Ch 9
Countable & Uncountable
many/much · a few/a little · tricky nouns
Countable nouns can be counted (1 apple, 2 apples). Uncountable nouns are masses or concepts that cannot be counted.
Countable examples
an apple · a chair · an idea · two books · three people
Uncountable examples
water · money · bread · information · advice · news · luggage
Uncountable nouns never take "a/an" and never have a plural form.
many
countable plural: many students · many apples
much
uncountable: much water · much money · much time
a lot of
BOTH: a lot of students · a lot of water
many and much are more common in negatives and questions. In positive sentences, use a lot of for both: "I have a lot of time / a lot of friends."
few
countable: few people, few opportunities (not many — negative idea)
a few
countable: a few people (some, but not many — positive idea)
little
uncountable: little money (not much — negative idea)
a little
uncountable: a little money (some — positive idea)
I have a few friends here.
some friends — good
There is a little sugar left.
some sugar — enough
information
Can I have some information? (NOT an information)
advice
She gave me some advice. (NOT an advice)
news
The news is good. (singular verb)
luggage / baggage
My luggage is heavy. (NOT luggages)
furniture
This furniture is old. (NOT furnitures)
traffic
The traffic was terrible. (NOT traffics)
homework / work
I have a lot of homework. (NOT homeworks)
I have an information for you.
→
I have some information for you.
information is uncountable — no a/an
She gave me many advices.
→
She gave me a lot of advice.
advice is uncountable — no plural
How much students are there?
→
How many students are there?
students = countable → many
I don't have many money.
→
I don't have much money.
money = uncountable → much
Recap
Countable
many · a few · few · how many?
many books, a few ideas
Uncountable
much · a little · little · how much?
much money, a little time
Both
a lot of · some · any
a lot of books / a lot of water
Tricky
information, advice, news, luggage, furniture
all uncountable — no plural, no a/an