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Unit 67 · A and the

a bottle / some water (countable/uncountable 1)

Study

A

A noun can be countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns

For example: (a) car (a) man (a) bottle (a) house (a) key (an) idea (an) accident

You can use one/two/three (etc.) + countable nouns (you can count them):

Countable nouns can be singular (= one) or plural (= two or more):

singular a car the car my car etc.
plural cars two cars the cars some cars many cars etc.
›

I've got a car.

›

New cars are very expensive.

›

There aren't many cars in the car park.

You can't use the singular (car/bottle/key etc.) alone. You need a/an:

›

We can't get into the house without a key.

(not without key)

B

Uncountable nouns

For example: water air rice salt plastic money music tennis

You can't say one/two/three (etc.) + these things: one water two musics

Uncountable nouns have only one form:

money the money my money some money much money etc.

›

I've got some money.

›

There isn't much money in the box.

›

'Money isn't everything.

You can't use a/an + uncountable nouns: X money X music X water

But you can say a piece of ... / a bottle of ... etc. + uncountable noun:

a bottle of water a carton of milk a bar of chocolate
a piece of cheese a bottle of perfume a piece of music
a bowl of rice a cup of coffee a game of tennis

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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67.1

What are these things? Some are countable and some are uncountable. Write a/an if necessary. The names of these things are:

bucketenvelopemoneysandtoothbrushwalleteggjugspoontoothpastewater
  1. 1
    It's salt.example
  2. 2
    It's spoon.
  3. 3
    It's jug.
  4. 4
    It's water.
  5. 5
    It's toothpaste.
  6. 6
    It's toothbrush.
  7. 7
    It's egg.
  8. 8
    It's money.
  9. 9
    It's wallet.
  10. 10
    It's sand.
  11. 11
    It's bucket.
  12. 12
    It's envelope.
67.2

Some of these sentences are OK, but some need a/an. Write a/an where necessary.

  1. 1
    I don't have watch. a watchexample
  2. 2
    Do you like cheese? example
  3. 3
    I never wear hat.
  4. 4
    Are you looking for job?
  5. 5
    Kate doesn't eat meat.
  6. 6
    Kate eats apple every day.
  7. 7
    I'm going to party tonight.
  8. 8
    Music is wonderful thing.
  9. 9
    Jamaica is island.
  10. 10
    I don't need key.
  11. 11
    Everybody needs food.
  12. 12
    I've got good idea.
  13. 13
    Can you drive car?
  14. 14
    Do you want cup of coffee?
  15. 15
    I don't like coffee without milk.
  16. 16
    Don't go out without umbrella.
67.3

What are these things? Write a ... of ... for each picture. Use the words in the boxes.

barcuploafbreadmilkteabowlglasspiecechocolatepaperwatercartonjarhoneysoupwood
  1. 1A carton of milk.
    a carton of milk example
  2. 2A piece of wood.
  3. 3A glass of water.
  4. 4A bar of chocolate.
  5. 5A cup of tea.
  6. 6A piece of paper.
  7. 7A bowl of soup.
  8. 8A loaf of bread.
  9. 9A glass jar full of honey