Nouns: countable and uncountable — negative and questions

 

Countable Nouns

 

In positive sentences, we use:

a / an + singular countable noun

some + plural countable noun

 

In negative sentences, we use:

a / an + singular countable noun

any + plural countable noun

 

To make pancakes…

• … you need a frying pan.
• … you don’t need an electric mixer.
• … you need some plates.  
• … you don’t need any chopsticks.

 

Uncountable Nouns

 

In positive sentences, we use:

some + uncountable noun

 

In negative sentences, we use:

any + uncountable noun

 

In addition…

• … you need some flour.
• … you need some milk.
• … you don’t need any rice.
• … you don’t need any bread.

 

Summary: Positive, Negative & Question Forms

 

type of noun	+	–	?
singular countable	a(n)	a(n)	a(n)
plural countable	some	any	any
uncountable	some	any	any

 

Note the verb forms:

• There is a frying pan.  (singular noun)
• There aren’t any eggs.  (plural noun)
• There is some milk. (uncountable noun)
• There isn’t any flour. (uncountable noun)

 

How much…? & How many…?

 

We use:

How many + plural countable noun

How much + uncountable noun

 

• How many eggs are there? – Six.
• How many plates are there? – Four.
• How much milk is there? – A litre.
• How much flour is there? – 500g.