B2 grammar about non-count and count nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns

A

Countable nouns are nouns which can be counted.

   one plate     two cats     five chairs

B

Uncountable nouns cannot be counted. They are not used with the indefinite article (a/an), they do not have a plural and they are used with a singular verb form.

Can you get some bread?

A lot of damage was done to the building.

The following nouns are usually uncountable:

news, accommodation, health, progress, advice, homework, research, damage, information, spaghetti, English, work, knowledge, travel, furniture, luggage, weather, graffiti.

C

Nouns which are both countable and uncountable

1 Many words for food and drink can he used both countably and uncountably.

I've made a chocolate cake. (C)

Could I have some more cake? (U)

Would you like another coffee? (C) (= cup of coffee)

I don 't like coffee. (U)

2 A word used countably may have a very different meaning from its countable version.

I'd like a double room for one night. (C) (= hotel room)

There's no more room on this bus. (U) (= space)

D

Making uncountable nouns countable

1 Some uncountable nouns have countable equivalents with similar meanings.

There isn’t much work in this town. (U)

There aren't many jobs in this town. (C)

My job involves a lot of business travel. (U)

I have to make a lot of business trips. (C)

2 Some other uncountable nouns can be made countable by using piece(s) of or items of.

Let me give you a piece of advice.

Two items of news caught my attention.

3 Certain other expressions are used with words for food and drink:

a plate of spaghetti, a pinch of salt, a loaf of bread, a slice of cake/toast, a spoonful of sugar, a bar of chocolate, a carton of milk, a jar of jam.

E

Words used with countable nouns:

a/an, few, a few, many, a large number of; each, every, several.

Words used with uncountable nouns:

little, a little, much, a great deal of, a large amount of

3

Words used with countable and uncountable nouns:

some, any, no, a lot of, lots of, all, plenty of, most.

The difference between Little and few

These two words have more negative meanings. They mean 'not much/many' or 'not as much/many as desired or expected'.

Sue has made little progress since the beginning of term.

There were very few people at the concert.

The difference between a little and a few

These have more positive meanings. They mean 'some' or 'more than expected'.

I've managed to save a little money to buy him a present.

I've still got a few eggs - enough to make an omelette.

The usage of plenty of

This means 'a lot of or 'more than enough'.

Don't hurry, we've got plenty of time.

برای دسترسی به دروس بیشتر به لینک زیر مراجعه کنید.

گرامر صفر تا صد زبان انگلیسی

لسنینگ از مبتدی تا پیشرفته

لغات زبان انگلیسی به تفکیک موضوع

درک مطلب از سطح مبتدی تا پیشرفته

تمامی موضوعات آیلتس اسپیکینگ پارت یک، دو و سه همراه با جواب