Instructions
Transcript
Some nouns in English are countable – we can use them in singular and plural forms. Some are uncountable – they only have one form.
We often use a/an with singular countable nouns and some with plurals. We can also use some with uncountable nouns.
What are examples of countable nouns?
Here are a few:
I've got a steak, some red chilli peppers, some potatoes…
OK, well, I've got a lemon, an apple … and some chicken breasts.
I'd like a blue pen, please.
OK, so for things you can count, like one pen, two pens … Why did you say a pen, not one pen?
We often use a/an before singular countable nouns. Before words that start with a vowel sound, we use an, and before words that start with a consonant sound, we use a.
So is one wrong? As in Would you like one drink?
It sounds as if you're saying one (not two). If you're offering someone a drink, you'd say Would you like a drink?
But someone who works in a café might say, So that's one coffee and two lemonades.
So it's usually a or an for singular countable nouns and a number or some for plurals. How many is some?
It can be any number more than one.
I got some new jeans at the weekend. (a pair of new jeans)
Some teachers left at the end of the year. (we don't know how many)
Is some or a number always used with plurals?
No, have a look at these examples
I'm frightened of dogs. (dogs in general)
Strawberries have a lot of vitamin C. (strawberries in general)
What about uncountable nouns?
These are nouns that don't have a plural form.
I've got some garlic and some butter.
I'm looking for information about early rock and roll.
I haven't got enough paper.
You have to get permission from the head teacher.
Do you want some cake?
So, I can use some with uncountables too?
Yes, we use some with both countables and uncountables.
How do I know whether a noun is countable or uncountable?
A dictionary will tell you. Usually dictionaries use symbols [C] for countable and [U] for uncountable.
Just a minute. You said cake was uncountable. What about I made a cake this morning?
Yes that's correct, but there's a difference in meaning.
I made a cake this morning. (a whole cake – countable)
Do you want some cake? (a piece of cake – uncountable)
A box of chocolates. (individual chocolates – countable)
I'd like some chocolate too. (a piece or pieces of chocolate from a bar of chocolate – uncountable)
I thought coffee and lemonade were uncountable too.
Yes, they are usually.
I love coffee with hot milk. (uncountable)
Can you get some coffee? (uncountable)
I'll have a coffee, please. (a cup of coffee, countable)
Wow, so it's more complicated than I thought.
No, they're not really very difficult.
OK, they're easy. It's a piece of cake!
Yes, simple! A piece of cake!
Worksheets and downloads
Discussion
The expression a piece of cake means something is really easy. Is speaking English a piece of cake for you?
Comments
hi!
Englıish is so so pieces of cake for me. I try to learn it.
Speaking English is very easy for me, but it is my third language. I learn English at school since 1 grade. I can speak German, English and Korean. Next year, I'm going to learn French at school.
Whoa... You can speak so many languages. i kinda want to learn german. Is german hard?
yesi am from austria and german is one of the hardest languages...
Tschüss1(its bye in german)
In my case speaking English is not a piece of cake, in fact it is very difficult, I try to study every day, but when I want to talk to another person it scares me, my brain begins to think a lot as if this was the correct order of the words ?, or are you sure of the pronunciation ?, think everything at the same time, and sometimes I don't know what to say, I try to improve every day but it's not easy, but I like difficult things.
it's just fine. i've been there before, and most people who learns it as a second language too. all you need is just keep going. don't be nervous, it's okay to make some mistakes!
If you are a person who practices the language daily, it's a piece of cake, but if not, and you just practice sometimes or once a week, it could be a bit harder. Practice is everything!
If you speak English often so it is definitely a piece of cake for you! Practice makes perfect!
I can't say that learning english is easy. but persoanally, learning english is very interesting, so every time it gets harder I will always try to understand it.
Yes, this is a very simple activity
It is very easy to me. Because I alway use this app. So i think english is easy.
No , it's hard with me
Yeah!!! English is very easy!! That's true!! Speaking, writing, listening... The only hard part I think was just British diction, but I'm used to it now.
Well, it's hard to say. I can speak English but I'm not a pro at it.
Yes, if it's pretty easy for me to speak English.
yes it is very easy :)
No, actually I find it quite difficult to speak English but I try to commit myself so I am almost always satisfied with my results.
No, for me speaking english is very difficult. This year I hope to improve my english.
For me say “a piece of cake” is incorrect, is better say “some cake” because how to say “a piece of bread” ( incorrect ).
Hi Micheleanto!
It's OK, you can say 'a piece of cake' and 'a piece of bread'. They mean the same as 'a slice of'.
Hope you're having fun practising your English here!
Best wishes,
Rachael
LearnEnglish Teens team
No, speaking English I think it is no child's play for anyone, more than speaking learning to do it. Although English is complicated and a very important language that we must all know very well
Yes, it is. I love studying and speaking English, so this isn’t a problem for me.
In my opinion English is quite simple than the Italian!
In English the grammar is less detailed and the verbs are more simple to learn.
For me speaking English is not so difficult, but sometimes I have pronunciation problems, but nothing that cannot be solved with a listening and speaking exercise!
The expression a piece of cake means something is really easy, but speak english is not easy for my, but it's a beautiful lauguage
For me spaking English isn't a peace of cake. But more i study English more i find it simple
For me speaking English isn’t a piece of cake. I’m good at writing in English, but in speaking I haven’t a good pronunciation. However, I’m able to understand most of the things said.
For me speaking in English is not peace of cake at all, being Italian my native language it still takes me some time to handle English well.
For me, english is not a piece of cake but for a foreigner I think it is easier to learn english than italian, especially with a grammatical aspect
For me speaking english is not a piece of cake. I have been studying for nine years but I still don't understand and don't speak english as I would like. English is a beautiful language, also for my future I will need a lot because nowadays all over the world speak english. For this reason in fourth grade I would like to do a year abroad, because I think that only by going to England will I be able to learn and speak English as well as possible.
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