You can buy a whole chicken for just £3.
Is there any chicken in this samosa?
The fence was made of iron.
We bought a new iron and an ironing board.
I only just bought these glasses and you have already broken one!
The coffee table was made of glass.
The printer has run out of paper.
He published a paper about the effects of COVID on lungs.
I can't eat dark chocolate. It causes a migraine.
OK, I'll have a chocolate, but just one.
No one denies the importance of education.
Their daughter had a very expensive education at a private school in France.
Type in the whole word that fits the gap beginning with the given letter. A lot of p______ gathered on the square to protest.
Type in the whole word that fits the gap beginning with the given letter. The 16th century king Henry VII had six w________._.
Type in the whole word that fits the gap beginning with the given letter. If you can’t go to sleep, try counting sh________________.
Type in the whole word that fits the gap beginning with the given letter. Could you peel those po______?
Type in the whole word that fits the gap beginning with the given letter. W_________ everywhere have the right to live free from discrimination.
Please rate how easy or difficult you found it. 1 - extremely easy. 10 extremely challenging!
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