A.
Many nouns can be used as countable or uncountable nouns, usually with a
difference in meaning. Compare:
#1
Countable
* Did
you hear a noise just now? (= a particular noise)
* I
bought a paper to read. (= a newspaper)
*
There's a hair in my soup! (= one single hair)
* You
can stay with us. There is a spare room. (= a room in a house)
* I had
some interesting experiences while I was away. (= things that happened to me)
* Enjoy
your holiday. Have a good time!
#2
Uncountable
* I
can't work here. There's too much noise. (not 'too many noises')
* I need
some paper to write on. (= material for writing on)
* You've
got very long hair. (not 'hairs') (= all the hair on your head)
* You
can't sit here. There isn't room. (= space)
* They
offered me the job because I had a lot of experience. (not 'experiences')
* I
can't wait. I haven't got time.
B.
Coffee/tea/beer/juice etc. (drinks) are normally uncountable:
* I
don't drink coffee very often.
But they
can be countable when you are thinking of a cup/a glass etc. So you can say:
* (in a
restaurant) Two coffees and an orange juice, please.
C.
There are some nouns that are usually uncountable in English but often
countable in other languages. For example:
accommodation
behaviour damage luck
permission traffic bread
furniture luggage progress
weather chaos information
news scenery work
These
nouns are usually uncountable, so:
i) you
cannot use a/an with them (you cannot say 'a bread', 'an advice' etc.) and
ii) they
are not normally plural (we do not say 'breads', 'advices' etc.).
* I'm
going to buy some bread. or .. a loaf of bread. (not 'a bread')
* Enjoy
your holiday! I hope you have good weather. (not 'a good weather')
* Where
are you going to put all your furniture? (not 'furnitures')
News is
uncountable, not plural:
* The
news was very depressing. (not 'the news were')
Travel
(noun) means 'travelling in general'. You cannot say 'a travel' to mean a
journey or a trip:
* We had
a very good journey. (not 'a good travel')
Compare
these countable and uncountable nouns:
#1
Countable
* I'm
looking for a job.
* What a
beautiful view!
* It's a
nice day today.
* We had
a lot of bags and cases.
* These
chairs are mine.
* It was
a good suggestion.
#2
Uncountable
* I'm
looking for work. (not 'a work')
* What
beautiful scenery!
* It's
nice weather today.
* We had
a lot of luggage. (not 'luggages')
* This
furniture is mine.
* It was
good advice.
EXERCISES
69.1
Which of the underlined parts of these sentences is correct?
1. 'Did
you hear _noise/a noise- just now?' 'No, I didn't hear anything.' ('a noise' is
correct)
2. a. If
you want to know the news, you can read _paper/a paper._
b. I
want to write some letters but I haven't got _a paper/any paper_ to write on.
3. a. I
thought there was somebody in the house because there was _light/a light_ on
inside.
b.
_Light/A light_ comes from the sun.
4. a. I
was in a hurry this morning. I didn't have _time/a time_ for breakfast.
b. 'Did
you enjoy your holiday?' 'Yes, we had _wonderful time/a wonderful time._'
5. Sue
was very helpful. She gave us some very useful _advice/advices._
6. We
had _very good weather/a very good weather_ while we were on holiday.
7. We
were very unfortunate. We had _bad luck/a bad luck._
8. It's
very difficult to find a _work/job_ at the moment.
9. Our
_travel/journey_ from London to Istanbul by train was very tiring.
10. When
the fire alarm rang, there was _total chaos/a total chaos._
11. I
had to buy _a/some_ bread because I wanted to make some sandwiches.
12. Bad
news _don't/doesn't_ make people happy.
13.
_Your hair is/Your hairs are_ too long. You should have it/them cut.
14.
Nobody was hurt in the accident but _the damage/the damages_ to the car
_was/were_ quite bad.
69.2
Complete the sentences using these words. Sometimes you need the plural (-s).
chair experience experience
furniture hair information
job luggage permission
progress work
1. I
didn't have much _luggage_--just two small bags.
2.
They'll tell you all you want to know. They'll give you plenty of ---
3. There
is room for everybody to sit down. There are plenty of ---
4. We
have no ---, not even a bed or a table.
5. 'What
does Alan look like?' He's got a long beard and very short ---
6.
Carla's English is better than it was. She's made ---
7.
George is unemployed. He's looking for a ---
8.
George is unemployed. He's looking for ---
9. If
you want to leave work early, you have to ask for ---
10. I
don't think Ann will get the job. She hasn't got enough ---
11. Rita
has done many interesting things. She should write a book about her ---
69.3
What do you say in these situations? Complete the sentences using one of the
words from Section C.
1. Your
friends have just arrived at the station. You can't see any suitcases or bags.
You ask
them: Have _you got luggage?_
2. You
go into the tourist office. You want to know about places to see in the town.
You say:
I'd like
---
3. You
are a student at school. You want your teacher to advise you about which
examinations to take. You say:
Can you
give me ---?
4. You
want to watch the news on TV but you don't know what time it is on. You ask
your friend:
What
time ---?
5. You
are standing at the top of a mountain. You can see a very long way. It is
lovely. You say:
It ---,
isn't it?
6. You
look out of the window. The weather is horrible: cold, wet and windy. You say
to your friend:
What
---!
Answer
69.1
2 a. a
paper b. any paper
3 a. a
light b. Light
4 a.
time b. a wonderful time
5 advice
6 very
good weather
7 bad luck
8 job
9
journey
10 total
chaos
11 some
12
doesn't
13 Your
hair is ... it
14 the
damage ... was
69.2
2
information
3 chairs
4
furniture
5 hair
6
progress
69.3
2 I'd
like some information about places to see (in this town).
3 Can
you give me some advice about which examinations to take?/... some advice about
examinations?
4 What
time is the news (on TV)?
5 It's a
beautiful view isn't it? or It's beautiful scenery isn't it?
6 What
horrible weather!
