Nouns

There are four kinds of nouns:

 Common (chair, table, smartphone, etc.)
 Proper (Ann, Ted, Spain, etc.)
 Abstract (love, beauty, happiness, friendship, etc.)
 Collective = group (class, audience, family, government)

Exercise 1. Underline each noun in the following sentences. Then write the first letter of
each noun on the line next to the sentence. If your answers are correct, you will spell out
the words of a quotation and the name of the famous American who said the quotation.
Write the quotation and its author’s name on the lines below sentence 15.

1. __________ Wendy located her housekeeper.

2. __________ Some answers on this test are about electricity.
3. __________ Her violin and easel were missing.
4. __________ Their rabbit that left the yard was returned by the officer.
5. __________ He used this umbrella in Alabama.
6. __________ After the rain, the electrician checked the box.
7. __________ The end of the afternoon arrived quickly.
8. __________ This group is funny.
9. __________ The ostrich and the orangutan are interesting.
10. _________ My doctor and my orthodontist are neighbors.
11. _________ In the evening, Archie likes to go boating.
12. _________ Unfortunately, he had a rash and an allergy.
13. _________ Her height and agility helped her win the match.
14. _________ Linda cared for the infant throughout the night.
15. _________ The garbage carton near the oven had licorice and noodles in it.

The quotation and its author:

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Gender

Masculine = men, boys, animals when we know their sex (he)

Feminine = women, girls, ships, animals when we know their sex (she)

Neuter = things, babies / animals when we don’t know their sex (it)
Ex. 2. Write (M) for male, (F) for female or (M/F).

Ex. 3. Write the masculine or feminine of the following people if there is a

difference.

Nouns. Number

1. Pen – pens, book - books

2. -s, -ss, -x, -sh, -ch, -tch + es
a bus — buses
a glass — glasses
a fox — foxes
a bush — bushes
a torch — torches
a watch — watches
3. Перед y - приголосна Перед y - голосна
a city — cities a boy — boys
a cherry — cherries a day — days
a lady — ladies a key — keys
a story — stories a toy —toys
4. a life — lives a shelf — shelves
a knife — knives a scarf — scarves
a wife — wives a wolf — wolves
 a leaf — leaves a half — halves
!!! Але деякі іменники, які закінчуються на –f та –fe, утворюють
множину додаванням закінчення –s:
a belief – beliefs, a chef – chefs, a chief – chiefs, a cliff – cliffs, a roof – roofs, a
safe – safes, a sheriff – sheriffs
5. o + es
a potato — potatoes, a tomato — tomatoes, a hero — heroes

!!! an auto – autos, an avocado – avocados, a kilo – kilos, a piano – pianos,

a radio – radios, a solo – solos, a studio – studios, a photo – photos.
6. Man – men (postman – postmen)
Woman – women (businesswoman - businesswomen

Child – children
Person – people
Foot – feet
Tooth – teeth
Goose – geese
Sheep – sheep
Deer – deer
Fish – fish
Mouse – mice
Ox-oxen

Plural of Compound Nouns

Compound Nouns form their plural by adding –s / -es:

A compound noun is a noun consisting of more than a single word.

It could be separate words such as social studies, physical education, and dining
room.
It could be two words joined by a hyphen such as merry-go-round, sister-in-law,
and great- grandmother.
It could be a combined word such as schoolteacher, bookkeeper, landlord, and
headmaster.

 to the second noun if the compound consists of two nouns. (N + N)

girlfriend - girlfriends, bedroom – bedrooms, bus stop – bus stops.
!!! Man-servant - men-servants
Both parts are Woman-teacher - women-teachers
changed into plural men-doctors
 to the noun if the compound consists of an adjective and a noun (Adj + N)
frying pan – frying pans, sleeping-bag – sleeping-bags

 to the first noun if the compound consists of two nouns connected with a preposition
(N + prep. + N); to the noun if the compound has only one noun (N+prep)
sister-in-law – sisters-in-law, editor-in-chief – editors-in-chief
passer-by - passers-by

 at the end of the compound if this is not made up of any nouns. (No Ns)
break-in – break-ins, letdown – letdowns, merry-go-rounds, take-offs

!!! однина множина

a means of transport many means of transport
a television series two television series
a species of birds 100 species of birds

Examples:
Kharkiv underground is my favourite means of transport.
There are a lot of means of transport available in Kharkiv.

“Friends” is my favourite television series.

My granny watches two television series every evening.

This species of birds is very rare. It is in the Red Book.

There are a lot of different species of plants and animals in the biosphere reserve.

