2.- How to say it: Countable and uncountable nouns.

It is very important yo understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns.

• Countable nouns refer to things we can count and therefore, they can take the plural form and can go with a number before them.
  • 3 boys, 6 tables, 2 jobs.
• There are a few plural quantifiers which are only used with countable, plural nouns.
  • Many students, few minutes, a few friends, several books.
• Uncountable nouns refer to things we cannot count, so they cannot take the plural form.
  • Music, wine, time, information, advice, water.
• Only a few singular quantifiers can go with the uncountable nouns.
  • Little money, a little time, much water.
• Note that while some nouns are countable in other languages, they are usually uncountable in English.
  • Furniture, news, accommodation, advice, luggage, trouble, work, toast.
• Therefore, these nouns cannot be used in the plural form in English, but they need a determiner before them to be used in plural.
  • They gave me two pieces of advice.
  • I have bought three new pieces of furniture for my living room.
• We have also to notice that some nouns can be either countable or uncountable, depending on the context in which they are used.
  • I went to the supermarket to buy two cheeses. / Can I have some cheese, please?
  • I bought some coffee from El Salvador last week. / Can I have two black coffees, please?
  • They grow very good wines in the south of Spain. / I would like some red wine, please.