9A – Countable / uncountable nouns

a / an, some / any

Countable and uncountable nouns

English nouns can be countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns are things we can count.

They can be singular or plural.

• an apple / two apples
• a sandwich / three sandwiches

Uncountable nouns are things we cannot count.

They are usually singular.

• rice, bread, meat
• ✘ two rices / three meats

Some nouns can be countable or uncountable, depending on meaning.

• an ice cream (one item)
• some ice cream (a quantity)

---

a / an, some, any

We use a / an with singular countable nouns.

Examples:

• a banana
• an egg

We use some:

• in positive sentences
• with plural countable nouns
• with uncountable nouns

Examples:

• There are some tomatoes.
• We need some milk.

We use any:

• in negative sentences
• in questions
• with plural and uncountable nouns

Examples:

• We don’t have any cheese.
• Are there any apples?

In requests and offers, we often use some:

• Can I have some water, please?
• Would you like some cake?

Quiz 1

---

9B – Quantifiers

How much / How many

How much…? → uncountable nouns

Example:

• How much sugar do you want?

How many…? → plural countable nouns

Example:

• How many eggs did you buy?

---

Talking about quantity

We use:

a lot of → big quantity

Example:

• I eat a lot of fruit.

quite a lot of → medium quantity

Example:

• She drinks quite a lot of coffee.

a little / not much → small quantity (uncountable)

Example:

• I drink a little milk.

a few / not many → small quantity (countable)

Example:

• We bought a few apples.

none / not any → zero quantity

Example:

• I don’t eat any meat.

---

Note

• In positive sentences, we usually use a lot of.
• In negative sentences and questions, we usually use much / many.

Quiz 2

---

9C – Comparative adjectives

We use comparative adjectives + than to compare two people or things.

• My house is bigger than yours.
• This exercise is easier than the last one.
• Winter is colder than autumn.

---

Spelling rules

One-syllable Adjectives			Rule
	Old	Older	Just add -er
	Tall	Taller
	Old	Older
	Big	Bigger	Adjectives end with; consonant + vowel + consonant, double the last consonant and add -er
	Hot	Hotter
	Fit	Fitter
	Nice	Nicer	Adjectives end with -e, just add -r
	Close	Closer
	Busy	Busier	Adjectives end with -y, delete -y, and add -ier
	Dirty	Dirtier

---

Two or More Syllables Adjectives		Rule
	Interesting → More interesting	Add more before the adjective
	Beautiful → More beautiful
	Comfortable → More comfortable

---

Irregular Adjectives
	Good	Better
	Bad	Worse
	Far	Further

Quiz 3