A214 questions · Elementary · Nouns

Countable and Uncountable Nouns, Some and Any Exercises with Answers

Multiple-choice practice on countable and uncountable nouns, some and any: which nouns take a plural and a or an, the uncountable nouns that look countable, singular verbs after uncountable subjects, counting with a piece of, and some versus any in statements, negatives, questions and offers. Every question is followed by the answer and an explanation.

14 questions

Sample questions with answers

We need to buy some new ____ for the office.
- A. furnitures
- B. furniture(correct answer)
- C. a furniture
- D. furnitures'
Why: Furniture is uncountable: it has no plural and takes no a or an, even though it stands for many separate desks and chairs. To count the items you name them — two desks, three chairs — or say pieces of furniture.
There isn't ____ sugar left in the jar.
- A. some
- B. any(correct answer)
- C. a
- D. many
Why: Isn't makes the sentence negative, so any is the word. You could say the same thing with There is no sugar left — no does the work of not … any on its own.
Would you like ____ help with your bags?
- A. any
- B. a
- C. some(correct answer)
- D. many
Why: An offer takes some even though the sentence is a question, because the speaker expects the answer yes. Help is uncountable here, so a and many are impossible as well.

Lessons on this topic

Countable and Uncountable Nouns, Some and Any
Which nouns take a plural and a/an, how to count them with a piece of, and when to use some and any — including the offers that break the usual rule.
A Few, A Little, Few and Little
A few with countable nouns, a little with uncountable nouns, why dropping the a turns the meaning into almost none, and quite a few.
Articles: A, An and The
A and an with singular countable nouns, why the choice follows sound not spelling, the for something already known, and the cases that take no article.
Much, Many and A Lot Of
Many with countable nouns, much with uncountable nouns, a lot of with both, How much and How many, and why much is rare in positive sentences.
Much, Many or A Lot Of?
When to use much and many and when to use a lot of, by sentence type: negatives, questions, much and a lot at the end, short answers, and How much for prices.
Singular and Plural Nouns
English plurals: -s, -es after -s, -x, -ch and -sh, consonant + y to -ies, the common irregulars, and the verb that has to agree with them.
Too and Enough
How to use too and enough: too before an adjective, enough after an adjective but before a noun, too much and too many, and why too is not praise.

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