Утворення деяких іменників латинського і грецького походження потрібно

запам’ятати:
analysis — analyses criterion — criteria
basis — bases data – дані, інформація (мн.)
crisis — crises phenomenon — phenomena

Ex. 4. Write the plural of the following nouns:

 Painkiller, taxi-driver, schoolgirl, good-for-nothing, text-book, man-teacher,
pocket-knife, grown-up, taxi driver, statesman, hanger-on, editor-in-chief, train robbery,
father-in-law, pincushion, walking-stick, sit-in, lily-of –the valley, woman-driver,
check-in, also-ran.

Ex 5. Write the plurals of the words given in brackets to complete these sentences:
1. Would you bring the bottle and some ___________, please? (glass)
2. We cut the cake into __________________ . (half)
3. We bought some ____________ to eat with our ______________ (tomato /
sandwich).
4. They caught several ____________ that afternoon. (fish)
5. Would you like some of these _____________? (potato)
6. We saw a cartoon about ___________ and ____________ .(cat / mouse)
7. It was autumn, and the _______________ were falling. (leaf)
8. We use several __________ for painting the ___________ . (process / car)
9. They have some ____________ and a few ____________ .(chicken / sheep)
10. I've read her _____________ but I haven't seen any of her _______________ .
(book / play)
11. I bought some ____________ for the _______________ .(shelf / glass)
12. There were ____________ of __________ in the factory. (thousand / box)
13. The ____________ went in one door and the ___________ went in the other. (man /
woman)
14. They have a lot of _______________ at the moment. (worry)
15. Would you bring the ____________ and ____________ ? (knife / fork)
16. The ____________ chased the _____________ for several miles. (wolf / deer)

!!!! Деякі іменники вживаються тільки в однині:

accommodation information news

advice furniture research
baggage / luggage jewellery success
еducation knowledge trouble
equipment money weather
hair music work

This news is very important. The latest news is very good.

Your baggage is very heavy.
The money is on the table. You can take it.
Good education is important. The equipment in our university is new.
Her hair is very long.
There is a lot of jewellery in the treasure box. It is my granny’s.

!!! До цієї групи іменників також належать:

 назви наук і навчальних дисциплін (physics, linguistics, mathematics,

economics, etc.)

Economics is very boring.

Mathematics was my favourite subject at school.
Linguistics is very interesting.
 хвороб (measles – кір, mumps - свинка, etc.)

Measles is caused by a virus.

Mumps is a viral infection.

 ігор та видів спорту (athletics, billiards, cards, darts, dominoes, gymnastics,

etc.)

Darts is a popular game in England.

Billiards is much fun.
Cards is a popular game among teenagers.

!!! Деякі іменники вживаються тільки в множині:

trousers scissors goods
shorts spectacles / glasses police
clothes stairs wages
belongings people
pyjamas

!!! The police are after the thief.

These clothes are new.

Your pyjamas are on the bed.
Where are my belongings?
Watch out! The stairs are very steep!

Ex. 6. Fill in: is or are.

1. The news _________ very exciting.
2. This pair of scissors _________ not sharp.
3. Many people _________ interested in computers.
4. Money ________ not as important as love.
 5. His trainers _________ worn out.
6. The police _________ coming now.
7. Measles, which ________ a children’s disease, _________ dangerous for adults.
8. The furniture in this room ____________ new.

9. Our furniture _________ getting old.

10.His clothes ___________ terribly old.
11.My glasses ______________ dirty. I can’t see properly.
12.Your hair _______ too long.
13.Where _________ my trousers?
14.Her work ________ very tiring.
15.Where ___________ my scissors?
16.The shopping ________ extremely heavy.
17.Where _________ my boxing gloves?
18.The model’s hair __________ beautiful.
19.My advice ___________ to stop smoking immediately.

20.Mike’s new watch ____________ three minutes fast.

21.Chess _________ a popular game.
22.This information _______ incorrect!
23.Darts ___________ is a popular game in England.
24.Economics ___________ my favourite subject at school.
25.People ________ starving in many countries.
26.Mumps _________ a common illness among young children.

Some nouns have a different meaning in plural.

Singular Plural
The needle of a compass always points north.- You can draw perfect circles with compasses. -
компас циркуль
It is an English custom to celebrate the Queen’s When he got off the plane, his bag was searched
birthday. - традиція at customs. – митний контроль
She has a lot of experience working with The main character in the book had been through
children.- досвід a lot of bad experiences. - пригоди
Would you like a glass of milk? - склянка He can’t see very well without his glasses.
She has got long, blonde hair. There are two hairs in this soup!
They were shocked at the scale of the disaster. - She weighed herself on the scales.
This door is made of wood. Дерево (матеріал) The boy got lost in the woods. - ліс
He goes to work every day except Sunday. Picasso’s works are really fascinating.

