Air / country / day / friend / meat / language / letter / patience / people / photograph / queue / space

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.

 

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.....................

 

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

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.

2 Complete the sentences using these words. Sometimes you need the plural (-s).