Line英会話クラス

Lesson Plan November 15, 2024

Topic: Nouns: Countable & Uncountable

Some nouns in English are countable or uncountable.

Section A: Countable Nouns

‘Eggs’ and ‘sausages’ are countable nouns. Countable nouns can be singular (an egg) or plural (eggs). Before singular countable nouns we can use a/an, the, my, this, one, etc. We cannot use singular countable nouns alone:

• There is a book on my desk.

• I can’t find my mobile phone.

Before plural countable nouns, we can also use some, any, many, few, etc. Plural countable nouns can be used along. We cannot use a/an.

• He eats three cookies a day.

• I bought some apples at the supermarket.

• I don’t have any pictures in my bedroom, but I have a few plants.

Section B: Uncountable Nouns

‘Bread’ is an uncountable noun. We cannot count uncountable nouns. For examples, we cannot say ‘two breads’. We can use uncountable nouns alone or with the, some, any, much, a lot of, etc:

• Do you like music?

• Anna hasn’t got much free times today. She has a lot of work to do.

We cannot use a/an with uncountable nouns, but we can say ‘a … of”

• a piece of advice

• a glass of water

• a game of football

Lesson Notes

Nouns: Countable & Uncountable

• I am looking to buy a new car, and I need some advice.

• We often add “pairs of” when talking about multiple sets of items that come in pairs; glasses, shoes, jeans, socks, etc

• The sentence “I bought two glasses the other day” could be correct, but it depends on the meaning

• If you mean “eye glasses” it’s clearer to say “I bought two pairs of glasses the to other day.”

• If you mean “drinking glasses”, then “I bought two glasses the other day” is correct

• “Cheese" and "fish" are usually treated as uncountable nouns (either can be singular or plural), so we don't add an -s when talking about them in general (“I like cheese” / “There is a lot of fish”)

• However, when referring to different types or varieties, we can use "cheeses" and “fishes” (“I like Italian cheeses like mozzarella and Parmesan” / “Can you see the fishes around the coral reef?”)

• But, when we talk about fish eaten as food, we usually use “fish” without an -s (“I ate fish for dinner.” /  “We bought some fish for tomorrow”)

• Some words, like sheep and deer, don’t change their plural form, even when talking about multiple kinds species

• “A” is used when words or letters start with a consonant sound, even if it is written as a vowel

• “His brother words for a university.”

• “I need a one yen coin.”

• “An” is used when words or letters start with a vowel sound, even if it is written as a consonant

• “I’ll see you in an hour.”

• “An MP is a member of parliament in Canada.”

• “Is this an M or an N? I can’t read his handwriting.”