Grammar
Nouns: names, things, ideas, and countability
Do you want to name people, places, things, and ideas clearly? Start with nouns.
Nouns name people, places, things, and ideas. Their forms depend on the noun and the meaning you want.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
nouns NOWNZ
The short answer
Nouns name people, places, things, animals, and ideas. Some take a number; for others, use a unit word.
She bought two apples and some bread.
Why it works: You count apples with numbers, but bread is a whole mass with no plural s.
4 more examples
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Buying fruit
I bought two apples at the market.
Apples are separate things, so you can count them with numbers and an s ending.
Not this:I bought
two breadat the market. What changes: For food, this does not name two things to buy. -
Talking to a colleague
She gave me some helpful advice yesterday.
In this sentence, advice is an idea you cannot count, so it uses some instead of a.
Not this:She gave me
an adviceyesterday. What changes: Putting a before advice breaks the standard counting rule. -
Planning a holiday
Anna visited London last Monday.
Real names of people and cities always take a capital letter.
Not this:
anna visited londonlast monday. What changes: Using lowercase letters for special names looks careless in writing. -
Shopping for clothes
He bought a new pair of trousers.
Trousers, shorts, and jeans use a pair of to count one item.
Not this:He bought
one trousers. What changes: Saying one trousers confuses the listener about the quantity.
Quick check
Which sentence uses the naming word correctly?
Talking to a friend about your new transport
Answer: I bought a new car yesterday.
Show the answer
Answer: I bought a new car yesterday.
Car names one thing here, so use a before it.
Read the full guide
You walk into a busy grocery shop. You want two apples and some fresh bread. Each item needs the right word pattern in English.
Counting items or sharing amounts
The problem: I add -s to bread when I mean more than one amount.
At a bakery, count loaves or slices. Bread is a food word you do not count by itself. Use a loaf or slice.
Some nouns name things you can count. Use a number and add -s when you need to.
You need three fresh apples for lunch.
Some nouns name a mass or an idea. Use a unit word when you need a number.
You can pour some fresh water.
-
Not this:
We bought three bread for breakfast.Say: We bought three loaves of bread for breakfast.
Here, count loaves or slices, not bread itself.
Your turn
You have one loaf at a cafe. Which line asks for two pieces from it?
Answer: I'd like two slices of bread, please.
Show the answer
Answer: I'd like two slices of bread, please.
Here, use slices of bread when you want a number.
Using small words with things
The problem: I use a or an with advice or information.
Use a or an with one thing you can count. With advice, use some. You can also say a piece of advice.
-
Can you give me some advice about my job?
Why it works: Do not count advice as one thing here. Use some advice or a piece of advice.
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She gave you a great tip for the interview.
Why it works: When you give a single tip, you use the word a.
Your turn
My teacher gave me ___ helpful advice before the test. Choose a, an, or some.
Answer: some
Show the answer
Answer: some
Here, advice pairs with some.
Capital letters for special names
The problem: I forget to use a capital letter for names of cities, days, and people.
Use capital letters for names of people, places, days, languages, and groups. General words stay lowercase unless they start a sentence.
Your everyday category words stay lowercase in your writing.
You visited a big city near the river.
A name begins with a capital letter.
You visited London near the Thames.
-
Not this:
My friend sarah arrives in rome on monday.Say: My friend Sarah arrives in Rome on Monday.
When you write a name or day, you need a capital letter.
Your turn
Which sentence names a friend and a city with capital letters correctly?
Answer: Sarah moved to London this week.
Show the answer
Answer: Sarah moved to London this week.
Sarah and London are proper names, so both must start with a capital letter.
Asking for amounts and pairs
The problem: I use a singular form with plural-only words such as trousers or scissors.
Trousers, shorts, scissors, and glasses are plural names for things with two parts. Use a pair of for one.
-
You need a new pair of glasses for reading.
Why it works: For eyewear, a pair of glasses names one item with two lenses.
-
She packed two pairs of shorts for your beach trip.
Why it works: Use two pairs of shorts when you mean more than one pair.
Your turn
Arrange the words to ask for clothing.
Answer: I need a pair of dark trousers.
Show the answer
Answer: I need a pair of dark trousers.
Use a pair of before trousers when you want one piece.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Which word usually names a drink you do not count by itself?
Answer: water
Show the answer
Answer: water
Water names the drink. Bottles and tables are things you can count.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
At the market, the seller has one big jug of water. Which order names fruit and water from the jug?
Buying fruit and water from one big jug
Answer: I need two apples and some cold water.
Show the answer
Answer: I need two apples and some cold water.
Use two apples. With water, use some water.
Remember this
Do not add -s to bread in its usual food meaning. Learn it with a useful phrase, such as a slice of bread.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Nouns: names, things, ideas, and countability"
What is a noun in English?
A noun names a person, place, thing, animal, or idea. A noun can be common, such as city, or proper, such as London. The sentence tells you which form to use.
The dog slept beside the chair all afternoon.
What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
Countable nouns can use numbers and usually have a plural form. Uncountable nouns name a substance or idea as a whole. Use a unit phrase when you need to count an uncountable noun.
We bought three apples and a bottle of water.
Can bread be plural in English?
When bread means food in general, it is usually uncountable. Say some bread, a loaf of bread, or two slices of bread. Bread can have a plural in special contexts when you mean different types.
Please put two slices of bread on the plate.
Why do proper nouns use capital letters?
Proper nouns name particular people, places, days, languages, and groups. English normally begins them with capital letters so readers can see that the word is a name, not a general category.
Mina starts her new job in Toronto on Monday.
Why do we say a pair of trousers?
Trousers, scissors, and glasses are usually plural-only nouns when they name their usual two-part items. Use a pair of for one item and pairs of for more than one.
I bought a pair of trousers for the trip.
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