Explanations - 4 - Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Quantifiers and Meaning Shifts

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Help the clumsy detective write an accurate crime scene report. Select ALL the grammatically correct observations from his notebook.

I found a glass on the carpet.

There was broken glass near the window.

I found single blonde hair on the victim's jacket.

I need a paper to write down my notes.

The correct answers are I found a glass on the carpet and There was broken glass near the window.

Many nouns can be both countable and uncountable depending on their meaning!

Glass is countable when it means a drinking vessel ("a glass"), but uncountable when it refers to the material ("broken glass").

Hair is countable when referring to individual strands ("a single hair"), but uncountable when referring to the whole head of hair.

Paper is uncountable when referring to the material used for writing. You must say "some paper" or "a piece of paper." (Note: "A paper" is only correct when referring to a newspaper or an academic essay!)

Medium B1 | Intermediate Countable and uncountable Noun

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