If you are not familiar with countable and uncountable nouns see count non count or nouns lessons. Sometimes it seems that noncount nouns are not logical, but if you click here, you will find different types and categories of noncount nouns and you will be able to see some logic in the. Count and noncount nouns grammar academic guides at. In general, non count nouns are considered to refer to indivisible wholes. Ask for volunteers to share a few of their answers with the class. Underline the noun in each sentence and write c or u to show whether the noun is countable or uncountable. For exercises, you can reveal the answers first submit worksheet and print the page to have the exercise and the answers. Grammarquizzes noun phrases nouns countnoncount practice. Nouns that are either count nouns or non count nouns there are a lot of nouns that are either count nouns or non count nouns, depending on the circumstances.
Grammar worksheet count and noncount nouns grammar error correction. Noncount nouns are nouns that are more of a whole and cannot be counted. It is important to note that noncount nouns usually do not have plural forms do not add s or es to the end of the words. Noncount nouns often refer to groups of similar objects.
Today we are going to talk about the difference between count and noncount nouns most nouns in english can be counted. Some common nouns may be either count or noncount, depending on the kind of reference they have. Choose whether the following nouns are countable or uncountable. Count and noncount nouns thompson rivers university. In their noncount form or value, they are generalisations, in their count noun form or value their meaning is restricted or slightly different. Some of the worksheets displayed are cc oo uu nntt aandd nnoonn ccounntt noouunss, are these words count or non count, t he n oncount n oun, common count and non count nouns, nouns countable and uncountable, countable and uncountable nouns exercise 1, count and noncount nouns. Count nouns refer to things that can be divided up into smaller units which are separate and distinct from one another. However, a few countable nouns only have a plural form in english. Chart 74 students could complete this exercise in pairs. Liquids such as coffee or water, abstractions such as love or peace, and collective nouns such as furniture or luggage are all examples of noncount nouns.
For example, pieces of furniture, cups of coffee or cartons of milk. The main difference between count and noncount nouns is whether or not the things they refer to can be counted. They often refer to abstractions and occasionally have a collective meaning for example. This is an interactive multiplechoice javascript quiz for students of english as a second language. Count and noncount nouns english esl worksheets for distance.
Noncount nouns, on the other hand, refer to items, qualities, or concepts that cannot be counted. Count and noncount nouns exercise 1 answers purdue writing lab. Some words take an s when you talk about more than one. Noncount nouns can be preceded by determiners such as some, any, this, that or expressions such as much, a lot of, little, enough. Count and non count nouns in english, count nouns more precisely, nouns in their countable meanings are people, places, things, activities, or events that can be either singular or plural. This exercise contrasts count and noncount nouns in sentence contexts so that learners can begin to. Uncountable 01 in context 2 min what is a quantifier. Nouns can be either a count noun or a noncount noun also called a mass noun. Noncount noun xx noncount use xx articles nouns and articles choosing which article to use if any with a noun is a complex matter because the range of choices depends on whether the noun in question is 1 count or noncount and 2 singular or plural. For this reason, they are sometimes called mass nouns.
Identifying count and non count nouns categorizing nouns. English esl countable and uncountable nouns worksheets. This is a work sheet with an answer key for count and noncount nouns. Food countable and uncountable nouns countable nous nouns you can count you can use a an in front of countable nouns. Count and noncount nouns exercises teacher worksheets. Count nouns non count nouns uses articles a, an or the.
Count nouns or countable nouns have plural forms and are used with the both definite the and indefinite articles aan. Countable and noncountable nouns in english 1 free grammar. A collection of english esl countable and uncountable nouns worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about. Such nouns can be counted with numbers or other modifiers that indicate singular or plural number. Count and noncount nouns exercise s 1 count and noncount nouns exercise 1 are the following nouns count or noncount. Count nouns are nouns that are separate pieces and can be counted. Find the food and drinks and write them in the boxes. If you are not familiar with countable and uncountable nouns see countnoncount or nouns lessons. Count and noncount nouns and articles university of. Knowing the difference between count and noncount nouns will make your english sound much better. For example, twenty students, eight rooms, one box, and four socks are all count nouns. The objects in english require a counting word to express plurality. Is there a way to teach the differences between countable and uncountable nouns in a way that wont confuse my students. Count and noncount nouns exercise 1 purdue writing lab.
