BAB 7

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE

A noun can be countable and uncountable

COUNTABLE

Definition

A countable noun can be singular or plurar , we can use numbers with countable nouns. The countable nouns are those nouns that can exist both separately and in group or, in other words, those which you can count, like:

• a pencil

• an american,

• an apple

• a paper

Examples of nouns usually countable :

I like a banana

I have two books

We can use a/an with singular countable nouns

Example :

Kate was singing a song

There’s a nice beach near here

Do you have a ten –pound note ?

Note :

We cannot use singular countable nouns alone without (a/an, etc)

Example :

I want a banana (not I want banana)

We can use plural countable nouns alone

Example :

I like bananas (= bananas in general)

We can use some and any with plural countable nouns

Example :

We sang some songs

Did you buy any apples ?

We can use many and few with plural countable nouns

Example :

We didn’t take many photographs

I have a few things to do

UNCOUNTABLE

Example :

I eat rice every day

I like rice

Rice is an uncountable noun

An uncountable noun has only one form (rice)

We cannot use numbers with uncountable nouns, we cannot say “one rice”, “two rice”, etc.

Example of nouns usually uncountable :

Dina was listening to (some) music

There’s sand in my shoes

We haven’t got enough money

Note :

You cannot normally use a/an with uncountable nouns. We don not say” a sand”, “ a music”, “ a water”, “ arice “.

But you can often use a…of.

Example : a bowl/ a packet/ a grain of rice 

Referensi/sumber :

1. TOEFL Preparation By Drs. Kardimin, M.Hum

2. Fundamentals of ENGLISH GRAMMAR second edition By Betty Schrampfer Azar

3. Understanding and Using ENGLISH GRAMMAR second edition BY Betty Schrampfer Azar

4. Work book for intermediate student LIA

5. English Grammar In Use By Raymond Murphy