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By Kenneth Beare, About.com Guide to ESL since 1997

Guides to Expressions of Quantity / Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Wednesday October 8, 2008
Expressions of quantity are placed before nouns and express 'how much' or 'how many' of something exists. Some expressions of quantity are only used with noncount (uncountable) nouns, others are only used with count (countable) nouns.

This guide to the basics of countable and uncountable nouns includes a discussion of commonly confused uncountable nouns.

Test your knowledge of countable and uncountable nouns with these quizzes:

Interactive Quiz with Corrections
Countable and uncountable nouns gap fill quiz

For teachers, here is a lesson plan focusing on countable and uncountable nouns.

Comments

September 18, 2007 at 11:04 am
(1) R23 says:

CHRIS: Great, Let’s go over there. There’re a few little seats left.

Well… after checking on your answers for the Dialogue, which I just copied and pasted above. I think it should be:
[There’re a few seats left]. because “little” is your “c) little”, answer option.
or if I’m wrong please disregard.
never the less I check it twice and here is all the dialogue, please check it.
thanks and “may we never stop learning, even from our mistakes.”

Choose the correct answers in the following dialogue

CHRIS: Hi! What are you up to?
PETE: Oh, I’m just looking for (a)many (b)some (c)any antiques at this sale.
CHRIS: Have you found (a) something (b) anything (c) nothing yet?
PETE: Well, there seems to be (a) a few (b) few (c) little things of interest. It really is a shame.
CHRIS: I can’t believe that. I’m sure you can find (a) a thing (b) something (c) anything interesting if you look in (a) all (b) each (c) some stall.
PETE: You’re probably right. It’s just that there are (a) a few (b) a lot (c) a lot of collectors and they (a) every (b) each (c) all seem to be set on finding (a) a thing (b) anything (c) much of value. It’s so stressful competing with them!
CHRIS: How (a) many (b) much (c) few antique furniture do you think there is?
PETE: Oh, I’d say there must be (a) many (b) several (c) much pieces. However, only (a) a few (b) few (c) little are really worth (a) the high (b) a high (c) high prices they are asking.
CHRIS: Why don’t you take a break? Would you like to have (a) any (b) some (c) little coffee?
PETE: Sure, I’d love to have (a) any (b) little (c) one. I could use (a) some (b) a few (c) a little minutes of downtime.
CHRIS: Great, Let’s go over there. There’re (a) a few (b) some (c) little seats left.

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