GRAMMAR VOCABULARY A2 Countable / Uncountable Some / Any Italian learner editionEdizione per studenti italiani

A2 Countable and Uncountable Nouns A2 Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Learn the difference between nouns you can count and nouns you cannot normally count. Use a/an, some, any, much, many, a lot of, a few and a little correctly. Impara la differenza tra i nomi che puoi contare e quelli che normalmente non puoi contare. Usa correttamente a/an, some, any, much, many, a lot of, a few e a little.

an applesome riceany milk many booksmuch timea bottle of water

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1. See it in context1. Guarda i nomi numerabili e non numerabili nel contesto

“We need some tomatoes, an onion and some rice. We don’t have any milk, and there isn’t much bread. How many bottles of water should we buy?” “We need some tomatoes, an onion and some rice. We don’t have any milk, and there isn’t much bread. How many bottles of water should we buy?”
What students must noticeCosa devono notare gli studenti

tomatoes / bottles: nomi numerabili plurali.

an onion: nome numerabile singolare con articolo.

rice / milk / bread: nomi non numerabili.

many si usa con i plurali numerabili; much con i non numerabili.

2. Take on board: the A2 control panel2. Da portare via: il pannello di controllo A2

First identify the noun type. Then choose the correct quantity word. Prima identifica il tipo di nome. Poi scegli l’espressione di quantità corretta.

1. One countable noun
a/an + singular noun

a book, an apple

2. Plural countable
some / any / many / a few

some chairs, many students

3. Uncountable
some / any / much / a little

some water, much time

4. Both types
a lot of

a lot of books / a lot of money

5. Questions
How many...? / How much...?

How many eggs? How much rice?

6. Containers
a bottle/piece/loaf of...

a bottle of water

3. The countable and uncountable map3. La mappa dei nomi numerabili e non numerabili

Core idea:Idea centrale:

Countable nouns can be counted as individual units. Uncountable nouns are usually treated as a mass, substance or general concept.I nomi numerabili possono essere contati come unità singole. I nomi non numerabili sono normalmente trattati come una massa, una sostanza o un concetto generale.

Countable singularNumerabile singolare

a/an + noun

a chair, a sandwich, an orange

Può essere preceduto da un numero: one chair.

Italian trap: Un nome numerabile singolare normalmente non può restare senza determinante.

Countable pluralNumerabile plurale

number/some/many + plural noun

two chairs, some sandwiches, many oranges

Italian trap: Ricorda la forma plurale del nome.

UncountableNon numerabile

some/much/a little + noun

some water, much information, a little money

Italian trap: Non usare a/an o il plurale con information, furniture, advice.

Containers and unitsContenitori e unità

unit + of + uncountable noun

a bottle of water, a piece of advice, two loaves of bread

Italian trap: Conta l’unità o il contenitore, non il nome non numerabile.

4. Common countable and uncountable nouns4. Nomi numerabili e non numerabili comuni

Countable nounsNomi numerabiliUncountable nounsNomi non numerabili
apple, banana, egg, tomatobread, rice, pasta, meat
bottle, cup, glass, platewater, milk, coffee, juice
chair, table, room, windowfurniture, equipment, luggage
student, teacher, question, ideainformation, advice, knowledge
coin, note, euro, billmoney, change
job, journey, trip, holidaywork, travel, traffic

5. A, an, some and any5. A, an, some e any

ExpressionEspressioneUseUsoExampleEsempio
a / ansingular countablea sandwich, an egg
someaffirmative plural or uncountablesome apples, some bread
anynegative and most questionsany milk, any questions
nonegative meaning without notThere is no sugar.
Compare:Confronta:

I have some money.

I don’t have any money.

Do you have any money?

6. Much, many and a lot of6. Much, many e a lot of

many

plural countable nouns

How many students are there?

There aren’t many shops.

much

uncountable nouns

How much time do we have?

There isn’t much traffic.

a lot of

both noun types

We have a lot of books.

She drinks a lot of water.

Natural A2 tipConsiglio A2

In affirmative everyday English, a lot of is usually more natural than much or many.Nell’inglese quotidiano affermativo, a lot of è normalmente più naturale di much o many.

