ENGLISH GRAMMAR - COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUN

PREPARED BY,
NOR AZNIZA AZIZ
ENGLISH TEACHER
SK JAMBATAN PUTIH, TAWAU.

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

1. Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. Countable nouns can be in
singular or plural forms. Examples of countable nouns are book, pencils, pupils and
apples. We use quantifiers as listed below with countable nouns:
 A few
 Several
 Many
 A lot of
 Plenty of
 Any

2. Uncountable nouns are nouns that cannot be counted. Uncountable nouns are
used with a singular verb. They usually do not have a plural form. Examples of
uncountable nouns are flour, sugar, money and water. We use quantifiers as listed
below with uncountable nouns:
 A few
 Several
 Many
 A lot of
 Plenty of
 Any

3. The quantifier ‘any’ is normally used in questions and negative statements. For
examples:
Questions:
 Are there any biscuits in the cupboard?
 Is there any juice in the refrigerator?

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 1

Negative statements:
 There isn’t any tea left in the teapot.
 There aren’t any buses late in the evening.

QUANTIFIERS FOR COUNTABLE AND
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

COUNTABLE BOTH UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS NOUNS

- a few - some - a little
- several - a lot of - a bit
- many - plenty of
- any - much

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 2

EXERCISE 1
Tic (/) either the nouns below are countable or uncountable nouns.

NO NOUNS COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS NOUNS
1 book
2 pencil
3 money
4 apple
5 hospital
6 strawberry
7 juice
8 milk
9 salt
10 sugar
11 time
12 water
13 chair
14 children
15 orange
16 doctor
17 egg
18 biscuit
19 tea
20 coffee
21 lady
22 ox
23 noodle
24 rice
25 bus
26 chocolate
27 watermelon

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 3

EXERCISE 2
Categorize the quantifiers into the correct category.

several some a bit much
a little a few plenty of any
a lot of
many

COUNTABLE BOTH UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS NOUNS

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 4

EXERCISE 3
Circle the correct answer to complete the sentences.

1. There isn’t _________________ coffee left in the cup.
A. many
B. any
C. several
D. a few

2. We fried ______________ rice for breakfast this morning.
A. many
B. several
C. some
D. any

3. Water is good for your health. You need to drink ______________ water
every day.
A. any
B. many
C. several
D. plenty of

4. Marinate the chicken with ________________ salt and pepper.
A. a little
B. a few
C. many
D. several

5. She bought ________________ apples for her family.
A. a little
B. some
C. much

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 5

D. any

6. Put ______________ gravy on the mashed potatoes before serving the
dish.
A. many
B. several
C. a little
D. a few

7. Adding too _______________ salt to your food is bad for your health.
A. many
B. much
C. a little
D. a few

8. We don’t need to buy ______________ eggs because we still have a lot of
eggs at home.
A. A few
B. a little
C. any
D. much

9. The policeman stops _____ motorcyclists in the roadblock.
A. many
B. a little
C. much
D. a few

10. You must not put too _____ water in this pot.
A. any
B. some
C. much
D. many

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 6

11. Please take some more cookies. I have _____ more left for Danny so don’t
worry.

A. any
B. a little
C. much
D. a few

12. Does she have _____ brothers in school?
A. much
B. some
C. a little
D. any

13. Unfortunately, I haven't got _________ time to watch TV.
A. any
B. a few
C. many
D. several

14. Can you give me ___________ orange juice?
A. a few
B. many
C. some
D. several

15. There are _________ strawberries in the basket.
A. a lot of
B. a little
C. much
D. any

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 7

16. I will make ___________ lemonade to drink.
A. a lot of
B. much
C. some
D. any

17. The chef grates __________ cheese on the spaghetti.
A. some
B. much
C. several
D. any

18. There is __________ food on the dining table
A. many
B. plenty of
C. several
D. any

19. She got __________ presents for her birthday.
A. much
B. many
C. a little
D. any

20. Do you have _________ time? We need to talk.
A. many
B. a few
C. several
D. some

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 8

21. I have ___________ books in my room.
A. a little
B. much
C. plenty of
D. any

22. Are there ___________ grapes in the fridge?
A. any
B. a little
C. several
D. many

23. There weren’t ___________ people at the concert.
A. many
B. much
C. several
D. a little

24. They baby had ___________ porridge for breakfast.
A. many
B. several
C. some
D. any

25. Alisha lends _________ money to her friend.
A. some
B. a few
C. several
D. any

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 9

ANSWERS

EXERCISE 1 COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS NOUNS
NO NOUNS /
/ /
1 book
2 pencil / /
3 money / /
4 apple / /
5 hospital /
6 strawberry / /
7 juice / /
8 milk /
9 salt / /
10 sugar / /
11 time /
12 water /
13 chair / /
14 children / /
15 orange
16 doctor /
17 egg
18 biscuit
19 tea
20 coffee
21 lady
22 ox
23 noodle
24 rice
25 bus
26 chocolate

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 10

27 watermelon /

EXERCISE 2 BOTH UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS
COUNTABLE
NOUNS - some - a little
- a lot of - a bit
- a few - plenty of
- several - any - much
- many

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 11

EXERCISE 3

1. B
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. B
8. C
9. D
10. C
11. D
12. D
13. A
14. C
15. A
16. C
17. A
18. B
19. B
20.D
21. C
22.A
23.A
24.C
25. A

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 12

TEACHERAZNIZA.SKJAMBATANPUTIHTAWAU.2020 13