69. Countable and Uncountable 1 ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

69. Countable and Uncountable 1

A	A noun can be countable or uncountable: Countable Uncountable ·         I eat a banana every day. ·         I like bananas. Banana is a countable noun. A countable noun can be singular (banana) or plural (bananas). We can use numbers with countable nouns. So we can say 'one banana', 'two bananas' etc. Examples of nouns usually countable: ·         Kate was singing a song. ·         There's a nice beach near here. ·         Do you have a ten-pound note? ·         It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. ·         There are no batteries in the radio. ·         We don't have enough cups. ·         I eat rice every day. ·         I like rice. Rice is an uncountable noun. An uncountable noun has only one form (rice). We cannot use numbers with uncountable nouns. We cannot say 'one rice', 'two rices' etc. Examples of nouns usually uncountable: ·         Kate was listening to (some) music. ·         There's sand in my shoes. ·         Do you have any money? ·         It wasn't your fault. It was bad luck. ·         There is no electricity in this house. ·         We don't have enough water.
B	Countable Uncountable 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) ·         Accidents can be prevented. You cannot normally use a/an with uncountable nouns. We do not say 'a sand ', ‘a music’, ‘a rice’. But you can often use a ... of. For example: a bowl /a packet /a grain of rice 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?
C	Countable Uncountable You can use some and any with 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 pictures. ·         I have a few things to do. 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

69.1	Some of these sentences need a/an. Correct the sentences where necessary. 1 Joe goes everywhere by bike. He hasn’t got a car. · ___He hasn’t got a car. _______ 2 Helen was listening to music when I arrived. ________OK_______­­­­­ 3 We went to very nice restaurant last weekend. ____________________________ 4 I brush my teeth with toothpaste. ____________________________ 5 I use toothbrush to brush my teeth. ____________________________ 6 Can you tell me if there's bank near here? ____________________________ 7 My brother works for insurance company in Frankfurt. ____________________________ 8 I don't like violence. ____________________________ 9 Can you smell paint? ____________________________ 10 When we were in Rome, we stayed in big hotel. ____________________________ 11 We need petrol. I hope we come to petrol station soon. ____________________________ 12 I wonder if you can help me. I have problem. ____________________________ 13 I like your suggestion. Ifs very interesting idea. ____________________________ 14 John has interview for job tomorrow. ____________________________ 15 I like volleyball. It's good game. ____________________________ 16 Lisa doesn't usually wear jewellery. ____________________________ 17 Jane was wearing beautiful necklace. ____________________________
69.2	Complete the sentences using the following words. Use a/an where necessary. accident biscuit blood coat decision electricity interview key moment music 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 had _________for a job yesterday., 'Did you? How did it go?' 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.
69.3	Complete the sentences using the following words. Sometimes the word needs to be plural (-s), and sometimes you need to use a/an. air day friend joke language meat patience people picture queue space umbrella 1 I had my camera, but I didn't take any ____picture._____ 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 telling _______________ 6 Last night I went out with some _______________of mine. 7 There were very few _______________in town today. The streets were almost empty. 8 I'm going out for a walk. I need some fresh _______________. 9 Gary always wants things quickly. He doesn’t have much _______________ 10 I think it's going to rain. Do you have _______________1 could borrow? 11 Do you speak any foreign _______________? 12 Our flat is very small. We don't have much _______________.

ANSWER KEY