Lesson 07: The Kitchen Inventory
Vocabulary: The Kitchen
Countable Nouns (Singular / Plural)
Uncountable Nouns (Substances)
Containers & Quantities (Count the Uncountable)
Grammar Lab: Quantifiers
1. Countable vs Uncountable
- Countable (C): Things you can count (1 apple, 2 apples). They have a plural form (-s).
- Uncountable (U): Liquids, powders, abstract ideas (Water, Rice, Time). They are always Singular.
- Tip: To count Uncountable nouns, use containers! (e.g. "Two bags of rice").
2. Large Quantities
MUCH (Uncountable)
Mostly in (-) and (?).
- We don't have much time.
- How much money?
MANY (Countable)
Mostly in (-) and (?).
- There aren't many chairs.
- How many people?
A LOT OF / PLENTY OF
Use in (+) for Both types.
- We have a lot of food.
- There are plenty of drinks.
This is the most important part for A2/B1 level:
- "A few" / "A little" = Positive (I have some, it is enough).
- "Few" / "Little" = Negative (Not enough, almost zero).
| Type | Quantifier | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countable | A few | Some (Good) | I have a few friends. (I am happy) |
| Countable | Few | Not enough (Bad) | I have few friends. (I am lonely) |
| Uncountable | A little | Some (Good) | We have a little milk. (We can make coffee) |
| Uncountable | Little | Not enough (Bad) | We have little milk. (We need to buy more) |
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Too much + U | Negative Excess | There is too much sugar! |
| Too many + C | Negative Excess | There are too many people. |
| Enough + Noun | Correct Amount | We have enough plates. |
| Not enough + Noun | Insufficient | There is not enough time. |
A bit of (Informal)
Means "A little". Use with Uncountable.
- Add a bit of salt.
No / None
Zero quantity.
- There is no bread.
- We have none.
This is a fundamental rule for English quantifiers.
| Quantifier | Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SOME |
1. Positive Sentences (+) 2. Offers / Requests |
1. I have some money. 2. Would you like some tea? |
| ANY |
1. Negative Sentences (-) 2. Questions (?) |
1. I don't have any money. 2. Do you have any brothers? |
Reading: The Company Picnic
1. The Planning
From: Mr. Smith
Team, for the picnic we need plenty of food. I have checked the list. We have too many crisps (50 bags!) but we have little fruit. Please buy more apples. Also, there is a lot of water, but few juices. Most people want juice, so this is a problem. We need enough drinks for everyone.
Questions:
2. Emma at the Market
From: Emma
I am at the shop. I bought a few melons and some strawberries. The strawberries look great! However, I have little money left in the budget, so I can't buy much meat. I bought a little chicken, but is it enough? Also, do we need any ketchup? I don't see any on the list.
Questions:
3. Jake at the Grill
From: Jake
The fire is ready. I have a few burgers, but I need a bit of oil for the grill. Also, Sarah, please bring the salads. There is too much mayonnaise in the potato salad! It tastes heavy. Next time, use a little less mayo. By the way, how many plates do we have? I only see ten.
Questions:
4. Sarah's Update
From: Sarah
Don't worry, Jake. I have plenty of plates in the car. I also brought a lot of napkins. But we have a problem with the dessert. We have no cake! I forgot to order it. I have a few cookies, but few people like them. Should I go and buy some ice cream?
Questions:
5. Mr. Smith's Conclusion
From: Mr. Smith
Great job everyone. The picnic is a success. We had enough food and plenty of fun. We have a little food left over, so please take it home. Jake, the burgers were delicious, not too salty. Next time, we will buy more cake and less crisps!
Questions:
Exercises (15 Sets)
The Company Picnic
They are at the park, setting up the BBQ and food tables.
Game: Master Chef Exam
Role: You are the Apprentice Chef taking the Final Exam.
Mission: You are at 6 different stations (Bakery, Bar, Grill...). Solve the problem by choosing the correct ingredient amount!
Station 1: The Soup
"The soup has no flavor!"