Категория числа существительных

Большинство исчисляемых существительных в английском языке имеют два числа: единственное и множественное.

Множественное число большинства существительных образуется путем добавления к форме единственного числа окончания -s или -es (после s, ss, x, ch, о): day — days, hero — heroes. Окончание -s(-es) произносится как [z] после гласных и звонких согласных (door [do:z], walls [wo:lz]), как [s] после глухих согласных (shops [∫ops], states [steιts] и как [iz] после шипящих и свистящих (speeches [spi:t∫iz], boxes [boksιz]).

Имена существительные, оканчивающиеся на -у с предшествующей согласной, принимают окончание -es, причем -у меняется на -i: city —cities, factory — factories. Если буква -у стоит после гласной, то множественное число образуется по общему правилу путем прибавления -s: toy — toys, key — keys.

Имена существительные, оканчивающиеся в единственном числе на -f, образуют множественное число путем изменения f на v и прибавления окончания -es: leaf — leaves, wolf — wolves, wife — wives.

Однако некоторые существительные, оканчивающиеся на -f и -fe, образуют множественное число только путем прибавления окончания -s: chief — chiefs, roof — roofs, safe — safes, belief — beliefs.

Некоторые имена существительные образуют множественное число путем изменения корневых согласных:

 

Единственное число	Множественное число
1)	man woman child tooth foot goose mouse ox	мужчина женщина ребенок зуб ступня гусь мышь бык	men women children teeth feet geese mice oxen

 

У некоторых существительных формы единственного и множественного числа совпадают.

 

2)

deer fish swine sheep

олень рыба свинья овца

deer fish swine sheep

 

Неисчисляемые существительные обычно употребляются только в единственном числе: iron — железо, sugar — сахар, love — любовь, hair — волосы, money — деньги, advice — совет, information — информация, progress — успех, knowledge — знания, news — новость, peace — мир, fruit — фрукты, series — серия, серии.

 

The news is sad. I will give you some good advice.

Новости печальные. Я дам вам несколько хороших советов.

 

Названия парных предметов употребляются только во множественном числе: glasses/spectacles — очки, trousers — брюки, scissors — ножницы, shorts — шорты.

 

These trousers are too long. Where are my spectacles?

Эти брюки слишком длинные. Где мои очки?

 

Существительные goods — товары, contents — содержание, clothes — одежда, riches — богатство, wages — заработная плата употребляются только во множественном числе.

 

Your clothes are wet. The goods are of high quality.

Твоя одежда мокрая. Товар (товары) высокого качества.

 

Собирательные существительные, обозначающие группу как единое целое, согласуются с глаголом в форме единственного числа. Если же такие существительные обозначают отдельных представителей группы, то глагол-сказуемое употребляется в форме множественного числа:

 

My family is large. All the family are at the table.

Моя семья большая. Вся семья (все члены семьи) за столом.

 

Собирательные существительные people — люди, police — полиция, cattle — скот всегда употребляются с глаголом только во множественном числе.

 

The police know about the stolen money.

Полиция знает об украденных деньгах.

EXERCISES

 

Exercise 1. Find nouns in the plural form.

 

Positions, news, box, seas, problems, clothes, level, bus, countries, women, phenomenon, theses, money, crises, people, glass, class.

 

Exercise 2. Give the singular form.

 

Women, feet, children, analyses, data, news, theses, means, series, glasses, leaves, knives, sheep, shorts, plays, books.

 

Exercise 3. Choose the right variant:

 

1. I want to buy a cat because my wife is afraid of (mouse, mice) that live in our summer-cottage.

2. Through the window I see two (mans, men) crossing the street.

3. Dentists recommend to clean (teeth, tooths) every time after eating.

4. The song “Two merry (gooses, geese) is known to almost every little child.

5. I’ve no time to analyse these (data, datums) now, I’ll do it a bit later.

6. An unusual or very surprising fact is often called (phenomena, phenomenon)

7. James Dough shot down thirteen enemy (craft, craftes, crafts).

8. Three (policemen, policeman, policemans) were present there.

9. (Pence, pennies) are made of bronze.

10. It cost 25 (pennies, pence).

Тема 1.3.: Мой выходной день. Моё хобби.

Грамматическая тема: Имя существительное: категория падежа.

Topical vocabulary:

Actions and Activities

devote time to smth. посвящать время чему-либо

enjoy oneself хорошо проводить время

go for a picnic ездить на пикник

go for a walk ходить на прогулку

go skiing кататься на лыжах

(skating, swimming) (коньках, плавать)

go to some place (somewhere) ходить (ездить) куда-либо

go to the country (out of town) ездить за город

have fun веселиться

meet smb. встречаться с кем-либо

plan free планировать свободное время

receive guests [gests] принимать гостей

relax расслабляться

rest (have a rest) отдыхать

spend time проводить время

travel путешествовать

visit smb (smth) навещать кого-либо

 

Places for Rest and Recreation

 

cafe кафе

cinema кино

club клуб

concert концерт

disco (discoteque) дискотека

forest лес

home дом

out-of-doors на свежем воздухе

park парк

party вечеринка

picnic пикник

sports hall спортивный зал

theatre театр

Kinds of Rest and Recreation

active активный

boring скучный

different отличающийся

exceptional исключительный

exciting захватывающий

favourite любимый

ideal идеальный

passive пассивный

reluctant неохотный

 