7. A few and a little7. A few e a little

ExpressionEspressioneNoun typeTipo di nomeExampleEsempio
a fewplural countableI have a few questions.
a littleuncountableWe have a little time.
Memory rule:Regola da ricordare:

few → things you can count

little → substances, quantities and abstract ideas

8. Containers and quantity expressions8. Contenitori ed espressioni di quantità

ExpressionEspressioneExampleEsempio
a bottle ofa bottle of water
a glass ofa glass of juice
a cup ofa cup of coffee
a loaf ofa loaf of bread
a slice ofa slice of cheese
a piece ofa piece of advice / information
a packet ofa packet of rice
a kilo ofa kilo of potatoes

9. Italian brain vs English brain9. Cervello italiano vs cervello inglese

ItalianoCommon mistakeErrore comuneNatural EnglishInglese naturale
Un’informazionean informationsome information / a piece of information
Due mobilitwo furniturestwo pieces of furniture
Molti soldimany moneya lot of money
Quanta acqua?How many water?How much water?
Poche domandea little questionsa few questions
Due panitwo breadstwo loaves of bread

10. Common mistakes10. Errori comuni

❌ I need an advice.

Advice is uncountable.Advice è non numerabile.

✅ I need some advice. / I need a piece of advice.
❌ How many rice do we need?

Rice is uncountable.Rice è non numerabile.

✅ How much rice do we need?
❌ There aren’t some eggs.

Use any in a negative sentence.Usa any in una frase negativa.

✅ There aren’t any eggs.
❌ We have a little chairs.

Chairs are plural and countable.Chairs è plurale e numerabile.

✅ We have a few chairs.

11. Concept Check Questions11. Domande di controllo del concetto

1. Which noun can normally have a singular and a plural form?1. Quale nome può normalmente avere una forma singolare e una plurale?
2. Which noun is normally uncountable?2. Quale nome è normalmente non numerabile?
3. Which expression can we use with a singular countable noun?3. Quale espressione possiamo usare con un nome numerabile singolare?
4. Which word do we use with plural countable nouns?4. Quale parola usiamo con i nomi numerabili plurali?

12. Quick Check12. Quick Check

1. I need _____ egg for this recipe.1. Mi serve _____ uovo per questa ricetta.
2. There are _____ tomatoes in the fridge.2. Ci sono _____ pomodori nel frigorifero.
3. We don’t have _____ bread.3. Non abbiamo _____ pane.
4. How _____ water do you drink?4. Quanta acqua bevi?
5. How _____ students are in the class?5. Quanti studenti ci sono nella classe?

13. Challenge Check13. Challenge Check

1. Choose the correct sentence.1. Scegli la frase corretta.
2. I need _____ information about the course.2. Ho bisogno di _____ informazione sul corso.
3. We have only _____ time before the train leaves.3. Abbiamo solo _____ tempo prima che parta il treno.
4. I have _____ questions for the teacher.4. Ho _____ domande per l’insegnante.
5. Which expression works with both plural countable and uncountable nouns?5. Quale espressione funziona sia con i plurali numerabili sia con i nomi non numerabili?

14. Write it in English14. Scrivi in inglese

1. Ho comprato delle mele e del pane.
2. Non c’è latte nel frigorifero.
3. Quanti libri hai?
4. Quanto tempo abbiamo?
5. Mi serve una bottiglia d’acqua.

15. Sentence correction and transformation15. Correzione e trasformazione delle frasi

1. Correct the sentence.

I need an information.

2. Correct the sentence.

How many water do you drink?

3. Correct the sentence.

There isn’t some rice.

4. Correct the sentence.

I have a little friends.

5. Correct the sentence.

We bought two breads.

16. Mini dialogue practice16. Mini dialogo pratico

A: “What do we need from the supermarket?”A: “Che cosa ci serve al supermercato?”

17. Guided writing task17. Writing guidato

Write 50–80 words about food you have at home and what you need to buy. Use countable and uncountable nouns and at least four quantity expressions. Scrivi 50–80 parole sul cibo che hai in casa e su ciò che devi comprare. Usa nomi numerabili e non numerabili e almeno quattro espressioni di quantità.

a/an + singular countable
some + noun
any + noun
many / much / a lot of
a few / a little
container or unit
Capital letter + punctuation + 50 words
Model answer:

There are some apples and a few tomatoes in my kitchen. There is also some rice and a little cheese, but there isn’t any bread. We don’t have much milk either. I need to buy a loaf of bread, a bottle of milk and a few eggs. I also want some coffee because there isn’t much left.

18. Use it in real life18. Usalo nella vita reale

ShoppingFare la spesa

Example:
We need some vegetables, a bottle of oil and a little cheese.

RestaurantsAl ristorante

Example:
Could I have some water and a slice of bread, please?
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