1. Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable Nouns:
- Cannot be plural (e.g., advice, furniture, data).
- Take only a singular verb form.
- Singular pronouns can be used to replace them.
- Can be measured with weights/measures or expressions like “a piece of,” “cup of,” etc.
- Cannot be used with “an.”
Countable Nouns:
- Generally have singular and plural forms (e.g., window, windows).
- Singular and plural verb forms are both applicable.
- Singular and plural pronouns can replace them.
- Can be measured with weights/measures or numbers.
- Can be used with “a/an.”
2. Some and Any
Some:
- Used in positive statements.
- Also used in questions, requests, and offers.
- Implies an unspecified (not large) amount.
- “Some of” is used with other determiners to refer to a specific group.
Any:
- Generally used in negatives and questions.
- Can be used in positive statements to imply “it doesn’t matter who/which/where/when.”
- “No + noun” can replace “not … any,” particularly when the noun is a subject.
- Words like something/anything, somebody/anybody, etc. follow the same rules as some and any.
3. Quantities
- Words to express quantities:
- Everything (for plural countable nouns)
- All (of)
- Large quantities: lots of/ plenty of / a lot of, many (of), most (of), a large/considerable/substantial number of.
- Medium quantities: some (of)/ a certain number of.
- Small quantities: (a) few (of), (a) little (of), a small/limited/tiny number of, a small/limited/tiny amount of.
- Nothing: no / not any / none of.
- A few and a little have different meanings from few and little:
- Few: implies not many, a small number.
- A few: implies a small number of something.
- Little: implies not enough, a small amount.
- A little: implies a small amount of something.
- “Lots of / plenty of / a lot of” are less formal than “much/many.”
- “Much” is not commonly used in positive sentences, and “lots of / a lot of” are not usually used in negative statements.
Grammar Extra: Nouns that can be both countable and uncountable
- Some nouns can be either countable or uncountable based on meaning (e.g., light, room, cake, time).
- Materials and liquids can also be both (e.g., glass, paper, coffee, wine).