Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 71 · B1

Countable nouns with a/an and some

A singular countable noun never stands alone; use a or an to say what kind of thing or person something is, including jobs; use some with plurals for a number of things or for some but not all.

Start the lesson

17Steps · about 32 minutes

In this lesson

Singular countable nouns need a word in frontA3 screens of questions
a/an for what kind of thing or personB2 screens of questions
some with plural countable nounsC7 screens of questions

Point A of 3

Singular countable nouns need a word in front

Countable nouns are singular or plural: a cat, cats; a child, some children; an umbrella, two umbrellas.

Before a singular countable noun you can use a/an. You cannot use it on its own: it needs a, the, my, this or similar.

  • See you! Have a good weekend.
  • Do you need an umbrella?
  • He never wears a coat. (not wears coat)
  • Watch out for the dog.
  • What a gorgeous day!
  • Have you hurt your wrist?

Point A · Exercise 71.1 · part 1 of 3

What are these? Write a sentence using a word from the box.

Use these

bird(s)flower(s)game(s)insect(s)language(s)planet(s)river(s)tool(s)vegetable(s)

  1. Example

    a robin

    It's a bird.

    AnswerIt's a bird.

  2. a sparrow, a gull and a puffin

  3. leeks and parsnips

  4. a daffodil

  5. Venus, Saturn and Neptune

Point A · Exercise 71.1 · part 2 of 3

What are these? Write a sentence using a word from the box.

Use these

bird(s)flower(s)game(s)insect(s)language(s)planet(s)river(s)tool(s)vegetable(s)

  1. draughts

  2. a spanner, a chisel and a drill

  3. the Thames, the Severn and the Tyne

  4. a wasp

Point A · Exercise 71.1 · part 3 of 3

What are these? Write a sentence using a word from the box.

Use these

bird(s)flower(s)game(s)insect(s)language(s)planet(s)river(s)tool(s)vegetable(s)

  1. Welsh, Urdu and Polish

Point B of 3

a/an for what kind of thing or person

a/an classifies: it tells you what kind of thing or person something is. In the plural, use the noun on its own, without some.

Describing features: somebody has a long nose, a kind face, blue eyes, not the long nose.

Jobs take a/an too.

  • That's a smart jacket.
  • Those are smart jackets. (not some smart jackets)
  • A whale is a mammal. Whales are mammals.
  • I'm a pessimist. We're pessimists.
  • My sister is a vet. My sisters are both vets.
  • Aled is a really decent bloke. Aled and Siân are really decent people.
  • What a lovely scarf! What horrible weather!
  • Kev has a crooked nose. Kev has green eyes.
  • Bethan is a paramedic. (not Bethan is paramedic)
  • Would you like to be a driving instructor?

Point B · Exercise 71.2 · part 1 of 2

What are their jobs? Choose from the box.

Use these

chefinterpreterjournalistnurseplumbersurgeontour guidewaiter

  1. Example

    Sian looks after patients on a hospital ward.

    She's a nurse.

    AnswerShe's a nurse.

  2. Gary works in a restaurant, taking food to the tables.

  3. Jo writes articles for the local paper.

  4. Mr Osei works in a hospital and operates on people.

  5. Jonathan cooks in a hotel kitchen.

Point B · Exercise 71.2 · part 2 of 2

What are their jobs? Choose from the box.

Use these

chefinterpreterjournalistnurseplumbersurgeontour guidewaiter

  1. Dave fits and repairs water pipes.

  2. Anya shows visitors round York and tells them about it.

  3. Lisa sits in a booth at conferences, turning speeches into Spanish as people talk.

Point C of 3

some with plural countable nouns

Some with plurals has two uses.

  1. A number of, a few of, a pair of. Often it can be left out. Do not use it for things in general (see Unit 75).
  2. Some but not all.
  • I've read some good books lately. (not I've read good books)
  • Some friends of ours are coming for Sunday lunch.
  • I need some new trainers. (a new pair)
  • I need (some) new clothes.
  • The room was empty except for a table and (some) chairs.
  • I love oranges. (not some oranges)
  • My aunt is a novelist. She writes books. (not some books)
  • Some children learn to read very early. (but not all)
  • Tomorrow there will be showers in some places, but most areas will stay dry.

Point C · Exercise 71.3 · part 1 of 3

Which is right? Write the correct form.

  1. Example

    Most of my mates are students (students / some students).

    AnswerMost of my mates are students.

  2. Is your brother (good swimmer / a good swimmer)?

  3. I popped into the bakery and bought (rolls / some rolls).

  4. Ruth works in a bookshop. She sells (books / some books).

  5. I spent the whole day gardening. I've got (aching knees / some aching knees).

Point C · Exercise 71.3 · part 2 of 3

Which is right? Write the correct form.

  1. I'm not well. I've got (temperature / a temperature).

  2. What (kind thing to do / a kind thing to do)! Thanks ever so much.

  3. I met (students / some students) in the pub last night. They were from Ghana.

  4. It's going to be freezing tonight. Don't go out (without coat / without a coat).

Point C · Exercise 71.3 · part 3 of 3

Which is right? Write the correct form.

  1. (People / Some people) pick up languages more easily than others.

Point C · Exercise 71.4 · part 1 of 4

Put in a, an or some where necessary. If no word is needed, type a dash (-).

  1. Example

    I've read some good books lately.

    AnswerI've read some good books lately.

  2. Are you all right? Have you got headache?

  3. I know lots of people here. Most of them are nurses.

  4. When I was child, I was painfully shy.

  5. birds, the ostrich for example, can't fly.

Point C · Exercise 71.4 · part 2 of 4

Put in a, an or some where necessary. If no word is needed, type a dash (-).

  1. Would you like to be actor?

  2. Questions, questions! You're always asking questions!

  3. I didn't expect to see you here. What surprise!

  4. Do you like staying in hotels?

Point C · Exercise 71.4 · part 3 of 4

Put in a, an or some where necessary. If no word is needed, type a dash (-).

  1. Monday is a bank holiday. shops will be open, but most will be shut.

  2. Those are nice boots. Where did you get them?

  3. You need visa to visit some countries, but not all of them.

  4. Carys is teacher. Both her parents were teachers too.

Point C · Exercise 71.4 · part 4 of 4

Put in a, an or some where necessary. If no word is needed, type a dash (-).

  1. I don't believe a word he says. He's liar.

Lesson 71 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: a/an and theBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Singular countable nouns need a word in front–Not checkedB. a/an for what kind of thing or person–Not checkedC. some with plural countable nouns–Not checked