Countable and Uncountable: Some, Any, Much, Many
Which nouns you can count, which you cannot, and the quantity words that go with each — plus the question-and-negative rule for some and any.
English divides nouns into two groups, and the group decides which quantity words you may use. Getting this wrong is one of the most audible A2 errors.
Countable and uncountable
Countable — you can count them, and they have a plural: a book / two books · an apple / three apples · a chair / chairs
Uncountable — no plural, no a/an: water, bread, rice, money, time, music, information, advice, luggage, work, homework, furniture
❌ I need an information. → ✅ I need some information. ❌ She gave me three advices. → ✅ She gave me some advice.
How much / how many
- How many + countable: How many eggs do we need?
- How much + uncountable: How much milk is left?
Some and any
Some in positive sentences. Any in questions and negatives.
- I have some money.
- Do you have any money?
- I don't have any money.
The exception: use some in a question when you are offering or requesting, because you expect the answer yes:
- Would you like some coffee? (offer)
- Could I have some water? (request)
A lot of, much, many
A lot of works with both and sounds natural everywhere:
a lot of books · a lot of time
Much and many on their own are mostly for questions and negatives:
I don't have much time. · Were there many people?
In a positive statement, much sounds stiff: prefer a lot of time to much time.
A few and a little
- a few + countable: a few friends
- a little + uncountable: a little sugar
Drop the a and the meaning turns negative: few friends means almost none.
Test yourself
The quiz below checks the pairings and the some/any rule.