Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns: a department, an exhibition

· can be singular or plural: (mile-mile s, memo-memo s);

· can have numbers in front of them: There are six men in the team. We have to appoint two people.

· can be used with a/an: We put an advertisement in the Financial Times. He has three years experience as a manager.

Uncountable nouns: profitability, safety

· have no plural form and always appear with a singular verb:

Money isn’t everything. Profitability is the aim of most businesses.

· cannot have numbers: I’ve got some/a lot of time.

· cannot have a in front of them: Unemployment is high in that country. Are you here for business?

· have words such as: some, any, a little, a lot of in front of them: His job involves a lot of travel. The company has bought some new equipment.

· do not take the when used in a general sense (Not: The travel broadens the mind ).

Some of the most common uncountable nouns:

accommodation, advertising, advice, baggage, brainstorming, cash, clothing, damage, employment, equipment, furniture, hardware, information, insurance, legislation, merchandise, money, news, progress, research, software, traffic, training, transport, travel, weather, work.

2.1. SOME / ANY

USE

Some – in affirmative sentences

Any – in questions and negative sentences

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
There’s some money There are some coins	There isn’t anymoney. There aren’t any coins.	Is there any money? Are there any coins?

2.2. A FEW / A LITTLE / A LOT OF

USE

A lot of + countable nouns (plural) and uncountable noun: He’s got a lot of coins. They’ve got a lot of money.

A few + countable nouns (plural): I’ve got a few coins.

A little + uncountable nouns: She’s got a little money.

2.3. BOTH / EITHER / NEITHER

USE

To talk only about two people or things:

· Both – with plural affirmative verbs: Both he manager and the secretary were late.

· Either and neither – with singular affirmative verbs: What would you like to drink? There’s either Cola or orange juice. I like eating sweet things. But neither chocolate no cake is good for you.

2.4. THERE IS / ARE

There + is / are or was / were say that a thing is / was present in a particular place.

There + be is always followed by a noun: There are a lot of people in the conference hall.

Note:

There is a computer on the table (single uncountable noun)

There are some people in the hall (plural countable noun)

There is some chocolate in the kitchen (uncountable noun)

2.5. IT IS / ARE

It + is / was + noun identifies someone or something.

It was peter on the phone.

It + is / was + adjective describe someone or something

It was colorful and eye-catching

Compare:

There is an advertisement on the bus shelter. It is colorful and attractive.

Module 7

NOUNS

Abstract ( progress, relevance, access etc), common (receptionist, factory etc), collective (audience, staff, team etc), proper (Ann, Spain, Ford etc).

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14