Nouns · Elementary (A2)
Countable and uncountable nouns; some, any, much, many
Know which nouns you can count and use some, any, much, many, a lot of, a few and a little correctly.
The rules
Countable nouns have a plural: an egg, two eggs. Uncountable nouns don’t: water, money, information, advice, furniture, luggage, news, bread. They take a singular verb: The news is* good.*
Some (positive, offers, requests) and any (negatives, most questions): I have some time. Do you have any questions? Would you like some tea?
Many + plural countable, much + uncountable — mostly in negatives and questions: How many people? How much money? I don’t have much time. In positive sentences, a lot of / lots of is more natural for both.
A few + countable (a few friends), a little + uncountable (a little sugar) = a small amount (positive). Few / little without a = not enough (negative).
| Countable | Uncountable | |
|---|---|---|
| question | How many? | How much? |
| small amount | a few | a little |
| large amount | a lot of / many | a lot of / much |
Examples
- Can I give you some advice?
- How many languages do you speak?
- There isn’t much traffic today.
- I have a few ideas.
Common mistakes
✗ I need some informations.
✓ I need some information.
Information is uncountable — no plural.
✗ How much people came?
✓ How many people came?
People is countable plural → many.
✗ a furniture
✓ a piece of furniture
Uncountable nouns don’t take a/an; use a piece of.
Practice
How ___ money do you need?
Quiz
1.The news ___ very surprising.
2.We don’t have ___ time.
3.Add ___ salt.
4.“Luggage” is a countable noun.