Countable and Uncountable Nouns

We say, countable nouns are those things we can count ; uncountable nouns are those nouns we cannot count. Therefore, there are so many things in life that we human even intelligence can deal with , also they are some things we human / robot cannot count. Let take a look at some of the facts. 

1.Countable Nouns

--- can be counted

------- their plurals are made by adding s , es , ies etc.

------- are used with the indefinite articles a or an

Singular                        plural                      

a horse                           some horses             

a ball                               some balls                                                        

Singular                         plural

a horse                            some horses              

a ball                               some balls                

2.Uncountable Nouns

We cannot count them

We cannot add s , ies , es to make their plural e.g  petrol , palm oil , kerosene , cream etc.

We cannot use indefinite articles a or an to make their plural, e.g gari , rice , water , etc

Singular and Plural with Uncountable Nouns

We make singular and plural of uncountable nouns by changing them into items of measurement / weight , etc. into gallons ,bags , bowels , packets.

Singular                                Plural

a bowel of rice                   some bowels of rice

a bag of gari                       some bowel of gar

Countable Nouns

   Quantifies few and a few

Few and a few are used for now we can count.

e.g    few mangoes     a few chairs

        few books          a few books

Now we say, few means 'not many' so one cannot give it out (Negative)

e.g       I have just few oranges.

A few  means a small number and one can give some out.

e.g   she has a few oranges.

This means the number is considered and probably, she can give some out. 

Uncountable Nouns

Quantifiers , much , little ,a lot ,a lot of are used for nouns we cannot count.

e.g       little water                 much petrol

 

           little tea                      much milk

          a little tea                     less tea

         a little water                 less sugar

         a lot of food                  a lot of air     

From the above examples ,' little' means not much and probably one cannot give out any (negative)

e.g    I have little tea left.   means the quantity is not much and  can't give any out.

'a little' means there is some (positive)

e.g     Victor has a little tea left. This means, Victor has some tea left and can give out some.

'a lot of ' is used in affirmative sentences.

  e.g  they have a lot of meat left.

Let look at some exercises.

Exercise 1

Fill in the spaces with the correct unit of measurement.

e .g          a cup of water -------------- measurement unit is cup

1. a ___cup___ of tea  -------------- measurement unit is cup

2. a ___litter___ of water  -------------- measurement unit is litter

3. a __bowel____ of  rice -------------- measurement unit is bowel

4. a ____litter____ of  petrol -------------- measurement unit is litter

Now do these

Fill in the spaces with the correct unit of measurement.

1. a ________  of sugar

2. a  ________ of sand

3. a _________ of  oil

4. a ___________ of  kerosene

Exercise 2

Write the following in their plurals

Singular                            plural

a box                                some boxes

1. a book ----------------- some books

2. a bowel of beans ------------ some bowels of rice

3. Emem threw a piece of sand ----------- Emem threw  some pieces of sand

4. a thief  ----------------------------------- some thieves

Now do these

Write the following in their plurals

1. a lady -------------

2. a class -----------

3. I ate a slice of bread -------------

4. a chief ---------------

Exercise 3

fill in the blanks with either few / little

1. a _few_cake

2. a _____few_ soap

3. a____little___water

4. a ___little__ oil

5. a___few_____boxes

Note: all the  short sentences with few are those things we can count while little are things we cannot count.

Please if you have  questions, put them in the comments box.