Exercises

 

I. Write down the words denoting:

 

1. Feeling calmer and less worried or tense.

2. The act of going from one place to another.

3. It’s a place where you can buy and have light meals and drinks.

4. It’s a place where people go to watch films.

5. It’s a public area of land with grass and trees where people go to relax and enjoy themselves.

6. Eating a meal in the open air.

7. It’s a social event at which people enjoy themselves doing things such as eating, drinking, dancing, talking.

8. It’s a building with a stage on which plays are performed.

9. It’s an energetic and always busy person.

 

II. Fill in the gaps with the suitable derivative of the word given incapitals on the right.

 

MY HOBBY

 

I was eight before I could read. And my thirst for reading was__________!	FANTASY
I joined the library and the local _________ used to interrogate me on the contents _________that I was showing off.	LIBRARY CONVINCE
Most adults were ________ about my passion for books. "Your brain will burst" was a common ________, one that I took_________. _______became the most important thing in my life. I've always felt a great ________ on ________a book.	SUSPECT   WARN, SERIOUS, READ SAD, FINISH
I've enjoyed a strong _______ to _______ close the book and put it on a shelf. The first book I lost a night's sleep over was "Jane Eyre".	RELUCTANT, ACTUAL

 

III. Translate into English using your active vocabulary:

 

1. Выходной день – это время, которое можно посвятить себе.

2. Ты можешь хорошо проводить время, гуляя по лесу.

3. Когда вы последний раз ходили в театр?

4. Часто мой лучший друг приходит ко мне поболтать и весело провести время.

5. На выходных мы поедем за город, чтобы расслабиться и побыть на свежем воздухе.

6. Летом вы опять будете путешествовать? – Да, мы, должно быть, поедем на Кавказ.

 

IV. Make 6 sentences with the following words:

go to the country, receive quests, spend time, have fun, picnic, party:

1. On Sunday …

2. At the weekend …

3. We prefer …

4. … in the open air.

5. I’m fond of …

6. They usually …

 

V. Read the text:

PLANNING HOLIDAYS

Everyone needs at least one holiday a year, so when you begin spending sleepless nights thinking about the sun and the sea, when you think longingly of the green, countryside and forget the mosquitoes and the boredom, there's no doubt about it — you're ready for a holiday.

Even a week-end is better than nothing. You need to get away from all your usual routines and get some fresh air and a change of perspective.

You should also take occasional holidays without the family. Husbands and children can do very well without you for a limited time and, if they cannot, they must learn to. It will be good for them to realize how much you do for them during the rest of the year. It is necessary for children to realize at a very young age that they can do without their parents. It teaches them independence.

Go somewhere quiet, where the climate is pleasant and invigorating. For the first couple of days, rest and sleep as much as you can. If you are in the mountains, give yourself a day or two to get used to the altitude; by the sea, have a daily swim.

Do things the way they are done in the country you are staying and eat the local food. Get to know the natives and their customs. Do a little sightseeing, even if you do not like it. Always have a dictionary of the local language, and pick up a few words. It is a good idea to get to know the place as well as you can.

If you prefer complete solitude, take some books and catch up on your reading.

Be sure to take the necessary clothes and equipment, but don't burden yourself with a mountain of lug­gage full of things you will never use. Dress simply and in accordance with the climate. Bring whatever sporting equipment you plan to use.

The sun is good for some people, and very bad for others. Don't overdo it; your skin will turn to leather and age much faster if you get it too brown. Protective oils and creams are a very necessary part of your holiday equipment.

You should try and store up energy and vitality to see you through the winter months. Be willing to put up with small inconveniences, and don't allow yourself to be annoyed. Things will not be done in the way you do them; so much the better. Take note of the good, and pass over the bad in silence.

Try and learn something useful from your holiday. Bring back an unusual peasant recipe or a local pottery jug. Don't burden yourself with a camera unless you are a genuine enthusiast'; you will be always looking through it instead of directly at what is around you. And don't indulge in that useless habit of sending holiday postcards — if you forget all about home, you will come back with far more interesting tales to tell.

VI. Agree or disagree with the following sentences: (true / false):

 

1. Everyone needs at least one holiday a year.

2. The sun is good for all people.

3. You need to get away from all your usual routines and get some fresh air and a change of perspective.

4. It’s a useful habit to send holiday postcards.

5. Be willing to put up with small inconveniences, and don't allow yourself to be an­noyed.

 

VII. Complete the following sentences:

1.You need to get away from all your usual …

2. If you are … give yourself a day to get used to the altitude.

3. Be sure to take … and equipment.

4. Your skin will … if you get it too brown.

5. If you prefer complete …, take some books and catch up on your ….

 

VIII. Write down the right combinations:

 

1. 1. Even a weekend	a. where the climate is pleasant and invigorating.
2. 2. Go somewhere quiet	b. they are done in the country you are staying.
3. 3. Do things the way	c. and very bad for others.
4. 4. The sun is good for some people	d. is better than nothing.
5. 5. Bring whatever sporting equipment	e. you plan to use.

 

IX. Answer these questions basing your answer on the text:

1. Is it necessary to take occasional holidays without the family?

2. What would you do if you prefer complete solitude?

3. Can you learn anything useful from your holiday?