| Zuzu | Date: Friday, 21.10.2011, 10:46 | Message # 1 |
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| A noun can be countable or uncountable:
Countable
• I eat a banana every day.
• I like bananas.
Banana is a countable noun.
A countable noun can be singular (banana)
or plural(bananas).
We can use numbers with countable nouns.
So we can say “one banana”,”two bananas” etc.
Examples of nouns usually countable:
• Kate was singing a song.
• There’s a nice beach near here.
• Do you have a ten-pound note?
• It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.
• There are no batteries in the radio.
• We haven’t got enough cups.
You can use a/an with singular countable nouns: a beach, a student, an umbrella
You cannot use singular countable nouns alone(without a/the/my etc):
• I want a banana.(not I want banana)
• There’s been an accident.(not There’s been accident)
You can use plural countable nouns alone:
• I like bananas.(=bananas in general)
• Accidents can be prevented.
Uncountable
• I eat rice every day.
• I like rice.
Rice is an uncountable noun.
An uncountable noun has only one form(rice).
We cannot use numbers with uncountable nouns. We cannot say “one rice”,“two rices”etc.
Examples of nouns usually uncountable:
• Kate was listening to (some) music.
• There’s sand in my shoes.
• Do you have any money?
• It wasn’t your fault. It was bad luck.
• There is no electricity in this house.
• We haven’t got enough water.
You cannot normally use a/an with uncountable nouns. We do not say ‘a sand’, ‘a music’, ‘a rice’.
But you can often use a…of. For example: a bowl/ a packet/ a grain of rice
You can use uncountable nouns alone(without the, my, some etc.):
• I eat rice every day.
• There’s blood on your shirt.
• Can you hear music?
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