Countable and Uncountable Nouns

(a) Nouns that can be counted are known as countable nouns. We can use ‘a few’, ‘several’, ‘many’ and ‘a large number of’ for these nouns.

• There are only a few pupils in the classroom.
• Several pages are missing from the book.
• We can do many things with the computer.

(b) Nouns that cannot be counted are known as uncountable nouns. We use ‘a little’, ‘much’, and ‘a large amount’ for these nouns.

• There is a little food left in the canteen.
• There isn’t much work to be done at home.
• There is a large amount of wheat in the sack.

(c) However, we can use ‘some’ ‘plenty of’ and ‘a lot of’ for both countable and uncountable nouns.

• Some children are playing in the playground.
• I saw a lot of people at the market.
• Rena spread some butter on a piece of bread.

(d) We use ‘any’ to ask about the amount or number of nouns.

• Do you have any pencils?
• Is there any water in the pond?

(e) We also use ‘any’ to show that there is no quantity.

• We couldn’t find any plates in the cupboard.
• There isn’t any water in the flask.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns