LANGUAGE BANK

GRAMMAR
5.1 Countable and uncountable nouns Nouns with a/an, some, any
Countable Uncountable
a banana.
+ We've got some rice.
some bananas.
an apple.
— We haven't got any bread.
any apples.
a pear?
? Have we got any pasta?
There are two types of nouns in English: countable nouns any pears?
and uncountable nouns.
• Use a/an + singular countable nouns.
• Countable nouns are things you can count in English.
I need an egg.
They are singular or plural.
• Use some + plural countable nouns or
a banana, an apple, potatoes
uncountable nouns.
Uncountable nouns are things you can't count in
We've got some vegetables.
English, e.g. water, rice, bread. They are never plural.
There's some butter in the fridge.
N OT one-wet-te•f, two-rites,
(Some = not an exact number)
• Drinks are usually uncountable, e.g. coffee, tea, juice
Use any + plural countable nouns or uncountable
but you can say a juice a glass of juice) or three
nouns in questions and negatives.
coffees (z three cups of coffee).
Have you got any sweets?
• It is also possible to use containers or amounts
There isn't any milk.
with the noun to show quantity, e.g. a glass of water,
two kilos of rice
Usually use some (NOT eey) to ask for things or to
offer something to a person.
Use a singular verb with uncountable nouns.
Can I have some coffee?
Water is good for you. NOT
There'ssugar in this coffee. NOT There-are-sugar-=
Would you like some tea?

5.2 How much/many; quantifiers

Countable Quantifiers Uncountable Quantifiers

A lot./Lots. A lot./Lots.

How many apples Quite a lot. How much coffee do Quite a lot.

do you eat? you drink every day? Not much.

Not many
None. None.

Use how much/many to find out the amount or number of something.

• Ask questions with how much + uncountable nouns.
How much sugar have we got? How much milk is there in the fridge?

• Ask questions with how many + plural countable nouns.

How many tomatoes are there in that bag? How many vegetables do you eat in a week?
Use quantifiers for short answers to How much/many ... ?

How much cheese have we got? None.

Use a lot/lots (of), quite a not much/many + noun.
lot (of),

I eat a lot of fruit. I don't drink much water.

We use no + noun. There's no milk. NOT There's milk.

5.3 Ordering in a restaurant

Could I
Yes, of course.
have a glass of water, please? +
Can I Yes, certainly.
some vegetable soup,
I'd like please. I'm sorry, we haven't got any soup.

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