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Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns (count nouns):

Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns
can be used with a number – they can be counted. (That's why they are
called "countable nouns").
EXAMPLES:

1 friend, 1 book,
2 friends, 2 books,
3 friends... 3 books...

Countable nouns take many.

Example:
100 friends – many friends
Uncountable nouns (uncount / non-count nouns):

Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot

be used with a number – they can't be counted. (That's why they are
called "uncountable nouns").
EXAMPLES:

I have a lot of money. (Not 1000 money)

I drink a lot of milk. (Not 5 milk)

Uncountable nouns take much.

Example:
100 money – much money
Note: Of course you can count money, milk, meat; but then you would
use the currency, liter, kilo, glass,...and say that you have got:

▪ 5 euros or dollars... (but not 5 money).

▪ 2 liters, pints, glasses... of milk (but not 2 milk)
▪ 3 kilos... of meat (but not 3 meat)
▪ 10 bottles of mineral water... (but not 10 mineral water)
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Much, many and a lot
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A little or a few, little or few
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EXERCISE 1. Decide whether these nouns are countable (C) or

uncountable (U)

1. The children are playing in the garden. ………

2. I don't like milk. ………
3. I prefer tea. ………
4. Scientists say that the environment is threatened by pollution. ………
5. My mother uses butter to prepare cakes. ………
6. There are a lot of windows in our classroom. ………
7. We need some glue to fix this vase. ………
8. The waiters in this restaurant are very professional. ………
9. My father drinks two big glasses of water every morning. ………
10. The bread my mother prepares is delicious. ………
11. Drivers must be careful; the road is slippery. ………
12. Some policemen are organizing road traffic to avoid any accidents. ………
13. I bought three bottles of mineral water for our picnic. ………
14. I'd like some juice please! ………
15. Successful candidates will join the camp later this year. ………
16. A rise in oil prices is inevitable since there is more and more world
demand for energy. ………
17. The exercises on this website are interesting. ………
18. Dehydrated babies must drink a lot of water. ………
19. Adult illiterates learn through a special government program. ………
20. I met some nice people when I was walking along the beach. ………
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ANSWERS
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EXERCISE 2. Choose the right answer (much, many, a lot, a lot of,
lots)

1. We have ……………… oranges.

A a lot of B a lot C lots D much

2. We don't have ………….. bananas, and we don't have ……… fruit juice.

A many B much C a lot of D a lot E lots

3. “Do you have any cereal?” “Sure, there's ………………. in the kitchen."

A a lot of B lots of C a lot

4. How ………………. is this? It's ten dollars.

A much B many C a lot D a lot of

5. How …………….. do you want? Six, please.

A much B many C a lot D a lot of E lots

6. He's very busy; he has ……………… work.

A a lot of B many C a lot D lots

7. David has ……………. rice, but Tyler doesn't have ……………. .

A many B a lot of C a lot D lots E much

8. London has ………………. beautiful buildings.

A much B a lot of C a lot D lots

9. They eat …………….. apples.

A much B a lot of C a lot D lots

10. I wrote ……………… poems.

A a lot B lots C many D much

11. I have got …………….. money.

A a lot B lots of C many

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12. I visited ……………….. European cities.

A a lot B lots C many D much

13. Do you like soccer? Yes …………….. .

A a lot of B a lot C lots D many E much

14. Were there ………... guests in the wedding? Yes, there were ……… .

A a lot B lots C many D much

15. Leila is popular. She's got ……………… friends. Nancy does not
have ………………. .

A a lot of B a lot C lots D much

16. She hasn't got ……………… patience.

A a lot B lots C many D much

ANSWERS