There were many people waiting outside. – All peoples (народи, нації) of the world should leave in
peace.

Ex. 7. Complete the sentences using the noun in the singular or plural form:
 Collective (Group) nouns
(family, team, group, crowd, class, company, crew, government)

A group noun can usually take either a singular or a plural verb.

The team was playing well. OR The team were playing well.
The government is in crisis. O R The government are in crisis.

The choice depends on whether we see the group as a whole or as individual

people .
Often it doesn't m atter whether the verb is singular or plural. But sometimes one form is
better than the other.
SINGULAR PLURAL
the group as a whole mean the individual people in the group
The family is a very old and famous one. The family are delighted with their presents.
My family is very important to me. My family are going away this weekend.
The orchestra consists of eighty-six The orchestra don't know what to play.
musicians.
The group consists of two men and three The largest group are the boys.
women.
The government is very unpopular. The
Government are always changing their
minds.
We use it and its. We use they, them and their.
The committee has made its decision. The class will miss their lessons because they
are all going on a trip.
Some other collective (group) nouns are : army, audience, band, board (правління),
choir (хор), class, club, committee, community, company, council (рада), crew
(екіпаж), crowd (натовп), enemy (ворог), family, flock (зграя), gang (банда),
government, group, herd (стадо), management, orchestra, population, press (=
newspapers), public, regiment (полк), staff, team, union (спілка).

Also: Harrods, the BBC, the United Nations, etc. and England (the England team),
Manchester United

The names of many organisations and teams are also group nouns, but they
are usually plural in spoken English:
Barcelona are winning 2–0.
The United Oil Company are putting prices up by 12 per cent.

!!! Always in plural

Exercise 8. Group nouns.

Exercise 9.

CONTABLE – UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

NOUNS
 Countable Uncountable
(злічувані) (незлічувані)
- things we can count - things we can’t count
- can be used with the indefinite - can’t be used with the indefinite article ‘a / an’
article ‘a / an’ in the singular - do not have a plural form
- always have a plural from

A pen - three pens substances, concepts etc. that we cannot divide into separate
A phone - five phones elements. We cannot "count" them.
A person - twenty people
 many types of food: spaghetti, yoghurt, cheese, flour,
butter, meat, bread, fruit, sugar, etc.
 liquids and gases: water, milk, coffee, soda,
lemonade, oil, petrol, tea, air, helium, etc.
 materials: metal, wood, wool, hair, plastic, paper,
silver, porcelain, etc.
 abstract nouns: love, friendship, work, help, advice,
news, information, time, room-місце, etc.
 others: furniture, luggage, money, rubbish

We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a

singular verb. For example:
 This news is very important.
 Your luggage looks heavy.

Exercise 10*. Rewrite the sentences to include an uncountable noun from the box.

equipment room - місце news advice

research furniture trouble weather
information luggage

E.g. Where are my suitcases? – Where is my luggage?

1. Scientific papers show that obesity has doubled over the last decade. – Research
shows
2. The sports items are stored in that cupboard over there.
3. What a terrible day!

4. The chairs and desks were relatively inexpensive.

5. Are there any details available about the free trial?
6. There are a lot of suggestions available to help with debt.
7. James has problems hearing clearly.
8. Are there any places left on the course?
9. The economic reports from the World Bank are disturbing.

There are nouns that can be both countable and uncountable depending on the meaning:
 Uncountable Countable
(незлічувані) (злічувані)
hair - волосся a hair- волоска
Your hair is lovely. There are three hairs on the floor.
room (as space)- місце a room (as part of a house)- кімната
There isn’t any room for your clothes in There are four rooms in this house.
my wardrobe.
glass (as material)- скло glass (as container)- склянка
Glass allows light to go through it. Can we have two glasses of water?
paper (as material)- папір paper (as document)- документ
Paper is made of wood. My lawyer gave me three papers to sign.
iron (as material)- залізо iron (as as electrical appliance)- праска
Iron melts at 1,535 degrees Celsius. If you give me an iron I’ll press the clothes
for you.
There is not enough light in our room. Can you see three lights there?
Have you got time for a cup of coffee? How many times a week do you go to the
gym?
It’s difficult to work when there is so much There are so many different noises in the
noise. city.
I prefer chicken. My granny grows chickens.

