Count Nouns
These nouns are exactly what they sound like: countable nouns. That means that you could sit and count out exactly how many there are.
A count noun can have a/an in front of it and the plural usually takes -s/-es at the end.
Singular: Use a/an or one
An apple, one apple
Plural: Use two, three (or more), some, a lot of, many
Two apples, some apples, a lot of apples, so many apples
Example: Apple
Look, there is an apple!
I can see one apple on that tree.
Are you blind? I can count fifty-five apples on that tree!
Noncount Nouns
No surprise that you can’t count these nouns. These are usually things that are abstract or simply too many to actually sit down and count out.
A noncount noun cannot have a/an in front of it and there is no plural form. Use some, a lot of, much
Example: Rice
Do you want to eat some rice?
Yes, please. I would love a bowl of rice.
Many or Much
These two words can be used for asking questions or also in negative sentences (with not).
A statement uses a lot of to express the same idea. You can also modify many with so or too to talk about extremes.
Count
How many apples do you have?
-I have a lot of apples. I have so many apples that they won’t fit into this bag.
-I don’t have many apples. I only have two.
Noncount
How much rice do you want?
-I have a lot of rice. I have so much rice that I can’t possibly eat it all. It is too much rice!
-I don’t want much rice, because I am not very hungry.
Questions?
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