Countable / uncountable: some, any, much, many

Rules

• Rule 1: Countable and uncountable

  Countable nouns have a plural and can take a / an: *a banana, two bananas*. Uncountable nouns have no plural and no a / an: milk, water, bread, sugar, money, rice, cheese, homework.

  Example: There is an egg on the plate.

  Example: There are three pencils in my bag.

• Rule 2: some and any

  some is used in positive sentences. any is used in negative sentences and questions. Both work with countable and uncountable nouns. When we ask for or offer something politely, we use some even in a question.

  Pattern: positive → some · negative / question → any

  Example: We have some cheese.

  Example: We don't have any grapes.

• Rule 3: many, much, a lot of

  many goes with countable nouns and much with uncountable nouns; both are mostly used in negatives and questions. a lot of works with both and is common in positive sentences.

  Pattern: many + plural noun · much + uncountable noun · a lot of + both

  Example: I don't have many stickers.

  Example: There isn't much juice.

• Rule 4: How many? How much?

  We use How many with countable nouns and How much with uncountable nouns.

  Example: How many cousins do you have?

  Example: How much flour do we need?

Common mistakes

• I want some breads. → I want some bread.

  bread is uncountable and has no plural -s.

• How much books do you have? → How many books do you have?

  books is countable → How many.

• I have a money. → I have some money.

  money is uncountable and can't take a.