Drinks (coffee, water, orange juice) are usually uncountable. But if we are thinking of a cup or a glass,
we can say (in a restaurant, for example):
Two teas and one coffee please.
I prefer tea to coffee. Bring us, please, two teas and one coffee. (at a café /
restaurant)
I drink a lot of water, but I don’t drink wine. I’ll take a wine and she will take a water, please. (at a
café / restaurant)
She likes vanilla ice-cream. Buy five ice-creams in the supermarket.
Most children don’t like eating soup. Let’s order two soups of the day.

Examples (spoken English):

A: Would you like a hot drink? A: Can I help you?

B: Yes, two cappuccinos, please. B: Yes. Can I have a piece of chocolate cake, please?
A: What size? A: Eat in or take away?
B: Large, please. B: Eat in, please.
A: Anything to eat? A: Sure. Anything else?
B: Yes. A coffee, please.
A: With milk and sugar?
B: Milk, please. No sugar.
 З деякими незлічуваними іменниками ми можемо використовувати такі словосполучення:
two pieces of advice
two pieces of news
three pieces of luggage
three items of furniture

a piece of / an item of cake / advice / information / news / luggage / furniture

a pair of pyjamas / jeans / trousers
a jar of - банка jam / honey
a glass / a bottle of water / milk / soda
a packet of biscuits / tea
a bag of flour / rice
a carton of milk / juice
a tube of toothpaste
a slice of lemon / bread
a loaf of - буханка bread
a bar of chocolate, soap
a kilo / pound of meat
a can of cola
a tin of tuna / fish / soup
a box of chocolates
a pot of yoghurt
a lump of sugar
a barrel of beer / wine
a bowl of – глибока тарілка soup

Exercise 11. Fill in the gaps with the following words. Use the correct form.

carton strand- пасмо packet glass bowl

bottle piece piece slice loaf - буханка
cup jar kilo tin bag

1. Buy a _____________ of jam and get a second one for free!

2. To make sandwiches we need a _______ of bread and twenty _________ of cheese.
3. I went to the café and had a ___________ of coffee and a ____________ of cake.
4. After having breakfast I poured myself a ___________ of orange juice.
5. Six ___________ of beans for the price of four!
6. Will you buy two ____________ of pasta on your way home?
7. He was so hungry after the match that he ate two ___________ of soup!
8. She dyed (пофарбувала) one _____________ of her hair pink.
9. Both ______________ of advice my granny gave me were reasonable.
10. She went to the supermarket and bought one ___________ of beef, one __________
of flour, two ___________ of milk and a ______________ of mineral water.
Ex. 12. Write a, an or some.
A(n) + злічуваний іменник в однині
A bag, an orange

Some + незлічуваний іменник ібо злічуваний іменник в множині

Exercise 13.

TEST 1. NOUNS. NUMBER

1. The money he makes ___________ enough to live on.

a) have b) has c) is d) are

2. The police _______________ after a dangerous criminal.

a) is b) are c) has d) was

3. The economics I learnt at school ____________ out of date now.

a) are b) were c) have been d) is

4. My advice to you _____________ to get some rest.

a) are b) have c) is d) has
5. Look, her clothes ____________ brand new. Where did she get the money to buy ______?
a) is, it b) are, it c) is, them d) are, them

6. I don’t think ____________ phenomena _____________ of interest to the scientists.

a) this, is b) these, are c) those, is d) that, are

7. Physics _____________ my favourite subject.

a) is b) are c) have been d) were

8. Stop! The traffic _________ heavy and the traffic lights __________ red.
a) is, is b) are, are c) are, is d) is, are

9. There are many _________________ in this school.

a) man-teachers b) men-teachers c) men-teacher
d) man-teachers

10. Mrs Smith is lucky to have three daughters and two ____________________.
a) son-in-law’s b) son-in-laws c) sons-in-law d) son-in-law

11. Measles ______________ a common children’s disease.

a) is b) were c) are d) have been

12. I’m looking for ________________ to cut this piece of cloth.

a) a pair scissors b) a scissor c) some scissors d) a scissors

13. Will you buy ____________________ on your way home?

a) a bread b) a loaf of bread c) a loaf bread d) breads

14. Television news __________ you more information than radio news.
a) are b) is c) give d) gives

15. Her knowledge of mathematics _________ brilliant!

a) is b) were c) are d) have been

16. Underground is the most popular ______________ of transport nowadays.

a) mean b) meant c) means d) meaning

17. The crew of the plane ____________ of four people.

a) Consist b) have consisted c) are d) consists

18. Aerobics ___________ you a lot of good.

a) does b) do c) is d) are

19. Look! New goods __________ displayed in the window!

a) is b) are c) were d) is being

20. My ______________ washing.

a) pajamas needs b) pajama need
c) pajama needs d) pajamas need
 21. Fish ____________ easy to look after as pets.
a) is b) was c) are d) has been

22. Jack’s luggage ____________ on the conveyor belt.

a) is b) were c) are d) has been

23. She wished she had a little garden with __________ and __________.
a) lily-of–the-valleys, forget-me-nots
b) lilies-of–the-valley, forget-me-nots
c) lilies-of–the-valleys, forget-me-nots
d) lilies-of–the-valleys, forgets-me-not

24. Take your _______________ and get out with _________!

a) belonginig, it b) belongings, it c) belongings, them
d) belongings, them

Some / any

Some (у стверджувальних реченнях +) + злічувані у множині (декілька)

There are some biscuits in the jar.

