Blog Archives

“a/an” can be used in front of countable nouns:

Pattern:  a/an + singular countable noun:

Jack bought a pencil.
Eat an apple every day.

“some” can be used in front of: 1) plural countable nouns, and 2) uncountable nouns:

Pattern:  some + plural countable noun:

Jack bought some pencils.
Some apples in the barrel were rotten.

Pattern:  some + uncountable noun:

We drank some tea.
There is some rice in the rice cooker.

Note:  Sometimes a noun can be either countable or uncountable, depending on the situation.

A cake: We need to get a birthday cake for Jane.	A chicken: Mother always roasts a chicken for Sunday dinner.
Some cakes: Kathy practiced decorating some cakes.	Some chickens: I think the supermarket has some roast chickens available in the deli.
Some cake / a piece of cake: Would you like some cake/a piece of cake?	Some chicken / a piece of chicken: Have some chicken/a piece of chicken if you’re hungry.

 Note:  Some nouns are usually uncountable – we often use “some” with these:

Examples:

Let me give you some advice. (not an advice)
If you want me to make you a sandwich, we’re going to need some bread. (not a bread)
My brother Jim brought some old furniture when he went away to college. (not furnitures)
I prefer short hair.  (not hairs)
I need to look up some information in the encyclopedia.  (not informations)
I hope you have some good news for me.  (not a good news)
Take out some paper and write your name at the top.
Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny – it’s about time we had some nice weather.  (not a nice weather)
Uncle Jack finally found some work, but it’s only part-time.  (not a work)

In this last example, we can also say “a job” instead of “work”:

Uncle Jack finally found a job, but it’s only part-time.

Exercise.  Use the pictures to write sentences using the phrase “I bought ______.”

Example:

==> I bought a tie, a belt, and some sunglasses.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Exercise.  Write sentences using the phrase “Would you like a ______?” or “Would you like some ______?”

Example:

==> Would you like some hors d’oeuvres?

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.

Exercise.  Complete the sentences, using “a/an” or “some.”

Example:

I sat under ______ tree and drank ______ lemonade. ==>  I sat under a tree and drank some lemonade.

1.    I’m really tired.  I need to get ______ sleep.
2.    Jack likes to have ______ crackers when he has tomato soup.
3.    Mother usually relaxes by reading ______ book or listening to ______ music.
4.    We didn’t do anything last night except watch ______ TV.
5.    Tom needs to find ______ work.  He hasn’t has ______ job for several months.
6.    Swimming and walking are great ways to get ______ exercise.
7.    The car needs ______ gas.  Is there ______ gas station nearby?
8.    The bride’s mother gave her ______ advice for the wedding.
9.    Sam ordered ______ cup of coffee and ______ pie.
10.    If you’re going to write ______ letter, you’ll need ______ stationery, ______ envelope, and ______ stamps.

Exercise.  Select the correct word or phrase to complete the sentence.

Example:

I need to get my (hair/hairs) cut.  ==> I need to get my hair cut.

1.    Give me two (breads/slices of bread), so I can make a sandwich.
2.     I don’t want to get lost.  Let’s ask the concierge for (an information/information/informations) about the art museum.
3.    We’re supposed to have (a nice weather/nice weather/nice weathers) for our picnic this weekend.
4.    Kevin is stubborn, and won’t ask for (an advice/advice/advices).
5.    Mother has been sad ever since she read Uncle Paul’s letter – I think it must have contained (a bad news/bad news).
6.    Joan and Dave finally got (a new furniture/ new furnitures/some new furniture) for their apartment.
7.    Steve is looking for (a job/a work).
8.    If you’re going to the store, can you get (a toothpaste/toothpastes/some toothpaste) for me?

Google

All nouns are either countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns are nouns that are individual things.  They can be numbered one, two, three, etc.

Example:

One bird	Two chairs
Three cars	Four trees

etc.

Countable nouns can be singular or plural:

Singular:  a chair, the chair, my chair, his chair, etc.
Plural:  chairs, the chairs, my chairs, his chairs, some chairs, many chairs, etc.

Note:
The singular form can never be used alone – it always needs an article (a, an, the) or a possessive adjective (my, your, his, etc.).

Example:

We sat under a tree.  (not under tree)

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are not individual things.  They cannot be numbered one, two, three, etc.

Some uncountable nouns:

Water, milk, oil, etc. (any liquid)
Salt, sugar, flour, etc.
Money, music, bread, grass, work, rice, etc.

Uncountable nouns do not use “a/an.”  They do not use a plural form:

Bread, the bread, my bread, some bread, much bread, etc.

Example:

I’m going to eat some bread.  (not a bread)

We can use “a piece of ~,” “a glass of ~,” “a slice of ~,” etc.:

Would you like a piece of cake / a slice of cake?
I’m thirsty – could I please have a glass of water?
The recipe calls for a cup of milk.

Other examples:

a bottle of beer
a bowl of cereal
a piece of candy
a game of chess

Exercise.  Identify the following items, using the given nouns.  Use an appropriate phrase:  “It’s a ______.” or “It’s ______.”

Example:

==> It’s a cat.

==> It’s milk.

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.
7.	8.
9.	10.
11.	12.

Exercise.  Correct the following sentences by adding “a/an” if needed.  If no article is needed, write “OK.”

Example:

I found wallet. ==>  I found a wallet.
Buy milk at the store.  ==>  OK.

1.    We rented car on our vacation.
2.    I want to listen to music.
3.    Tom needs money.
4.    The dog hid under chair.
5.    Vegetarians don’t eat meat.
6.    Do you like coffee?
7.    Could I borrow pen?
8.    There was big scratch on the piano.
9.    I need coin for the vending machine.
10.    The teacher dropped piece of chalk.
11.    Jack took test in school today.
12.    Do you have salt?
13.    I want cup of tea.
14.    We have grass in our back yard.
15.    Sally eats fish.
16.    The machine needs oil.

Exercise.  Describe the pictures, using the phrase “a ______ of ______” with a word from each box.

Example:

==> a glass of water

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.
7.	8.
9.	10.
11.	12.

Google