Dave
14 lug 20215 min
Aggiornato il: 9 feb 2022
Countable and uncountable nouns; a(n), the and no article; special uses of articles
1. You are going to hear four people talk about their jobs. Look at the pictures and guess what jobs they do.
2. Listen and check if you were right.
3. Listen again and answer these questions.
What does Angela’s company make? furniture
What important part of her work does she mention?
What does she care about?
Which drivers really annoy Ken?
What does he say motorists should have?
Why does Charlie deliver pizzas?
What subject is he studying?
What is terrible, according to Hazel?
Why does she say she mustn’t grumble?
4. Listen again and answer these questions.
What does Angela avoid eating?
Where does Ken work?
What does Charlie deliver?
What does Charlie usually avoid?
What sort of job does he want when he graduates?
What does Hazel say about her family?
Look at the nouns in your answers to Exercise 3 and compare them with the nouns in your answers to Exercise 4. Can you say how they are different?
can be singular:
a company, a job, a biscuit
or plural:
many companies, few jobs, some biscuits
cannot be plural:
health, advice, luggage, scenery (not healths, advices, luggages, sceneries
take a singular verb:
Petrol is expensive.
Exercise is good for you.
use expressions like a piece of to refer to quantity:
a piece of furniture, a piece of advice, a sum of money, a litre of petrol (not a furniture, an advice, a money, a petrol)
! News is uncountable and takes a singular verb, even though it looks plural.
We say:
an item / a piece of news (not a news)
These grammar exercises are easy! (= tasks for practising grammar)
Exercise is good for you. (= taking exercise in general)
The gallery was showing works by several artists. (= paintings, sculptures, etc.)
I don’t enjoy hard work. (= the activity of working)
The French produce some wonderful cheeses. (= different types of cheese)
Do we have any cheese in the fridge? (= cheese in general)
Used with: singular countable nouns
Means: one of many anyone/ anything like this
There’s a supermarket in most towns nowadays.
Have you got a pen? (= one of many that exist)
Introduces: a person/thing we haven’t identified before an unspecific person/thing a general type of person/thing
Police are searching for a 14 year-old girl.
She was last seen wearing a blue jacket
She is a pupil at London Road School
Means: the particular one(s), the only one(s)
Used with: singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
We buy most of our food from the local supermarket. (= one particular supermarket near our house)
The pen is on the table. (= the only pen here; the only table here)
Introduces: a person/people/thing(s) we have mentioned before. Someone/something that the speaker and listener already know about.
Police are searching for a 14 year-old girl. The girl was last seen wearing a blue jacket.
Means: all of these, the quantity is uncertain or unimportant, things/people in general
Used with: plural countable, nouns, uncountable nouns.
Trees are easily damaged by pollution. (= all trees; any pollution)
I love dogs / computers / books etc. ( = in general)
a general type of substance, quality, etc.
Milk is good for you
Compare the use of articles in these sentences:
I don’t like the music my brother plays. (= that particular music)
Music helps me to concentrate when I’m working. (= any music)
We planted the trees in our garden five years ago. (= the particular trees in our garden)
Trees are easily damaged by pollution. (= all trees; any pollution)
Trees are good for the environment. (= all trees; the only environment we have)
The cheese is in the fridge. (= the cheese you need; the only fridge here)
I like cheese. (= all kinds of cheese)
People used to believe the moon was a goddess. (= people in general; the moon that goes round this planet; one of many goddesses)
oceans, seas and rivers:
the Mediterranean
the Red Sea
the Nile
Geographical regions:
the Far East
the Highlands
the Midlands
groups of islands:
The Philippines
countries that include a word such as Republic, Kingdom, States or Emirates:
The United States
the People’s Republic of China
the United Arab Emirates
deserts and mountain ranges:
the Kalahari
the Alps
the sea, the coast, the seaside, the country(side), the mountains, the hills:
My parents spend their holidays on the coast, but I prefer walking in the mountains.
continents, most countries, states, cities, towns and villages:
Europe, France, Florida, Rome
but we say:
the Netherlands, The Hague
schools, universities, stations and airports etc, that use the name of their town in the name:
Manchester Airport
Cardiff station
Edinburgh Castle
Durham University
Chelmsford High School
Wembley Stadium
but when the name includes of we use the:
the University of Rome
the Museum of London
Some fixed expressions use the and some have no article:
We travel by train/bus. •(not by the train/bus)
We have lunch/dinner.
but if there is an adjective, we use a:
I had a big breakfast today.
We listen to the radio.
but We watch television
We play the guitar. (= a musical instrument)
but We play tennis. (= a sport).
We go to the cinema or the theatre.
but We go to work/school or university
My mother is at work
but My mother is at the office. (= the office where she works).
The children are at school now. (= they are students there).
My father is at the school now. (= he is visiting it).
Peter spent a lot of time in hospital as a child. (= he was a patient).
Dr Dibble has an office in the hospital and another at home. (= she works there).
This also applies to:
at church, in prison, at college and at university
but we always say:
the mosque, the temple.
We use a(n) when we talk about someone’s occupation:
I’m a doctor. (not I’m doctor)
She’s a website designer.
I’m a student.
We use the for most newspapers:
The Australian
The Guardian
The Dartmouth Chronicle
and many organisations, in words or initials:
the UN / United Nations
the BBC / British Broadcasting Corporation
the WHO / World Health Organisation
but not for most magazines:
Vogue, Wired, Sports Illustrated
or companies:
Volkswagen, Apple, Microsoft, Gucci
We say
the internet and the web
but Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter.
We use a(n) to give a definition of something:
A department store is a shop which sells a wide range of goods. (not Department store is …
We use a(n) with a singular noun in exclamations:
What an exciting film! (not What exciting film!)
What a gorgeous dress!
but no article if the noun is uncountable or plural:
What fun! (not What a fun!)
What lovely flowers!