I can see some people in the street.

Some + незлічувані
There is some rubbish in the garden.
I’ve got some ice-cream for you.

!!! Some (у двох випадках в питальних реченнях)

 Offer (пропозиція) - Would you like some coffee?
 Request (прохання) – Can I have some strawberries, please?

Any (у питальних та заперечних реченнях - / ?)

Are there any eggs in the fridge?

There isn’t any water in the jar.
There aren’t any children in the yard.

Ex. 14. Complete the sentences with a, an, some or any.

a (an) - іменник в однині

some - незлічуваний іменник або іменник у множині в стверджувальних (+)

реченнях

(?) пропозиція / прохання (Would you like some coffee? Can I have some water?)
 any - незлічуваний іменник або іменник у множині в заперечних (-) або
запитальних (?) реченнях

1. There isn’t __any__ shampoo in the bathroom.

2. There weren’t _________ books in the house.
3. There are _________ children at the door.
4. She wants _________ glass of water.
5. Would you like ________ tea?
6. Would you like ________ cup of tea?
7. There’s _________ butter in the fridge.
8. We’re getting __________ new car soon.
9. Would you like _______________ fruit (незлічуваний ім.)?
10.They don’t have ____________ friends in the village.
11.Can I have ____________ biscuits?
12.I bought _____________ lemonade yesterday.
13.Have you got __________ watch?
14.Would you like _______________ sugar in your coffee?
15. We haven’t got ___________ carrots left.
16.I asked the waiter for ____________ tea.
17.Can I have __________ water?
18.The house hasn’t got ___________ furniture.
19.Would you like _________ orange juice?
20.I’ve got _______ banana and _________ apple.
21.Did you bring __________ bread?
22.I’d like ______________ water please.

Exercise 9.1.
No

There isn’t any water in the jar. – There is no water in the jar.

There aren’t any children in the yard. – There are no children in the yard.

I’ve got no money on me. = I haven’t got any money on me.

There are no animals in the picture. = There aren’t any animals in the picture.

Ex. 15* Complete with some, any or no.

1. We’ve got __________ eggs. Shall I make an omelette?
2. We’ve got __________ butter left. I’ll go and get some.
3. Have we got _________ flour?
4. There’s ________ furniture in the flat because we haven’t moved yet.
5. They haven’t heard __________ news about their friend yet.
6. Would you like ___________ ice cream?
7. There are __________ apples in the bag. It’s empty.
8. There’s ________ information about train timetables. Let’s ask someone who
works here.
9. There are _____________ clouds in the sky. It’s perfectly clear!
10.There’s ___________ money on the kitchen counter. It’s for you.
11.He hasn’t got ___________ posters on the wall of his room. His mum doesn’t
allow it.
12.Would you like ___________ pizza?
13.There are ___________ seats left. Shall we go somewhere else?
14.Is there ___________ paper in the photocopier?

Ex. 16**. Fill in the gaps with some, any or no.

Before you do the exercise, get acquainted with the following information:
!!! any часто вживається в стверджувальних реченнях (+) після
займенникa if :
If you need any help, let me know.
Якщо тобі потрібна буде допомога, дай знати.

Rita had come to London to find work, but so far she'd had 1)________ luck
finding a job. She didn't have 2) ________ friends in the city and she was beginning to
feel lonely. A week had passed with 3) __________ sign of work and Rita was
beginning to wonder if there was 4)_________ point in staying in London. She was on
her way to the station to find out if there were 5)_______ trains leaving that evening,
when she saw 6) _________ people gathered around a man lying in the street. "Are
there 7)_________ doctors around?", shouted someone. As Rita had trained as a nurse,
she offered to help and gave the man the kiss of life. He soon regained consciousness
and after he and Rita had chatted for 8)________ time, he offered her a job. Now Rita
has 9)_________ worries at all - she's the personal nurse to one of the richest men in
London and she doesn't have 10) __________ regrets about not leaving the city that
day.