COUNT NONCOUNT NOUNS AND ARTICLES

COUNT/NONCOUNT NOUNS AND ARTICLES Count nouns are for things you can count These are made plural by adding —s or — es if the nouns are regular Examples of count nouns are: service/services; tax/taxes There are many irregular count nouns like child/children Singular count nouns usually need an article Noncount nouns are considered units They not have a plural form and they take singular verbs Examples of noncount nouns are: English, water, oil The definite article the is used for specific reference or to talk about something that has already been mentioned The indefinite articles a and an are used for general reference The indefinite article ‘a’ is used before words that begin with a consonant sound like /b/, a bill, or /l/, a letter An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound like /a/, an apple, or /o/, an onion When you change a singular count noun with a or an (an apple) to a plural, you don’t use any article (apples) STRATEGIES FOR COUNT/ NONCOUNT NOUN AND ARTICLE ITEMS ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS: Are you using a noncount or plural noun as a general term? If so, is no article used? INCORRECT [The tea is always refreshing after a heavy meal.] CORRECT Tea is always refreshing after a heavy meal 2 Are you referring to a general count noun item? Is it a singular count noun? If so, is a/an used? INCORRECT [Job applicant needs to be enthusiastic.] CORRECT A job applicant needs to be enthusiastic Are you referring to a specific noncount item? If so, is the used? INCORRECT [Coffee that was just made is too strong.] CORRECT The coffee that was just made is too strong 1 Store managers (A) receive the cash (B) as a monthly bonus (C) for the good job (D) they have done Bonus (n) (pl -es) an extra amount of money that is added to a payment, especially to sb’s wages as a reward: a £100 Christmas bonus Productivity bonuses A secretary (A) told me important file (B) had been left in the lunch room (C) just the other day (D) 3 The business (A) and traffic (B) have increased in the area (C) surrounding the new construction (D) 4 The part-time clerk (A) in the copy center (B) didn’t know how to add a paper (C) to the copying machine (D) 5 The supervisor (A) promised the assistant (B) who had the most seniority (C) that he’d get promotion (D) soon Seniority (n) the fact of being older or of a higher rank than others: a position of seniority When you go to the office supply store (A), please pick up pens (B), black ink cartridge (C), and rubber bands (D) Cartridge (n) a thin tube containing ink which you put inside a pen Rubber band (BrE also elastic band) (n) a thin round piece of rubber used for holding things together The architects (A) are sending over the floor plans (B) that you saw at meeting (C) you had last week in the Cantor Building (D) 8 Rabbit (A) is a wonderful dish (B) served in Italian restaurant (C) around the corner (D) from here 9 Where’s report (A) I left on the table (B) next to the TV (C) in the living room (D)? 10 Let me know if the phone rings (A) because I’m expecting the call (B) from a client (C) in the Netherlands (D) THANK YOU! ... irregular count nouns like child/children Singular count nouns usually need an article Noncount nouns are considered units They not have a plural form and they take singular verbs Examples of noncount. .. singular count noun with a or an (an apple) to a plural, you don’t use any article (apples) STRATEGIES FOR COUNT/ NONCOUNT NOUN AND ARTICLE ITEMS ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS: Are you using a noncount. . .Count nouns are for things you can count These are made plural by adding —s or — es if the nouns are regular Examples of count nouns are: service/services; tax/taxes