Unit 70. Countable and uncountable 2
Unit 70; Part A

Countable • Did you hear a noise just now? (= a specific noise) | Uncountable • I can't work here. There's too much noise. (not too many noises) |
• I bought a paper to read. (= a newspaper) | • I need some paper to write on. (= material for writing on) |
• There's a hair in my soup! (= one single hair) | • You've got very long hair. (not hairs) (= all the hair on your head) |
• You can stay with us. There is a spare room. (= a room in a house) | • You can't sit here. There isn't room. (= space) |
• I had some interesting experiences while I was travelling. (= things that happened to me) | • They offered me the job because I had a lot of experience. (not experiences) |
• Enjoy your trip. Have a good time! | • I can't wait. I haven't got time. |
Coffee/tea/juice/beeretc. (drinks) are normally uncountable:
• I don't like coffee very much.
But you can say a coffee (= a cup of coffee), two coffees (= two cups) etc. :
• Two coffees and an orange juice, please.
Unit 70; Part B

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You cannot use a/an with these nouns:
• I'm going to buy some bread. or ... a loaf of bread. (not a bread)
• Enjoy your holiday! I hope you have good weather. (not a good weather)
These nouns are not usually plural (so we do not say 'breads', 'furnitures' etc.):
• Where are you going to put all your furniture? (not furnitures)
• Let me know if you need more information. (not informations)
News is uncountable, not plural:
• The news was very depressing. (not The news were)
Travel (noun) means 'travelling in general' (uncountable). We do not say 'a travel' to mean a trip or a journey:
• They spend a lot of money on travel.
• We had a very good trip/journey. (not a good travel)
Compare these countable and uncountable nouns:
Countable | Uncountable |
• I'm looking for a job. • What a beautiful view! • It's a nice day today. • We had a lot of bags and cases. • These chairs are mine. • That's a good suggestion. | • I'm looking for work. (not a work) • What beautiful scenery! • It's nice weather today. • We had a lot of baggage/luggage • This furniture is mine. • That's good advice. |
Exercises
![]() | Unit 69 Unit 70 Unit 71 | ![]() |
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