© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
Countable / Countable / uncountable nounsuncountable nouns
a / an / some / anya / an / some / any
how much / how many?how much / how many?
© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
There are 2 kinds of noun There are 2 kinds of noun in English:in English:
CountableCountable Things you can count Things you can count
(singular or plural)(singular or plural) One apple, two One apple, two
apples, three apples, three apples…apples…
UncountableUncountable Things you can´t Things you can´t
count (they can’t be count (they can’t be plural)plural)
Butter, meat…Butter, meat… Some nouns can be
countable or uncountable but the meaning is different.
Example: chocolate
© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
A / AN / SOME / ANYA / AN / SOME / ANY
Use Use a / ana / an with singular countable nouns. with singular countable nouns. Use some with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in Use some with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in
+ sentences.+ sentences. Use Use anyany with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in – with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in –
or ? sentences.or ? sentences. We can also use We can also use somesome in ? to ask for and offerings: in ? to ask for and offerings:
Can I have some coffee?Can I have some coffee? Do you want some biscuits?Do you want some biscuits?
Type of sentenceType of sentence CountableCountable UncountableUncountable
+ We need+ We need an applean apple
some applessome apples
some buttersome butter
some milksome milk
- We don’t need- We don’t need a tomatoa tomato
any tomatoesany tomatoes
any riceany rice
any sugarany sugar
? Do we need? Do we need a tomato?a tomato?
any tomatoes?any tomatoes?
any rice?any rice?
any sugar?any sugar?
© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
How much / how many…?How much / how many…?
Use Use How much…?How much…? with uncountable with uncountable nouns.nouns.
How much water do you How much water do you drink?drink?
Use Use How many…?How many…? with plural countable with plural countable nouns.nouns.
How many students do How many students do you have?you have?
Possible answers:Possible answers: I drink I drink a lota lot of water. of water. I drink I drink quite a lotquite a lot.. I don’t drink I don’t drink muchmuch water. water.
((not muchnot much)) I don’t drink I don’t drink any any water.water. None.None. Not manyNot many (students). (students).
© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
Choose a / an / someChoose a / an / some
somesome somesome aa somesome somesome somesome somesome some / asome / a
somesome somesome somesome somesome some / ansome / an anan somesome somesome
MilkMilk
BiscuitsBiscuits
ChairChair
CoffeeCoffee
PastaPasta
MoneyMoney
StudentsStudents
ToastToast
WineWine
CarsCars
PeoplePeople
HomeworkHomework
Ice creamIce cream
OrangeOrange
FruitFruit
FishFish