Corie nee ur tiesto mE 1 Countable and uncountable nouns Countable nouns: Uncountable nouns: ¢ can be singular: + cannot be plural: a company, a job, a biscuit health, clothing, (not healths, clothings) + or plural: + take a singular verb: ‘many companies, few jobs, some biscuits Petrol is expensive. Exercise is good for you. use certain other words to refer to quantity: a piece of furniture, a sum of money, a litre of petrol (not -4-furniture, a-money, 4 petrol) ‘A Many nouns can be countable and uncountable, but with different meanings: These grammar exercises are easy! Exercise is good for you. ( tasks for practising grammar) ( taking exercise in general) The gallery was showing works by I don't enjoy hard work. several artists = tasks and activities) ( paintings, sculptures, etc.) The French produce some wonderful cheeses. Do we have any cheese in the fridge? ( different types of cheese) ( that type of food) 2 A(n), the and no article Means: Introduces: Use it witl An) one of many anew item of singular countable information nouns The the only one(s) items we have mentioned | countable or before and the particular one(s) or uncountable nouns when the speaker and listener know which items we are talking about No article | all things in a general sense | uncountable nouns or and that quantity is plural countable nouns uncertain or unimportantThere's a supermarket in most towns nowadays. We buy most of our food from the local supermarket, (= one particular supermarket near our house) = one of many that exist) Have you got a pen? (= one of many that exist) The pen is by the phone. (= the only pen here) Idon't like the music my brother plays. (= that particular music) ‘Music helps me to concentrate when I'm working. (= any music) We planted the trees in our garden five years ago. (= the particular trees in our garden) Trees are easily damaged by pollution. (= all trees; any pollution) The cheese is in the fridge. (= the cheese you need; the only fridge here) Help yourself to cheese and biscuits, (= as much cheese and as many biscuits as you want) People used to believe the moon was a goddess. (= people in general; the moon that goes round this planet; one of many goddesses) 3 Special uses of articles Look out for special uses of articles. Here are some common examples: Places We use the with: + oceans, seas and rivers: the Black Sea, the Danube + regions: the Far East, the Midlands + groups of islands: the Philippines + names of countries that include a word such as Republic, Kingdom, States or Emirates: the United States, the People’s Republic of China deserts and mountain ranges: she Kalahari, the Alps We say: the sea, the coast, the seaside, the country, the mountains, the hills My parents spend their holidays by the coast, but I prefer walking in the mountains. We do not use the with: * lakes: Lake Garda + continents, most countries, states, cities, towns and villages: Europe, France, Florida, Rome Ai but we say: the Netherlands, The Hague * buildings and locations that use the name of their town in the name: Manchester Airport, Birmingham City Art Gallery, Cardiff station, Edinburgh Castle, Durham University, Chelmsford High Sch 84Countable and uncountable nouns; articles Jobs ‘We use (ri) to say what job someone does: Tm a doctor, (not Pm-doctor.) Definitions We use a(n) to give a definition of somethin, A department store is a shop which sells a wide range of goods. (not Departmene-store is a shop which sells a wide range of goods.) Exclamations We use a(n) with exclamations: What an exciting film! (not What-exciting-film!) Fixed expressions Some fixed expressions use the and some use no article: We travel by train /bus. (not by-the-vain/bus) We have lunch / dinner at one. (not the-keveh-Hdinner) We listen to the radio, but We watch television. We play the guitar. (a musical instrument) but We play tennis. (a sport) We go to the cinema, the theatre etc. ‘We say: ‘My mother is at work. but: My mother is at the office. (= the office where she works) A We use the or no article before some places, with a difference in meaning: The children are at school now. (= they are students there) My father is at the school now. (= he is visiting it) Peter spent a lot of time in hospital as a child. (= he was a patient) Dr Dibble has an office in the hospital and another at home, ( she works there) This rule also applies to at church, in prison, at college and at university.COMIC Cla Clr) [EM a Complete each phrase with a noun from the uncountable or the countable box. Use your dictionary if necessary. Can any of the phrases be used with more than one of the nouns? Uncountable: glass Iuguage meat paper _ rice Countable: books cards clothes shoppers _ tools 1 an item of .l4ggage....... 2 a pack of 3 a sheet of ... 4 acrowd of B a pane OF nena 6 aslice of 7 asetof... 8 abundle of ... . 9 agrain of 10 apile of ‘b Use your dictionary to find words to use with these uncountables. ‘There may be more than one possible answer for each. TA ccummnnnen OF bread = 2a ofice 3a 4a... of wood 5a . of dust Remember to make a note of other words like these when you meet them. [BX Complete the diagram with the words that belong in each group. Use your dictionary if necessary. accommodation advice cheese coffee _ experience experiment glass hair hobby homework information journey leisure luck — Fuggage- meat scenery time traffic _-¥egetable- Always Can be countable Always countable or uncountable uncountable vegetable huggageYou need 100 grams of flour, egg, a little milk, and a spoonful of butter. Beat eevee (2) C88 WHER cence (3) flour. Add .. . (4) milk until the mixture is runny. Heat . 6) butter in nm (6) frying pan. Pour wicemsacs (() SPOHTEUT. OF carina 6 MIXtULE INO eennnee (9) pan. Cook for one minute, THEM eon (10) pancake over and cook a little longer. Serve hot, with ... w» (11) sugar and .... (12) lemon juice. [EB Fill in the gaps with the words in brackets. Add a or the if necessary. | 1 We've got some important visitors flying in from ..to¢.. West. Indies. next week. Can you meet them at ? (WestIndies; Birmingham Airport) 2 Ferdinand spent his holiday sailing across from ... 10 nen . (Mediterranean, Naples, Corsica) 3. My brother’s idea of a holiday is trekking across nous « Personally, I'd rather explore .. shopping! (Sahara, Andes, Paris) 4 Have you met Cora’s new boyfriend? He's... (ski instructor, Switzerland) 5 What Our train broke down near Ely and we had to get a Dus from there t0 ccm and then wait hours for the next train. (terrible journey, Peterborough station) or exploring . and do some .. from .EE} Correct the mistakes in this letter. Dear Moriigue , We pad great trip to the France /ast weekend. We went to /itt/e hote/ that you recorirended and it was very fleasant. Foods at the pote] weren't so geod, as you warned us, but we strolled down to city centre on Saturday evering atid had lovely neal there. Ln tact , we ate So uch for the dinner that we didn't want a breakfast on Sunday! Thanks again for the advice and intormations. Now I rust unpack and do the washings. See you soon. Love, Freda