Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are easy to recognize. They are things that we can count. For
example: "pen". We can count pens. We can have one, two, three or more pens. Here
are some more countable nouns:
dog, cat, animal, man, person
bottle, box, litre
coin, note, dollar
cup, plate, fork
table, chair, suitcase, bag
Countable nouns can be singular or plural:
My dog is playing.
My dogs are hungry.
We can use the indefinite article a/an with countable nouns:
A dog is an animal.
When a countable noun is singular, we must use a word like a/the/my/this with it:
I want an orange. (not I want orange.)
Where is my bottle? (not Where is bottle?)
When a countable noun is plural, we can use it alone:
I like oranges.
Bottles can break.
We can use some and any with countable nouns:
I've got some dollars.
Have you got any pens?
We can use a few and many with countable nouns:
I've got a few dollars.
I haven't got many pens.
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts etc that we cannot divide into separate
elements. We cannot "count" them. For example, we cannot count "milk". We can
count "bottles of milk" or "litres of milk", but we cannot count "milk" itself. Here are
some more uncountable nouns:
music, art, love, happiness
advice, information, news
furniture, luggage
rice, sugar, butter, water
electricity, gas, power
money, currency
We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a singular verb. For example:
This news is very important.
Your luggage looks heavy.
We do not usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns. We cannot
say "an information" or "a music". But we can say a something of:
a piece of news
a bottle of water
a grain of rice
We can use some and any with uncountable nouns:
I've got some money.
Have you got any rice?
We can use a little and much with uncountable nouns:
I've got a little money.
I haven't got much rice.
Exercises
1. The children are playing in the garden.
2. I don't like milk.
3. I prefer tea.
4. Scientists say that the environment is threatened by
pollution.
5. My mother uses butter to prepare cakes.
6. There are a lot of windows in our classroom.
7. We need some glue to fix this vase.
8. The waiters in this restaurant are very
professional.
9. My father drinks two big glasses of water every
morning.
10. The bread my mother prepares is delicious.
11. Drivers must be careful; the road is slippery.
12. Some policemen are organizing road traffic to avoid any
accidents.
13. I bought three bottles of mineral water for our
picnic.
14. I'd like some juice please!
15. Successful candidates will join the camp later this
year.
16. A rise in oil prices is inevitable since there is more and more world demand for
energy.
17. The exercises on this website are interesting.
18. Dehydrated babies must drink a lot of water.
19. Adult illiterates learn through a special
government program.
20. I met some nice people when I was walking along the
beach.
Should and Shouldn't - Use

We use should and shouldn't to give advice or to talk about what we
think is right or wrong.
You should means something like I think it is a good idea for you to
do it.
You shouldn't means something like I think it is a bad idea for you to
do it.
Should is used to express the opinion of a speaker and often follows I
thinkor I don't think.

Examples
You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.

Alice works very long hours. She should to talk to her boss.

- I have an English test tomorrow.
- I shouldn't worry if I were you. You have worked really hard.

- I never have enough money.


- I don't think you should go out so much.

Should - Quick Grammar Note
To give advice to someone you can also say:
I should do it if I were you.
I shouldn't be so rude, if I were you.
When you regret not doing something in the past, you can say:
I shouldn't have spoken to him like that.
I should have apologized earlier.
Exercise 2 - should / shouldn't
1. It's cold. You a cardigan. (wear)
2. She's always tired. She to bed late every night. (go)
3. now? (we / leave)
4. You some fruit or vegetables every day. (eat)
5. The students their mobile phones in the exam. (use)
6. You the teacher to help you if you don't understand the lesson.
(ask)
7. People fast in the town centre. (drive)
8. the dress or the skirt? (I / buy)

Useful expressions
A quid - una libra
A wet blanket - una aguafiestas
A hangover - una resaca
A pain in the arse - un coazo (vulgar)
Better late than never - Ms vale tarde
que nunca
Bless you! - Jess! (when somebody
sneezes)
Bon apetit. - Qu aproveche.
By the way - A propsito
By all means - No faltara mas/Por
supuesto




Leave me alone! - Djame en paz!
Let the cat out of the bag - revelar un
secreto
Let's have one for the road - Tomamos la
penltima
Make yourself at home -Sintete como en
tu casa
No wonder - No me extraa
Pissed as a newt- borracho como una
cuba
Pull the other one. - Anda ya!
Really! - De verdad!
Chat someone up - Ligar con alguien
Cheer up! - Anmate!
Cheers! - Salud!
Cross your fingers. - Cruzando los
dedos.
Get the sack - ser despedido
Help yourself - Srvete
How come ? -Cmo es eso? Por qu?
Hurry up - Date prisa!
I must be off. - Tengo que irme.
I haven't got a clue. - No tengo ni idea
If only - Ojal
It serves you right. - Lo mereces.
It rings a bell. - Me suena.
It's up to you. - T eliges.
Keep the change. - Qudate con el
cambio.
Keep your hair on! - Clmate!

Quantity expressions

Same here - Yo tambin
Say when - Dime cuanto (para comida o
bebidas)
Talk of the devil - Hablando del rey de
Roma
Ten bob - 50 peniques
To pay cash - Pagar en efectivo
To my mind - En mi opinin
Touch wood. - Tocando madera
Watch out! - Ten cuidado!
Were you born in a field/barn? - Cierra la
puerta
What a rip off. - Qu timo!
What a mess! - Qu lo!
What a cheek! - Qu cara!
You're pulling my leg. - Me ests
tomando el pelo.
You're welcome. - De nada.
You're kidding. - Ests de broma.

much - many - a few - a little. Expressions of quantity. Learning English

An expression of quantity tells the amount of something.

much or many? few or little?

"much" - not countable

"How much...?" With uncountable nouns in negative and questions.

Examples:

How much homework do we get?
How much money do I need?
How much milk do you want?
Is there much sugar in my tea?

"many" - countable nouns

With countable nouns in negative and questions.

Examples:

How many sisters does he have?
How many pupils are in this class?
How many books do you buy?
How many cows live on this farm?

"a few ..." countable nouns

Use "(A) few ..." with countable nouns.

Examples:

There are just a few examples.
I meet a few friends
I see a few hundred pupils.
I've got few brothers.

"a little..." uncountable

Use "a little" with uncountable nouns.

Examples:

There is little tea left.
Not a lot, only a little, please.
I've got little money.

Countable nouns and uncountable nouns

a lot of / lots of Use an exact quantity or a lot of / lots of

Examples:

There are 10 pupils.
There are a lot of cookies
They have got a lot of CDs.
There are a lot of things on your table.
We have got lots of money.

Exercises
. There were not people left when the party came to an end.
2. We had very money left when we came back from holidays.
3. We have got news to tell you.
4. How sugar do I need for this cake?
5. Not French people can understand the puns in
Shakespeare's plays.
6. There was chance of finding the two mountaineers alive.
7. It was a bad day for fishing. He caught very fish.
8. The old man could not eat solids as he had very teeth left.
9. There has not been sunshine.
10. There was smashed glass on the floor where the windows
had been broken.