the noun
TRANSCRIPT
THE NOUN
Countable NounsUncountable Nouns
ArticlesDeterminers
Countable nouns are nouns which can be counted and can have a singular and a plural form.
a flower three flowers•
an apple two apples
Uncountable nouns are nouns which cannot be counted and they usually have no plural. These nouns include:
Food: cheese, butter, salt, chocolate Liquids: coffee, milk, water, tea, beerMaterials: gold, iron, wood, paperAbstract nouns: beauty, loveOthers: money, hair, information
some cheese not: a cheese
Countable Uncountable
The Plural of the Nounssingular + -s
cat cats
book books
lamp lamps
1
singular –s, -ss, -zz, -sh, -ch, -x + -es
circus – circuses kiss – kissesbuzz- - buzzesbush – busheswatch – watchesbox - boxes
The Plural of the Nouns2
The Plural of the Nounssingular –consonant – y > i + -es
3 a
singular plural
a city two cities
a lady two ladies
The Plural of the Nounssingular –vowel – y + -s
3 b
singular plural
a boy two boys
a day two days
The Plural of the NounsSingular -o > -s or -es
4
add -s add -es
singular plural singular plural
a disco two discos a tomato two tomatoes
a piano two pianos a potato two potatoes
a photo two photos a hero two heroes
The Plural of the NounsSingular -f or -fe > v + -es
add -s substitute with -ves
singular plural singular plural
a roof two roofs a wolf two wolves
a cliff two cliffs a wife two wives
a sheriff two sheriffs a shelf two shelves
5
Irregular Pluralsman – men
woman – women
child – children
Irregular Plurals
mouse – mice
louse – lice
Irregular Plurals
goose – geese
tooth – teeth
foot – feet
Irregular Plurals
ox – oxen
Irregular Plurals
sheep – sheep
deer – deer
Uncountable Nounsfood
A slice of …
Uncountable Nounsfood
A bag of …A kilogramme of …
Uncountable Nouns
A spoon of …
food
Uncountable Nounsliquids
A bottle of …
Uncountable Nounsliquids
A glass of …
Uncountable Nounsliquids
A cup of …
Uncountable Nounsmaterials
A piece of …
Uncountable Nounsmaterials
A nugget of …
Uncountable NounsAbstract
nouns
happinessjoy
freedom
They have no plural form
Special Casesnews
measles
Mathematics
Verbs at singular
Mathematics is not an easy subject.
Special Cases
information
furniture
advice
luggage
money
Verbs at singular
+
ArticlesIndefinite Articles Definite Articles No Article
a, an, some,
Refers to general or nonspecific nouns
I saw an elephant this morning.
I am a builder.
the
Refers to a specific nounDid you lock the car?
We use the to talk about geographical points on the globe.
the North Pole, the equator
We use the to talk about rivers, oceans and seas
the Nile, the Pacific
We also use the before certain nouns when we know there is only one of a particular thing.
the rain, the sun, the earth
Occurs with nonspecific, general, mass or plural nouns – nouns that have no specific quantity
Books are expensive.
Coffee is bad for you.
I like tea.
In each of the sentences below, you will see a blank. Please choose one of the following articles for each sentence – a, an, the or leave it blank.
1. My father’s car is considered to be ______ piece of art.2. _______ (B/b)eauty is fleeting.
3. _______ (A/a)ir in the room was stifling.4. The doctor told me that I needed ______ operation tomorrow.
5. ______ (I/i)nformation I received was extremely important.6. ______ (A/a)ir is made up of millions of atoms.
7. My parents could not believe that their dog had peed on ______ carpet.8. ______ (A/a)pple a day keeps the doctor away.
9. In some cultures ______ dogs are considered man’s best friend.10. My sister decided to cut her hair with ______ scissors.
11. I was bitten by _______ mosquito in the Caribbean.12. When the horn honked, it scared me and I dropped ______ glass on the floor.
13. In ancient Egypt _______ cat was considered sacred.14. Is _______ water in Lake Erie safe to drink?
Determiners
Much / Many
Little / Few
Some/ Any
Much / ManyMuch Many
Much is used with uncountable nouns.
How much milk is in the fridge?
I wish you much happiness.
Many is used with countable nouns.
We have many friends.
There are many pencils on the table.
Decide whether you have to use much or many.
• Jane hasn't got __________ time.• Do you know __________ words in English?• He didn't eat __________ meat.• There isn't __________ butter in the fridge.• How __________ eggs did the hens lay?• Samantha has as __________ money as Bruce.• How __________ lessons do you have on Mondays?• There was too __________ noise in the streets.• I cannot see __________ stars in the sky tonight.• Do you have __________ friends abroad?
Decide whether you have to use much or many.
• There is too __________ water in the bath tub.• How __________ brothers and sisters has Anne got?• I don't receive __________ letters nowadays.• How __________ rice do you eat per week?• I put too __________ salt in the soup.• How __________ people were at the party?• It doesn't make __________ sense.• There wasn't __________ traffic on the motorway.• My grandfather does not have __________ hair, anymore.• How __________ plates do we need?
Little / FewLittle Few
Little is used with uncountable nouns.
There’s little milk in the fridge.
I need little money.
Few is used with countable nouns.
We have few friends.
There are few pencils on the table.
Decide whether you have to use little or few.
• We had __________ snow last winter.• __________ people were interested in the exhibition.• I speak __________ French.• There are __________ gentlemen nowadays.• She has __________ relatives.• There is __________ water in the pond.• The professor spends __________ time in company.• We have __________ knowledge of this phenomenon.• There are __________ mushrooms in my mushroom soup.• __________ animals can survive in the desert.
Some / AnySome Any
In positive clauses, we usually use some.I have bought some bread.I have bought some apples.
We usually use any in questions. But if we expect or want the other to answer ‚yes‘, we use some.Would you like some biscuits?
In negative clauses, we use any.
I have not bought any bread.I have not bought any apples.
In questions, we usually use any.Have you bought any bread?Have you bought any apples?
We usually use some in positive clauses. After never, without, hardly, we use any.We never go anywhere.She did her homework without any help.There’s hardly anyone here.
Fill in the correct word (some or any).
• Sue went to the cinema with __________ of her friends!• Jane doesn't have __________ friends.• Have you got __________ brothers or sisters?• Here is __________ food for the cat.• I think you should put __________ flowers on the table.• Could you check if there are __________ calls on the answering
machine?• I don't want __________ presents for my birthday.• Did they have __________ news for you?• I'm hungry - I'll have __________ sandwiches.• There aren't __________ apples left.
Fill in the correct word (some or any).
• I need a hammer and __________ nails.• He does not want __________ help.• There are __________ sheep in the garden.• Do you know __________ famous people?• They often invite __________ friends to their home.• Do you have __________ idea what they are doing there?• Charley doesn't have __________ pets.• My little brother already knows __________ words in English.• My mum doesn't speak __________ foreign languages.• I've got __________ sweets for you.