Countable and Uncountable Nouns Exercises (Some/Any)
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Countable and uncountable nouns: a/an, some, any
Some nouns are countable: one apple, two apples. Other nouns are uncountable: rice, water, bread, milk, money, cheese. We do not count them, so they have no a/an and no -s.
- Countable nouns:
- We count them: one egg, two eggs, three bananas. They have a singular and a plural form.
- Uncountable nouns:
- We do not count them: rice, water, bread, milk, money, cheese. They have no plural: say some rice, not rices.
- A and an:
- Use a or an only with one countable thing: a banana, an apple. Do not use a or an with uncountable nouns: say some bread, not a bread.
- Some:
- Use some in affirmative sentences, with plural and uncountable nouns: There are some eggs. There is some milk. We also use some when we offer food or drink: Would you like some tea?
- Any:
- Use any in negative sentences and in questions: There isn't any milk. Have you got any eggs?
- How much and how many:
- Use how many with plural countable nouns: How many apples? Use how much with uncountable nouns: How much water?
Examples
I eat an apple every day.
Apple is countable. Use an with one apple.
We have got some eggs.
Eggs is plural. Use some in an affirmative sentence.
There is some milk on the table.
Milk is uncountable: no a, no -s. Use some.
There isn't any bread.
This sentence is negative, so we use any.
Have you got any money?
This is a question, so we use any. Money is uncountable.
Would you like some tea?
Would you like…? is a polite way to offer something. In offers, we use some, not any.
Practice exercises
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct word for each sentence.
1.I want ___ apple.
2.There is ___ rice on the table.
3.We haven't got ___ cheese.
4.There is some ___ in my glass.
5.How ___ eggs do you want?
6.There are ___ bananas in the kitchen.
Fill in the Blank
Type the correct word. Use the words in brackets.
Put the Words in Order
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
15. Build the sentence:
16. Build the sentence:
True or False
Decide if each statement is true or false.
17.'Rice' is a countable noun.
18.This sentence is correct: 'I want a bread.'
19.This sentence is correct: 'I haven't got some money.'
20.We often use 'some' when we offer food or drink: 'Would you like some water?'
21.'Information' is uncountable, so 'informations' is not correct.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Food, Drink and Some/Any
English nouns are countable or uncountable. Countable nouns are things we count: an egg, two eggs, three sandwiches. Uncountable nouns are things we do not count: rice, water, bread, milk, money and cheese. Food and drink words are a good place to learn the difference.
Uncountable nouns have no plural form and no a or an. Say some rice, not a rice or rices. Say some bread, not a bread. A few nouns are uncountable in English but countable in other languages: information, advice, bread. Learn them as uncountable from the start.
Use some in affirmative sentences, with plural and uncountable nouns: There are some apples. We have got some cheese. Use any in negative sentences and questions: There isn't any milk. Have you got any eggs? When you offer food or drink, use some: Would you like some tea?
To ask about a number, use how many with plural nouns: How many apples do you want? To ask about an amount, use how much with uncountable nouns: How much water do you drink? The exercises above practice a/an, some and any with food and drink, in short, real sentences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
We count countable nouns: one apple, two apples. They have a plural form and take a or an in the singular. We do not count uncountable nouns, like rice, water, milk or money. They have no plural and never take a or an.
When do I use some and when do I use any?
Use some in affirmative sentences: There is some cheese. Use any in negative sentences and questions: There isn't any cheese. Is there any cheese? In offers, use some: Would you like some coffee?
Is people singular or plural?
People is plural. Say People are friendly here, not People is friendly here. In some languages, the word for people is singular, so this is a common mistake.
Are information and advice countable?
No. Information and advice are uncountable in English. Say some information and some advice, not informations or an advice. Money and bread are uncountable too.
How do I ask about a number or an amount?
Use how many with plural countable nouns: How many eggs do you want? Use how much with uncountable nouns: How much milk is there?
Answer key
1. I want ___ apple.
Answer: an
Apple is countable and starts with a vowel sound, so we use an. Some apple is not correct with one apple.
2. There is ___ rice on the table.
Answer: some
Rice is uncountable, so we do not use a or an. We use some.
3. We haven't got ___ cheese.
Answer: any
The sentence is negative, so we use any. Cheese is uncountable, so a is not correct.
4. There is some ___ in my glass.
Answer: water
Water is uncountable. It has no -s and no a.
5. How ___ eggs do you want?
Answer: many
Eggs is a plural countable noun, so we use how many.
6. There are ___ bananas in the kitchen.
Answer: some
The sentence is affirmative and bananas is plural, so we use some.
7. There isn't ___ milk for my coffee.
Answer: any
The sentence is negative (isn't), so we use any.
8. I have got ___ orange in my bag.
Answer: an
Orange is countable and starts with a vowel sound, so we use an.
9. There are ___ sandwiches on the table.
Answer: some
The sentence is affirmative and sandwiches is plural, so we use some.
10. My sister eats three ___ every day.
Answer: bananas
Banana is countable. With three, we use the plural: bananas.
11. We eat ___ with chicken on Sundays.
Answer: rice
Rice is uncountable, so it has no plural. Rices is not correct.
12. We don't have ___ eggs.
Answer: any
The sentence is negative (don't have), so we use any.
13. bread / got / . / some / we / have
Answer: We have got some bread.
Bread is uncountable, so we say some bread, not a bread.
14. money / you / ? / any / got / have
Answer: Have you got any money?
This is a question, so we use any. Have comes before you.
15. any / eggs / we / got / . / haven't
Answer: We haven't got any eggs.
In a negative sentence, we use any: we + haven't got + any.
16. milk / there / ? / any / is
Answer: Is there any milk?
In a question, is comes before there, and we use any.
17. 'Rice' is a countable noun.
Answer: False
Rice is uncountable. We say some rice, not a rice or rices.
18. This sentence is correct: 'I want a bread.'
Answer: False
Bread is uncountable, so we do not use a. We say I want some bread.
19. This sentence is correct: 'I haven't got some money.'
Answer: False
The sentence is negative, so we use any: I haven't got any money.
20. We often use 'some' when we offer food or drink: 'Would you like some water?'
Answer: True
In offers, we usually use some, not any.
21. 'Information' is uncountable, so 'informations' is not correct.
Answer: True
Information is uncountable. We say some information, not informations.