Countable and Uncountable Nouns Explained for ESL

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Explained for ESL Nouns are words that represent things, places, ideas, or people. For example, computer, Tom, Seattle, history are all nouns. Nouns are parts of speech which  can be both countable and uncountable. Countable Nouns A countable noun is something you can count such as apples, books, cars, etc. Here are some sentences using countable nouns: How many apples are on the table?She has two cars and two bicycles.I dont have any books on this shelf. Uncountable Nouns An uncountable noun is something you cant count such as information, wine, or cheese. Here are some sentences using uncountable nouns: How much time does it take to go to the station?Sheila doesnt have a lot of money.The boys enjoy eating cake. Uncountable nouns are often liquids or items that are difficult to count such as rice and pasta. Uncountable nouns are also often concepts such as honesty, pride,  and  sadness.   How much rice do we have at home?She doesnt have much pride in her country.We bought some past for lunch. Nouns That Are Both Countable and Uncountable Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable such as fish because it can mean the meat of the fish or an individual fish. This is true with words like chicken and turkey as well. I bought some fish for dinner the other day. (meat of the fish, uncountable)My brother caught two fish last week at the lake. (individual fish, countable) Test Your Knowledge Check your understanding of common countable and uncountable nouns with this short quiz: Are the following words countable or uncountable? carwine  happiness  orange  sand  booksugar   Answers: countableuncountableuncountablecountableuncountablecountableuncountable When to Use A, An, or Some Use a with objects we can count that begin with a consonant like a book, a car, or a house.Use some with objects we cannot count like some milk, some time, or some pasta.Use an with objects we can count that begin with a vowel like an orange, an ocean, or an eternity. Test your knowledge with this exercise. Do we use a, an or some for these words? book  winerice  apple  music  tomato  rain  CDegg  food   Answers: asomesomeansomeasomeaansome When to Use Much and Many The use of much and many depends on whether a word is countable or uncountable. Much is used with a singular verb for uncountable objects. Use much in questions and negative sentences. Use some or a lot of in positive sentences. How much time do you have this afternoon?I dont have much fun at parties.  Jennifer has a lot of good sense. Many is used with countable objects with a plural verb conjugation. Man is used in questions and negative sentences. Many can be used in positive questions, but is more common to use some or a lot of. How many people are coming to the party?She doesnt have many answers.Jack has many friends in Chicago. Test your knowledge. Complete the questions and sentences some, a lot of, much, or many. How ____ money do you have?I dont have ____ friends in Los Angeles.How   ____ people live in your city?She wants _____ time off work this month.How____does that book cost?They dont have ______ time this afternoon.How ____ rice is there?I would like to have _____ wine, please.How ____ apples are there in the basket?Peter bought ______ glasses at the store.How ____ gas do we need?He doesnt have _____ rice on his plate.How ____ children are in the class?Jason has _____ friends in Miami.How ____ teachers do you have? Answers: muchmanymanysome  muchmuchsomemanysome, a lot ofmuchmuchmanymany, some, a lot ofmany Here are some final tips  to help you understand how to use how much and how many. Use how many for questions using countable or plural objects. How many books do you have? Use how much for questions using a non-countable or singular object. How much juice is left? Use how much for questions asking about one object. How much does the book cost? Test your knowledge of what you have learned on this page.  Take the Much or Many? quiz!