Discuss the concept in relation to some of the words listed at the bottom of this page, all of which are wholes. Identifying count and noncount nouns categorizing nouns. Countable vs uncountable nouns exercise for students, choose whether the following nouns. They also learn ways to make noncount nouns countable with measurement and container words. Noncount nouns are the nouns that cannot be counted, and they do not make a distinction between singular and plural forms. Learn food vocabulary in the level 200 vocabulary topics countable nouns.
Furniture is a collection of similar countable items like chairs, sofas, tables, shelves, beds. Both count nouns whether singular or plural and noncount nouns take articles. Noncount or uncountable nouns exist as masses or abstract quantities that cannot be counted. Count nouns noncount nouns uses articles a, an or the. Count and noncount nouns exercise 1 are the following nouns count or noncount. On a separate sheet of paper, identify whether the italicized noun in the sentence is a count or noncount noun by writing c or nc above the noun. Count nouns, sometimes called countable nouns, have both singular and plural forms. Article countusage and and noncount nouns articles articles are words that modify nouns. This is count and noncount nouns and articles, section 4.
Uncountable nouns, noncount nouns, or uncount nouns. Thats 4,036 pages filled with thousands of practical activities and tips that you can start using today. Countable and uncountable nouns exercise 1 are these nouns countable or uncountable. Non count nouns are nouns that are more of a whole and cannot be counted. For example, ini made a cake, cakeis a count noun, and the abefore it indicates singular number. Below are words and phrases that can be used with count and noncount nouns. I have esl students who constantly say things like, i have few time or i know much people in new york. There are nouns that can be both countable and uncountable, and students must understand the difference. Errors with count and noncount nouns can result in errors with article usage and with subject verb agreement. These types of mistakes, involving countables and uncountables are far too common. In general, noncount nouns are considered to refer to indivisible wholes.
The can also be preceded by words such as a, an, or the a chair. To express a particular quantity, some noncount nouns may be preceded by unit expressions, e. Some went for the terms uncount or noncount, preferring to get rid of the suffix able that too adamantly suggests that the category a noun. They usually refer to what can individually be seen or heard. Some grammarians started to prefer the use of mass nouns to include abstract nouns and nouns that we use in a general sense. In their non count form or value, they are generalisations, in their count noun form or value their meaning is restricted or slightly different. Noncount nouns it is important for students to understand the concept of a noncount noun. There are some apples in the cupboard and some grapes in the fridge. You use some with noncount nouns or plural count nouns.
They function as limiting adjectives to help us understand which person, place, thing, or concept is being discussed. The refers to a specific or unique noun in a context known, understood, or. This exercise and the next are designed to reinforce new vocabulary. The noncount noun recognize a noncount noun when you see one.
If the noun can be either noncount or count depending on the context, put a d next to it. Chart 71 this exercise contrasts count and noncount nouns in sentence contexts so that learners can begin to understand the differences between them. T he n oncount n oun recognize a noncount noun when you see one. Writing exercise 5 min complete the sentences with.
In addition, some nouns that are noncount in english may be countable in other languages e. Never take the plural ending s always take a singular verb. Although most english nouns are count nouns, noncount nouns frequently occur in academic writing. It is used when both the speaker and listener or the writer and reader are referring to. Like all things in english and language in general, there may be exceptions. A count noun also countable noun is a noun that can be modified by a numeral three chairs and that occurs in both singular and plural forms chair, chairs. Jan 18, 2017 noncount nouns can be preceded by determiners such as some, any, this, that or expressions such as much, a lot of, little, enough. Nouns that are either count nouns or non count nouns there are a lot of nouns that are either count nouns or noncount nouns, depending on the circumstances. Put an n next to the noncount nouns and a c next to the count nouns. Count and noncount nouns vary from language to language. If the noun can be either noncount or count depending on the context, put. We didnt buy any juice or any eggs, but we did buy some bread. Com learn about noncount nouns, then try some quizzes. Typically, a noun is made plural by adding an s to the end.