Countable/ uncountable 2

A a/ an and some

B Many nouns are sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable. For example:

a cake some cakes some cake or a piece of cake

a chicken some chickens some chicken or a piece of chicken

Compare a paper (= a newspaper) and some paper:

• I want something to read. I’m going to buy a paper.

but • I want to make a list. I need some paper/ a piece of paper. (not ‘a paper’)

C Be careful with these nouns – they are usually uncountable:

information advice weather news bread hair furniture work

• I need some information about hotels in London. (not ‘informations’)

• It’s nice weather today. (not ‘a nice weather’)

• Listen! I’ve just had some good news. (not ‘a good news’)

• I’m going to buy some bread. (not ‘a bread’)

• Sue has got very long hair. (not ‘hairs’)

• They’ve got some very nice furniture in their house. (not ‘furnitures’)

• “Do you like your job?” “Yes, but it’s hard work.” (not ‘a hard work’)

We say a job (but not ‘a work’):

• I’ve got a new job. (not ‘a new work’)

Exercises.

1. Put in a/ an or some.

1) I read a book and listened to some music.

2) I need _____ money. I want to buy _____ food.

3) We met _____ interesting people at the party.

4) I’m going to open _____ window to get _____ fresh air.

5) She didn’t eat much for lunch – only _____ apple and _____ bread.

6) We live in ___ big house. There’s ___ nice garden with ___ beautiful trees.

7) I’m going to make a table. First I need _____ wood.

8) Listen to me carefully. I’m going to give you _____ advice.

9) I want to write a letter. I need _____ paper and _____ pen.

2. Which is right?

1) I’m going to buy some new shoe/ shoes.

2) Martin has got brown eye/ eyes.

3) Paula has got short black hair/ hairs.

4) The tourist guide gave us some information/ informations about the town.

5) We’re going to buy some new chair/ chairs.

6) We’re going to buy some new furniture/ furnitures.

7) It’s difficult to get a work/ job at the moment.

8) We had lovely weather/ a lovely weather when we were on holiday.

a/ an and the

B We say the … when it is clear which thing or person we mean. For example:

the door/ the ceiling/ the floor/ the carpet/ the light etc. (of a room)

the roof/ the garden/ the kitchen/ the bathroom etc. (of a house)

the centre/ the station/ the airport/ the town hall etc. (of a town)

• “Where’s Tom?” “In the kitchen.” (= the kitchen in this house or flat)

• Turn off the light and close the door. (= the light and the door of the room)

• Do you live far from the centre? (= the centre of your town)

• I’d like to speak to the manager, please. (= the manager of this shop etc.)

Exercises.

1. Put in a/an or the.

1) We enjoyed our holiday. ___ hotel was very nice.

2) “Can I ask ___ question?” “Of course. What do you want to ask?”

3) You look very tired. You need ___ holiday.

4) “Where’s Tom?” “He’s in ___ bathroom.”

5) Jane is ___ interesting person. You must meet her.

6) A: Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to ___ city centre?

B: Yes, go straight on and then take ___ next turning left.

7) A: Shall we go out for ___ meal this evening?

B: Yes, that’s ___ good idea.

8) It’s ___ nice morning. Let’s go for ___ walk.

9) Amanda is ___ student. When she finishes her studies, she wants to be ___ journalist. She lives with two friends in ___ flat near ___ college where she is studying. ___ flat is small but she likes it.

10) Peter and Mary have got two children, ___ boy and ___ girl. ___ boy is seven years old and ___ girl is three. Peter works in ___ factory. Mary hasn’t got ___ job at the moment.

2. Put in a/ an or the where necessary.

1) Don’t forget to turn off light when you go out. _____________

2) Enjoy your holiday and don’t forget to send me postcard. _____________

3) What is name of this village? _____________

4) Canada is very big country. _____________

5) What is largest city in Canada? _____________

6) I like this room but I don’t like colour of carpet. _____________

7) “Are you OK?” “No, I’ve got headache.” _____________

8) We live in old house near station. _____________

9) What is name of director of film we saw last night. _____________

The

A We use the when it is clear which thing or person we mean:

• What is the name of this street? (this street has only one name)

• Who is the best player in your team?

• Can you tell me the time, please? (= the time now)

• My office is on the first floor. (= the first floor of the building)

Don’t forget the:

• Do you live near the city centre? (not ‘near city centre’)

• Excuse me, where is the nearest bank? (not ‘where is nearest…’)

B the same …

• We live in the same street. (not ‘in same street’)

• “Are these two books different?” “No, they’re the same.” (not ‘they’re same’)

C We say:

the sun/ the moon/ the world/ the sky/ the sea/ the country

• The sky is blue and the sun is shining.

• Do you live in a town or in the country?

the police/ the fire brigade/ the army (of a city, country etc.):

• My brother is a soldier. He’s in the army.

the top/ the end/ the middle/ the left etc.:

• Write your name at the top of the page.

• My house is at the end of this street.

• The table is in the middle of the room.

• Do you drive on the right or on the left in your country?

(play) the piano/ the guitar/ the trumpet etc. (musical instruments):

• Paula is learning to play the piano.

the radio:

• I listen to the radio a lot.

D We do not use the with:

television:

• I watch television a lot. • What’s on television tonight?

but • Can you turn off the television? (not ‘the TV set’)

breakfast/ lunch/ dinner:

• What did you have for breakfast? (not ‘ the breakfast’)

• Dinner is ready!

Next/ last + week/ month/ year/ summer/ Monday etc.:

• I’m not working next week. (not ‘the next week’)

• Did you have a holiday last summer? (not ‘the last summer’)

Exercises.

1. Put in the where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is already correct.

1) What is name of this street? the name

2) What’s on television tonight? OK

3) Our apartment is on second floor.__________________________

4) Would you like to go to moon? __________________________

5) Which is the best hotel in this town? ________________________

6) What time is lunch? ______________________________________

7) How far is it to city centre? _________________________________

8) We’re going away at end of May. ___________________________

9) What are you doing next weekend? ___________________________

10) I didn’t like her first time I met her. ____________________________

11) I’m going out after dinner. ___________________________________

12) What’s biggest city in world? __________________________________

13) My sister got married last month. _______________________________

14) My dictionary is on top shelf on right. __________________________

15) We live in country about five miles from nearest village. _____________

2. Complete the sentences. Use: the same + age/ colour/ problem/ street/ time.

1) I live in North Street and you live in North Street. We live in _______________

2) I arrived at 8.30 and you arrived at 8.30. We arrived at ____________________

3) Jim is 25 and Sue is 25. Jim and Sue are _______________________________

4) My shirt is dark blue and so is my jacket. My shirt and jacket are ____________

5) I’ve got no money and you’ve got no money. We’ve got ___________________

3. Complete these sentences. Choose from the list. Use the if necessary.

capital/ dinner/ police/ lunch/ middle/ name/ sky/ television

1) We had ____________ at a restaurant last night.

2) We stayed at a very nice hotel but I don’t remember _____________

3) ____________ is very clear tonight. You can see all the stars.

4) Did you see the film on ____________ last night?

5) Somebody was trying to break into the shop so I called ____________

6) Tokyo is ____________ of Japan.

7) “What did you have for ____________?” “A salad.”

8) I woke up in ____________ of the night.

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