Air / country / day / friend / meat / language / letter / patience / people / photograph / queue / space

1. I had my camera but I didn't take many _photographs._

2. There are seven.................... in a week.

3. A vegetarian is a person who doesn't eat.....................

4. Outside the cinema there was.................... of people waiting to see the film.

5. I'm not very good at writing.....................

6. Last night I went out with some.................... of mine.

7. There were very few.................... in the shops today. They were almost empty.

8. I'm going out for a walk. I need some fresh.....................

9. George always wants things quickly. He's got no.....................

10. Do you speak any foreign....................?

11. Jane travels a lot. She has been to many.....................

12. Our flat is very small. We haven't got much.....................

 

A. Many nouns can be used as countable or uncountable nouns, usually with a difference in meaning. Compare:

#1 Countable: * Did you hear a noise just now? (= a particular noise) * I bought a paper to read. (= a newspaper) * There's a hair in my soup! (= one single hair) * You can stay with us. There is a spare room. (= a room in a house) * I had some interesting experiences while I was away. (= things that happened to me) * Enjoy your holiday. Have a good time!

#2  Uncountable: * I can't work here. There's too much noise. (not 'too many noises') * I need some paper to write on. (= material for writing on) * You've got very long hair. (not 'hairs') (= all the hair on your head) * You can't sit here. There isn't room. (= space) * They offered me the job because I had a lot of experience. (not 'experiences') * I can't wait. I haven't got time.

B. Coffee/tea/beer/juice etc. (drinks) are normally uncountable: * I don't drink coffee very often. But they can be countable when you are thinking of a cup/a glass etc. So you can say: * (in a restaurant) Two coffees and an orange juice, please.

C. There are some nouns that are usually uncountable in English but often countable in other languages. For example: accommodation, behaviour, damage, luck, permission, traffic, bread, furniture, luggage, progress, weather, chaos, information, news, scenery, work. These nouns are usually uncountable, so:

i) you cannot use a/an with them (you cannot say 'a bread', 'an advice' etc.) and

ii) they are not normally plural (we do not say 'breads', 'advices' etc.). * I'm going to buy some bread. or.. a loaf of bread. (not 'a bread') * Enjoy your holiday! I hope you have good weather. (not 'a good weather') * Where are you going to put all your furniture? (not 'furnitures') News is uncountable, not plural: * The news was very depressing. (not 'the news were') Travel (noun) means 'travelling in general'. You cannot say 'a travel' to mean a journey or a trip: * We had a very good journey. (not 'a good travel')

Compare these countable and uncountable nouns:

 #1 Countable: * I'm looking for a job. * What a beautiful view! * It's a nice day today. * We had a lot of bags and cases. * These chairs are mine. * It was a good suggestion.

#2 Uncountable: * I'm looking for work. (not 'a work') * What beautiful scenery! * It's nice weather today. * We had a lot of luggage. (not 'luggages') * This furniture is mine. * It was good advice.

 

EXERCISES

1 Which of the underlined parts of these sentences is correct?

1. 'Did you hear _noise/a noise- just now?' 'No, I didn't hear anything.' ('a noise' is correct)

2.       a. If you want to know the news, you can read _paper/a paper._

b. I want to write some letters but I haven't got _a paper/any paper_ to write on.

3.       a. I thought there was somebody in the house because there was _light/a light_ on inside.

b. _Light/A light_ comes from the sun.

4.       a. I was in a hurry this morning. I didn't have _time/a time_ for breakfast.

b. 'Did you enjoy your holiday?' 'Yes, we had _wonderful time/a wonderful time._'

5. Sue was very helpful. She gave us some very useful _advice/advices._

6. We had _very good weather/a very good weather_ while we were on holiday.

7. We were very unfortunate. We had _bad luck/a bad luck._

8. It's very difficult to find a _work/job_ at the moment.

9. Our _travel/journey_ from London to Istanbul by train was very tiring.

10. When the fire alarm rang, there was _total chaos/a total chaos._

11. I had to buy _a/some_ bread because I wanted to make some sandwiches.

12. Bad news _don't/doesn't_ make people happy.

13. _Your hair is/Your hairs are_ too long. You should have it/them cut.

14. Nobody was hurt in the accident but _the damage/the damages_ to the car _was/were_ quite bad.

2 Complete the sentences using these words. Sometimes you need the plural (-s).