My name is Valerie Perkins I am going to talk to you about Countable and Uncountable Nouns.

Raise your hand if you don't understand something. What is a noun? Si Nome---A person, Place or thing. A countable noun is something you can count: Chairs, Tables, People, Pens If I have one pen. I say "I have a pen". "A" and "AN" are ARTICLEs--When do we use AN as an article? When there is a vowel following. "I have a dog." "I have a bicycle". "I have a milk"----------------Which one of these is incorrect? MIlk. Why? It is uncountable. You can measure milk but you can't count it. So if I want to ask for milk I need to make it countable: "May I have a glass of milk." or I bought a bottle of milk" What are some other UNcountable nouns? Liquids-water, wine, Concepts-Information, news., advice......Things that are difficult to count like Rice, Pasta, Hair. MAKE A LIST OF UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS If I want to talk about these nouns I have to use either the quantity (a glass, a bottle, a handful, 3 grams) A loaf of Bread. A kilo of salt. or I can use the Article "Some". "I'll have some rice, milk, wine...etc.." Some is an article we use with both count and uncount nouns that means "a little". If you want to say a lot- a big amount of something, you can use "a lot" which is another way of measuring. Now if you want to use some with a count noun, the difference is this. "I have some apples"--YOu must put an S on apple to show that it's pural. WIth Uncount nouns, however, you don't add the s. "I'd like some rice" I'll have some pasta. "Today I drank a lot of water."

ONe common mistake is using Many in front of UNcountable nouns. "I gave my friend many advices". NO (Cross out error and write a lot or too much in it's place) make a list-------Uncountable Nouns a lot of, a few much many To ask questions: How much?? Plural countable nouns a lot of Many How many?

How many with Count nouns-How much with non-count Negatives There aren't many cars/ There isn't much milk There aren't any -There isn't any In questions and in negatives sentences, any is used instead of some: There wasn't any milk.

Some and Any

We use SOME and ANY with plural nouns and uncountable nouns. Some is generally used in positive sentences. Any is generally used in negative sentences. I have some information for you about flights to Paris.(Positive Uncountable) I don't have any information for you about flights to Paris.(Negative Uncountable) We met some friends for drinks after work yesterday.(Positive - Plural Countable)

I didn't see any friends there on Thursday.(Negative - Plural Countable) I think he will have some time to speak to you today.(Positive - Uncountable) I don't think he will have any time to speak to you today.(Negative Uncountable) You can also use SOME and ANY in a sentence without a noun if the meaning of the sentence is clear. I didn't eat any salad but Peter ate some. (salad) Sean took lots of photos of the mountains but Emma didn't take any. (photos)

Questions with Some and Any

Generally, we use ANY in questions. Do you know any famous people? Do you have any children? But, SOME is used in the following circumstances: 1. When we are offering something. Would you like some coffee? Do you want some sugar for your coffee? 2. When we are asking for something. Could I have some salt, please? Can I have some fries with that? 3. When we are suggesting something. Why don't we rent some movies to watch tonight? Why don't you give her some advice? You can also use SOME and ANY in a sentence without a noun if the meaning of the sentence is clear. I didn't eat any salad but Peter ate some. (salad) Sean took lots of photos of the mountains but Emma didn't take any. (photos)