A. A
noun can be countable or uncountable. Compare:
#1
Countable
* I eat
a banana every day.
* I like
bananas.
Banana
is a countable noun.
A
countable noun can be singular (banana)or plural (bananas).
Countable nouns are things we can count. So we can say 'one banana',
'two bananas' etc.
Examples
of nouns usually countable:
*
There's a beach near here.
* Ann
was singing a song.
* Have
you got a ten-pound note?
* It
wasn't your fault. It was an accident.
* There
are no batteries in the radio.
* We
haven't got enough cups.
#2
Uncountable
* I eat
rice every day.
* I like
rice.
Rice is
an uncountable noun.
An
uncountable noun has only one form(rice).
Uncountable nouns are things we cannot count. We cannot say 'one rice',
'two rices' etc.
Examples
of nouns usually uncountable:
*
There's sand in my shoes.
* Ann
was listening to (some) music.
* Have
you got any money?
* It
wasn't your fault. It was bad luck.
* There
is no electricity in this house.
* We
haven't got enough cups.
* We
haven't got enough water.
B. #1
You can use a/an with singular countable nouns:
a
beach a student an umbrella
You
cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a/the/my etc.):
* I want
a banana. (not 'I want banana')
*
There's been an accident. (not 'There's been accident')
You can
use plural countable nouns alone:
* I like
bananas. (= bananas in general)
*
Accident can be prevented.
See also
Unit 74.
#2 You
cannot normally use a/an with uncountable nouns. We do not say 'a sand' or 'a
music'. But you can often use a ... of:
a bowl
of rice a drop of water a piece of music a game of tennis etc.
You can
use uncountable nouns alone (without the/my/some etc.):
* I eat
rice every day.
*
There's blood on your shirt.
* Can
you hear music?
See also
Unit 74.
C. #1
You can use some and any plural countable nouns:
* We
sang some songs.
* Did
you buy any apples?
We use
many and few with plural countable nouns:
* We
didn't take many photographs.
* I have
a few jobs to do.
#2 You
can use some and any with uncountable nouns:
* We
listened to some music.
* Did
you buy any apple juice?
We use
much and little with uncountable nouns:
* We
didn't do much shopping.
* I have
a little work to do.
EXERCISES
68.1
Some of these sentences need a/an. Correct the sentences which are wrong. If
the sentence is already correct, put 'RIGHT'.
1. Jim
goes everywhere by bike. He hasn't got car.
_a car_
2. Ann
was listening to music when I arrived.
RIGHT.
3. We
went to very nice restaurant last weekend.
4. I
clean my teeth with toothpaste.
5. I use
toothbrush to clean my teeth.
6. Can
you tell me if there's bank near here?
7. My
brother works for insurance company in London.
8. I
don't like violence.
9. Can
you smell paint?
10. We
need petrol. I hope we come to petrol station soon.
11. I
wonder if you can help me. I have problem.
12. John
has got interview for job tomorrow.
13. Liz
doesn't usually wear jewellery but yesterday she was wearing necklace.
14. I
think volleyball is very good game.
68.2
Complete the sentences using one of the following words. Use a/an where
necessary.
accident biscuit blood
coat decision electricity
key letter moment
question sugar
1. It
wasn't your fault. It was _an accident._
2.
Listen! Can you hear _music?_
3. I
couldn't get into the house because I didn't have ---.
4. It's
very warm today. Why are you wearing ---?
5. Do
you take --- in your coffee?
6. Are
you hungry? Would you like --- with your coffee?
7. Our
lives would be very difficult without ---.
8. I
didn't phone them. I wrote --- instead.
9. The
heart pumps --- through the body.
10.
Excuse me, but can I ask you ---?
11. I'm
not ready yet. Can you wait. --- please?
12. We
can't delay much longer. We have to make --- soon.
68.3
Complete the sentences using one of the following words. Sometimes the word
needs to be plural (-s).
air country
day friend meat
language letter patience
people photograph queue space
1. I had
my camera but I didn't take many _photographs._
2. There
are seven --- in a week.
3. A
vegetarian is a person who doesn't eat ---.
4.
Outside the cinema there was --- of people waiting to see the film.
5. I'm
not very good at writing ---.
6. Last
night I went out with some --- of mine.
7. There
were very few --- in the shops today. They were almost empty.
8. I'm
going out for a walk. I need some fresh ---.
9.
George always wants things quickly. He's got no ---.
10. Do
you speak any foreign ---?
11. Jane
travels a lot. She has been to many ---.
12. Our
flat is very small. We haven't got much ---.
Answer
68.1
3 a very
nice restaurant
4 right
5 a
toothbrush
6 a bank
7 an
insurance company
8 right
9 right
10 a
petrol station
11 a
problem
12 an
interview for a job
13 a
necklace
14 a
very good game
68.2
3 a key
4 a coat
5 sugar
6 a
biscuit
7
electricity
8 a
letter
9 blood
10 a
question
11 a
moment
12 a
decision
68.3
2 days 3 meat
4 a
queue 5 letters
6
friends 7 people
8
air 9 patience
10
language 11 countries
12 space
