Countable and uncountable nouns with quantifiers
Countable nouns have a plural (two chairs); uncountable nouns do not (furniture). The type of noun decides which words go with it: many and few with countable, much and little with uncountable.
How it works
- Countable: a/an, plural -s, many, a few, few, a number of. Uncountable: no a/an, no plural, much, a little, little, an amount of.
- Both: some, any, a lot of, lots of, plenty of, no, enough.
- Much is mainly for questions and negatives. In positive sentences say a lot of: I drink a lot of coffee.
- A few / a little = some, enough (positive). Few / little = not enough (negative).
- Uncountables that learners often make plural: advice, information, equipment, furniture, homework, luggage, news, research, traffic.
- To count them, use a unit: a piece of advice, two items of luggage.
Examples
Can I give you a piece of advice?
There wasn't much traffic, so we got there early.
I have a few questions about the contract.
Few people know that he used to be a teacher.
We still have a little time before the train leaves.
How many bags are you checking in?
Common mistakes
Wrong: Thank you for your
advices.Right: Thank you for your advice.
Wrong: I need some
informationsabout the course.Right: I need some information about the course.
Wrong: There are too
muchpeople here.Right: There are too many people here.
Practice
1 of 14Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Nouns and Quantifiers: much/many and some/any are A1–A2; a few/a little vs few/little and uncountable nouns such as advice and information are B1 points. Written for Gloss.