Types of Noun

In the previous lesson you learnt about various kinds of nouns.In this lesson you will look at two types of nouns-counteble and uncountable.In this lesson you can learn
• Which nouns can you count?
• Can you find any nouns that you cannot count?
• Which nouns take an article before them?

Uncountable Nouns


Lesoon 4


Uncountable nouns are the exact opposite of Countable Nouns. These nouns are the names of things that cannot be counted and have only a singular form.

These nouns use singular verbs in a sentence.

. The furniture was new. (Furniture is an uncountable noun and therefore, we use the singular 'was' in referring to it.)
.Is 250gm of sugar enough? (Sugar is an uncountable noun as sugar
itself cannot be counted. It can only be weighed.)
. He is praised for his honesty.- Honesty is an uncountable noun as it
has no plural and cannot be counted in physical terms either.

List of some Uncountable Nouns

General	Abstract
homework	advise
equipment	help
luggage	fun
clothing	recreation
furniture	enjoyment
machinery	information
gold	knowledge
silver	news
cotton	patience
glass	happiness
jewellery	progress

Using Countable & Uncountable Nouns

Look at the following list and notice which are used with countable and uncountable nouns:

Words used with countable nouns only

a	a doctor, a pen,a meal,a class,a college
many	many cups,many books,many libraries, many fights
few	few questions, few tablets, few apples,few holidays, few countries
a few	a few questions,a few problems, a few issues

Words used with uncountable nouns only
much	much money,much time,mucb food,much water,much energy
little	little trouble,little meat,little patience
a little bit of	a little bit of sleep,a little bit of rain

Words used with both noun

the	countable	the monkeys, the schools, the teachers, the boats, the bananas
	uncountable	the machinery, the luggage, the grass,the knowledge
some	countable	some tables,some stores,some grapes,some cities, some nures
	uncountable	some time,some news, some bread,some salt
any	countable	any socks,any bathrooms, any ideas, any beliefs
	uncountable	any advise,any soap,any gold,any homework
no	countable	no magazines, no pilots, no chocolates, no markers,no rings
	uncountable	no trouble, no money,no grass,no scenery, no furniture
enough	countable	enough plates,enough onions,enough restaurants
	uncountable	enough time,enough wisdom, enough rice,enough courage

Note: Usage of few, a few, little, a little

The expressions a little and a few mean some.

We use a little with singular nouns.

Example:

I have a little money.

We use a few with plural nouns.

Example:

Kaberi has a few friends.

Note that there are differences of meaning when you use a little / a few or little
few with nouns. Without the article, the words have a restricted or negative
meaning.

a little means 'some'
little means 'hardly any'

Examples:

I need a little money. That means -I need some money.

I need little money. That means -I need hardly any money.


Again read about the differences between a few and few.

a few = some
few = hardly any

Examples:

A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me.
Few friends visited e,.Hardly any friends visited me.

★Next,i will talk about Adjectives


Also read this:
* Parts of speech
* Noun
* Countable Noun