countable/uncountable - plural/singular - articles

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

Revision

Today we are going to learn about three things:

- countable vs uncountable

- the article

- plural 

quiz time!

Are the following nouns countable or uncountable?

(telbaar of niet telbaar?)

Is this noun countable or uncountable? water

1. countable
2. uncountable

Is this noun countable or uncountable? apple

1. countable
2. uncountable

In the sentence "When I go out with friends, I drink some wine." wine is...?

1. Countable
2. Uncountable

In the sentence "I have not bought any sugar." sugar is...?

1. Countable
2. Uncountable

In the sentence "I have three slices of pizza left for dinner." pizza is...?

1. Countable
2. Uncountable

Which words could you add to make the uncountable nouns countable? (water, wine and sugar)

Uncountable nouns 

Uncountable nouns can be specified or measured. 

You can add a measure word (unit of measurement) --> This specifies the quantity of the noun. 

e.g. 

      coffee = uncountable noun. (koffie) 

      measure word: cup (kopje) 

      --> a cup of coffee = een kopje koffie 

a cup of coffee is countable ! one cup of coffee, two cups of coffee,....

Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb and usually don't have a plural form. 

To make uncountable nouns countable, we use: quantifiers (e.g. some) and container (a corton). 

Uncountable nouns

rice = uncountable noun (rijst) 

measure word: grain (korrel)

                                example: a grain of rice = een rijstkorrel 

a = quantity

grain (of) = measure word 

rice = uncountable noun 

a grain of rice is countable! 

one grain of rice (1 rijstkorrel), two grains of rice (twee rijstkorrels)

Countable nouns 

Countable nouns can be counted.

e.g. 

      eggs = countable noun. (eieren) 

      --> 1 egg, 2 eggs, 3 eggs 

Countable nouns have:

- a singular form (a pear, a horse...)

- a plural form (two pears, two horses...) 

countable and uncountable

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable. This depends on the context in the sentence. 

Example:  noun: ice cream 

- He has already had an ice cream today       --> countable

- I really love ice cream                                           --> uncountable

Example: noun: light 

- There are several lights in this room.           --> countable 

- The room was filled with light.                        --> uncountable

          Uncountable nouns 

any 

some 

a lot of 

much

little 

less 

how much? 

            Countable nouns 

any 

some 

a lot of 

many 

few 

fewer

How many? 

How to use articles

How to use indefinite articles (onbepaald lidwoord)

The indefinite article 'a'/'an' depends on the sound at the start of a word. 

We use a before words beginning with a consonant sound.

            e.g. a cat, a horse, a university

We use an before words beginning with a vowel sound.

            e.g. an insect, an elephant, an hour

Choose your path

Could you use more information on the articles?

     --> Then watch the video on the next slide.

Do you think you've understood the indefinite article?

    --> Then you can skip the video and start working on the exercises. 

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The plural nouns

create.kahoot.it

singular	plural	rule
a cup	cups	general rule: noun + -s
a strawberry	strawberries	if the noun ends in a consonant +-y: -y --> -ies
a sandwich	sandwiches	if the noun ends in a hissing sound: noun + -es

How to talk about more than one thing

Try to make the online exercise on the plural forms on the following slide. 

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