Nouns and quantifiers COUNTABLE NOUNS · F O R M We can countable nouns. They have singular and plural forms. Spelling rules for plural nouns: most nouns + s: car -> cars, boy ->boys Nouns ending in s, ss, sh, ch, x, o + es: tomatoes, buses, brushes, watches Nouns ending in consonant + y:y -> ies fly -> flies, baby -> babies Nouns ending in f or fe: f/fe -> ves scarf -> scarves, wife -> wives Irregular plurals: child -> children, man -> men, woman -> women, tooth -> teeth Some minor illnesses are countable: a cold, a headache UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS · F O R M We cannot count uncountable nouns. They don't have a plural form. Food: salt, sugar, cheese, meat, bread. Liquids: water, milk, oil, tea, coffee Materials: gold, paper, silver, iron Abstract nouns: beauty, love, sadness Illnesses: flu, AIDS, diabetes Others: advice, industry, luggage, furniture, hair, information, news, money. Uncountable plural nouns: jeans, scissors, clothes, thanks, groceries. Expressions used to make uncountable nouns countable: A piece of (advice, bread, toast) A can of (cola, orange) A bowl of (cereal, soup) A glass of (wine, water, milk) A slice of (bread, ham) A tin of (peas, tuna) Q U A N T I F I E R S We use some quantifiers with both countable and uncountable nouns: some (affirmative), any (negative and questions), no (with affirmative verb), a lot of, lots of, plenty of. N O T E * Countable. Some quantifiers can only be used with countable nouns (a) few = pocos. how many (questions, plural) = cuántos. too many (excess) = demasiados. several = varios. *Uncountable. Some quantifiers can only be used by uncountable nouns: (a) little = poco. how much (questions) = cuánto. not much = no mucho. too much (excess) = demasiado.