Grammar: A2 - ✨ Grammar Essentials: 🧩 Parts of Speech - Expanding - Lesson 2: Uncountable Nouns (Common examples: water, rice, information, music)

Grammar: Uncountable Nouns

A2 Lesson 18: Nouns You Can't Count

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify uncountable nouns and use them correctly with singular verbs and special 'counting' words.

What are Uncountable Nouns?

Uncountable nouns (or mass nouns) are words for things that we cannot count with numbers. We see them as a whole 'mass' or concept. For example, you can count bottles of water, but you cannot count 'water' itself.

The two most important rules are:

1. They do not have a plural form (we never add '-s').
2. They always use a singular verb (like is, was, has). Example: "The rice is hot."

Common Categories

💧 Liquids & Powders

water, coffee, milk, rice, sugar, salt, flour...

💡 Abstract Ideas

information, advice, music, happiness, fun, knowledge...

Making Uncountable Nouns Countable

To count these nouns, we use special "counter" words called partitives. These words measure or hold the uncountable noun.

Using Partitives

Uncountable Noun	How to Count It
water	a glass of water, a bottle of water
coffee	a cup of coffee
rice	a bowl of rice, a bag of rice
advice	a piece of advice, some advice
bread	a slice of bread, a loaf of bread

In Conversation

Let's see how uncountable nouns are used at a cafe in Siem Reap.

You: Can I have a cup of coffee, please?

Barista: Of course. Do you want any sugar?

You: No, thank you. The music in here is very nice.

Barista: Thank you! Here is your coffee and a glass of water.

Practice Your Grammar 🎯

Exercise 1: Countable or Uncountable?

Decide if the noun is Countable (C) or Uncountable (U).

1. car → C
2. music → U
3. student → C
4. information → U
5. chair → C

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Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Word

Choose the best word or phrase to complete the sentences.

1. The advice you gave me (was / were) very helpful.
   → was
2. Please buy a (bread / loaf of bread) from the shop.
   → loaf of bread
3. She gave me (some / two) good advice about finding a job.
   → some

Your Grammar Mission ⭐

In Your Kitchen

Look in your kitchen at home. Write three sentences about the uncountable things you see. Use a partitive in each sentence.

Example: I have a bottle of fish sauce. There is a bag of rice. I want a cup of tea.

Key Vocabulary

• Uncountable Noun (Noun) | នាមរាប់មិនបាន
  A noun for something that cannot be counted with numbers (e.g., water, rice).
• Partitive (Noun) | ពាក្យរាប់
  A "counter" word that measures an uncountable noun (e.g., a 'cup of', a 'piece of').
• Liquid (Noun) | វត្ថុរាវ
  A substance that flows, like water or oil.
• Abstract Idea (Phrase) | គំនិតអរូបី
  A concept or feeling you cannot touch (e.g., love, happiness, information).