Page 104 - Complete IELTS Bands 5 - 6.5

Countable and uncountable nouns
Nouns are either countable [C], uncountable [U] or both countable and uncountable.
If they are both countable and uncountable, there is a difference in meaning:
It will take time [U] (=months, years) to change people's opinions on the subject.
I visited Sydney several times [C] (= on several occasions) during my stay in Australia.
Countable and uncountable nouns have different grammar rules:

Countable nouns: Uncountable nouns:
• use a or an when they are singular: • do not use a or an:
a job, an opinion work, research
• have a plural form: • do not have a plural form (and so the verb is always singular):
jobs, opinions Their experience is very useful.
• can use some and any in the plural: • can use some and any:
some ideas, any students some information, any food
• can use few and many in the plural: • can use little and much:
few teachers, many suggestions little help, much discussion
• may use other countable nouns to refer to a quantity:
a piece of research, a large amount of money.

Some common uncountable nouns which IELTS candidates
often make mistakes with are:
advice food research
aid furniture shopping
attention garbage software
behaviour help spending
countryside homework stuff
damage information transport
dirt knowledge work
equipment pollution

Phrases to express quantity

countable nouns uncountable nouns both countable and uncountable
• a (large/small) number of: • a (large/small/considerable) nouns
A large number of people came to amount of: • a Jot of:
the meeting. The storm produced a considerable They ate a lot of food.
• a wide range of: amount of damage. • plenty of:
The students expressed a wide • a great deal of: He has plenty of qualifications, but
range of points of view. A great deal of research is being little experience.
done.
She has plenty of experience, but
few qualifications.

@ Complete IELTS Bands 5-6.5