Unit 67

a car / some money (countable/uncountable 2)

Grammar
Examples
Exercises

A. a/an and some

an apple
some apples
some cheese / a piece of cheese

a/an + singular countable noun (car/apple/shoe etc.):

  • I need a new car.
  • Would you like an apple?

some + plural countable nouns (cars/apples/shoes etc.):

  • I need some new shoes.
  • Would you like some apples?

some + uncountable nouns (water/money/music etc.):

  • I need some money.
  • Would you like some cheese?
  • (or Would you like a piece of cheese?)

Compare a and some:

  • Linda bought a hat, some shoes and some perfume.
  • I read a newspaper, wrote some letters and listened to some music.

B. Many nouns are sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable. For example:

a cake
some cakes
some cake or a piece of cake
a chicken
some chickens
some chicken or a piece of chicken

Compare a paper (= a newspaper) and some paper:

  • I want something to read. I'm going to buy a paper.
  • but I want to make a list. I need some paper / a piece of paper. (not 'a paper')

C. Be careful with these nouns – they are usually uncountable:

  • information advice weather news bread hair furniture work
  • I need some information about hotels in London. (not 'informations')
  • It's nice weather today. (not 'a nice weather')
  • I listen! I've just had some good news. (not 'a good news')
  • I'm going to buy some bread. (not 'a bread')
  • Sue has got very long hair. (not 'hairs')
  • They've got some very nice furniture in their house. (not 'furnitures')
  • 'Do you like your job?' 'Yes, but it's hard work.' (not 'a hard work')
  • We say a job (but not 'a work'):
  • I've got a new job. (not 'a new work')

a/an + singular countable

  • I need a new car.
  • Would you like an apple?

some + plural countable

  • I need some new shoes.
  • Would you like some apples?

some + uncountable

  • I need some money.
  • Would you like some cheese?

Countable / Uncountable nouns

  • a cake / some cake
  • a chicken / some chicken
  • a paper (newspaper) / some paper

Usually uncountable

  • information
  • advice
  • weather
  • news
  • bread
  • hair
  • furniture
  • work
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67.1 What did you buy? Use the pictures to make sentences (I bought ...)
perfume
a hat
some shoes
soap
1 I bought some perfume, a hat and some shoes.
2
3
4
67.2 Write sentences with Would you like a ...? or Would you like some ...?
1 Would you like some cheese?
2
3
4
5
6
67.3 Put in a/an or some.
1 I read a book and listened to some music.
2 I need money. I want to buy food.
3 We met interesting people at the party.
4 I'm going to open window to get fresh air.
5 She didn't eat much for lunch – only apple and bread.
6 We live in big house. There's nice garden with beautiful trees.
7 I'm going to make table. First I need wood.
8 Listen to me carefully. I'm going to give you advice.
9 I want to write letter. I need paper and pen.
67.4 Which is right?
1 I'm going to buy some new shoes / shoes. shoes is right
2 Martin has got / eyes.
3 Paula has got / hairs.
4 The tourist guide gave us / informations about the town.
5 We're going to buy / chair / chairs.
6 We're going to buy / furnitures.
7 It's difficult to get / work / job at the moment.
8 We had / a lovely weather when we were on holiday.