Countable & Uncountable

§Text Passage

§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation

1Summary 重點摘要

Countable: how many; uncountable: how much.

2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary

3Step by step Steps

1. CountableCountable nouns can be counted one by one, such as apple, book and egg. The singular takes a or an, and the plural adds s or es, so an apple becomes two apples. Example: I have three books. A few nouns have irregular plurals, such as child becoming children and man becoming men. Countable nouns go with many and a few, as in many apples. The test is simple: if you can put a number before it, it is countable.
2. UncountableUncountable nouns cannot be counted one by one, such as water, rice and money. They have no plural form, take no a or an, and always go with a singular verb, as in The water is cold. Note that some nouns are countable in Chinese but uncountable in English, such as bread, furniture and paper, so never say breads. To show an amount, use a partitive phrase such as a piece of bread — a typical difference between the two languages.
3. QuestionAsk about amounts with how many or how much: how many goes with plural countable nouns, as in How many apples do you have?; how much goes with uncountable nouns, as in How much water do you need? The noun after how many must be plural, while the noun after how much stays singular. How much can also ask about price, as in How much is the book? The key to choosing the right question word is still deciding whether the noun is countable.
4. some/anyUse some in positive sentences and any in questions and negatives. Example: We had some rice. Did we have any juice? We did not have any juice. Note that some can also appear in polite requests when you expect a yes, as in Would you like some tea? In negatives, any combines with not to mean not even a little. To say there is nothing left, use none, as in We have none. Choosing between some and any depends on whether the sentence is positive, negative or a question.
5. Partitives count the uncountableAlthough uncountable nouns cannot be counted directly, partitive phrases can show the amount: a glass of water, two pieces of bread and three bowls of rice. Example: Please give me two cups of tea. Note that the noun inside the partitive follows the countable rules, so we say two glasses and three bowls, while the uncountable noun comes after of. This structure is the main way to express amounts of uncountable nouns, so master it well; it is also very useful in writing.
6. Picnic practiceExample: How many sandwiches did we have? How much rice did we bring? Before asking, decide whether the noun is countable: sandwich is countable, so use how many plus the plural; rice is uncountable, so use how much. In real use, sort the food in your mind first and then choose the right question word. Answers can use partitive phrases, such as Two bowls of rice. This kind of question appears often in tests and in daily conversation, so it is worth extra practice.

5Worked example Example

6Common mistakes Mistakes

7Quick check Quick check

8Recap Recap

• Countable nouns have plurals: one apple, two apples; uncountables have none.
• Common uncountables: water, rice, bread, milk, money, homework.
• Questions: How many + countable; How much + uncountable.
• Use some in positives; any in negatives and questions.
• Show amounts with partitives: a glass of water, a piece of bread.