Grammar Reference

 

5.1 ■ Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns

• Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form.
• We use a / an with the singular form and some / any with the plural form.
  I eat an apple every day.
  I’ve got some apples in my bag.
  I haven’t got any apples in my bag.

Uncountable nouns

• Uncountable nouns only have a singular form.
• We don't use a / an with an uncountable noun. We only use some / any or no article.
• There is no plural form of uncountable nouns.
  I eat some bread every day.
  My brother loves bread.
  Have we got any bread in the cupboard?
  We haven’t got any bread.

REMEMBER! We use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions.

• We often use units of quantity with uncountable nouns.
  These units of quantity can describe:
  a part or portion
  a piece of cake, a slice of cheese, a loaf of bread
  a container
  a carton of milk, a bottle of juice
  a measurement
  a kilo of meat, fifty grammes of sugar

5.2 ■ Quantifiers: much, many, a lot of

We use much, many and a lot of to talk about large quantities.

much

• We use much with uncountable nouns.
• We usually use much in questions and in negative sentences.
• When we ask questions with much, we use the phrase:
  How much … ?
  A: How much bread have you got?
  B: Not much.
  We haven’t got much time – we’re late!
  

many

• We use many with countable nouns.
• We usually use many in questions and in negative sentences.
• When we ask questions with many, we use the phrase:
  How many … ?
  A: How many apples have you got?
  B: Not many. Three, I think.
  I haven’t got many flowers in my garden.
  

a lot of

• We use a lot of with countable and uncountable nouns.
• We use a lot of in affirmatives, negatives and questions.
  She’s got a lot of money but she hasn’t got a lot of friends.
  A Have you got a lot of books?
  B Yes, I have. I’ve got a lot of books and a lot of bookshelves!
  

5.3 ■ Quantifiers: a little / a few

We use a little and a few to refer to small amounts.

a little

• We use a little with uncountable nouns.
  I only take a little sugar in my tea.

a few

• We use a few with plural countable nouns.
  There are a few problems with this homework.