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Grammar S e l f-Chec k s (Unit 5, page 52) N on-count nouns made countable

A n o n - c o u n t n o u n is ne it he r sin g u la r n o r pl u r a l . Ex cept i n ce r t a in c i r c umsta n ces, it is n o t pre cede d by a n a r t ic le . A n o n - c o u n t n o u n c a n be pre cede d by ce r t a in q u a n t if iers su c h as mu c h , a lo t of , a lit t le , a n d s ome. L o ok a t t he s ta temen ts wit h n o n - c o u n t n o u ns . Some people believe a little spilled salt is bad luck. NOT A spilled salt is bad luck. OR Spilled salt are bad luck. FI G U R E IT O UT C heck t r ue o r false. You can use definite or indefinite articles with non-count nouns in most circumstances.

true

false

Ma ny n o n - c o u n t n o u ns ca n be made c o u n t a ble by usin g a ph r ase t o lim it t hem o r g ive t hem a fo rm . L o o k a t t he lis t of t hese ph r ases an d t he exam ples of t he ir use.

a pi ece o f (fruit / paper / wood / metal / advice) a gr ain of (sand / salt / rice / sugar) a gam e o f (tennis / soccer / chess) a t y p e (or kind ) o f (energy / behavior / courage) a s y m bol o f (love / companionship / eternity) an act o f (kindness / love / hatred / evil)

an a rticle of (clothing) a bolt (or fl a sh ) o f (lightning) a cl a p o f (thunder) a drop of (rain / coffee / water) a bowl of (rice / soup / cereal) a lo a f o f (bread)

If you want to give someone some fruit, its better to give t wo piece s of fruit instead of one. One piece might be unlucky. FI G U R E IT O UT Fill in t he bla n ks wi t h ph r ases t o make t he n o n - c o u n t n o u ns c o u n t a ble . 1. If you spill salt, you might have bad luck. You should throw a few _________________________ salt over your shoulder to make sure you dont. 2. Thunder is usually frightening, but if you hear a _________________________ thunder after a funeral, that means good luck.

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Summit 2
Copyright 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Unit 5

Lo o k a t t he list of n o u ns wit h b o t h c o u n t a ble a n d u n c o u n t a ble fo rms a n d t he s ta temen ts usin g a n o u n w it h bo t h f o rms. a fruit = a single piece of fruit a light = a light source, such as a light bulb, lamp, etc. a metal = a specific substance, such as gold or steel a hair = a single hair a shampoo = a brand of shampoo a chance = a possibility (Uncountable use) fruit = a type of food light = a type of energy metal = a type of substance hair = all the hair on the head shampoo = soap for your hair chance = luck

According to popular b eli e f , a lucky charm that looks like an eye can protect people against the evil eye.

The b e lie f in the evil eye is a superstition common to a number of different cultures. (Countable use, singular form)
Superstitions are popular b eli e fs that are passed down from generation to generation. (Countable use, plural form) FI G U R E IT O UT C heck t he use of t he bo lde d n o u n in ea c h sen ten c e. 1. My h a ir is too dry. 2. I need to find a new s hampo o . 3. Theres a h a ir in my soup. a. uncountable a. uncountable a. uncountable b. countable b. countable b. countable

Summit 2
Copyright 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Unit 5