Count or Noncount?
Money
Noncount! Money is the category, and dollars, pennies, quarters are count nouns that are members of the group!
"A" has the same meaning as "one."
True! A dog = one dog
The Walmart in Oneonta has the lowest prices and it’s easy to get there on bus.
The Walmart in Oneonta has the lowest prices and it’s easy to get there on the bus.
Most of the time, a noun in English needs an article in front of it. Here, we use the definite article, THE, because everyone knows we are talking about the specific Oneonta bus that goes to Walmart. A/AN could work but sounds like any bus will do.
Beans
Count! If it has a plural form (here beans has an S on the end), it is a count noun.
"A" and "An" are called definite articles.
False! A and An are indefinite articles, meaning they refer to one unspecific member of a group. A dog = any dog. THE is the definite article.
Walmart always has a great deals on clothing.
Walmart always has great deals on clothing.
You cannot put A or AN in front of a plural noun, because A/An have the same meaning as "one." No article is needed here because we are talking about "great deals" in a general way.
Rice
Noncount! We can't say "rices," and if there is no plural, it is noncount. We also can't say "a rice." Since we consider rice as a whole with no independent parts, it is noncount.
"The" can be used with singular and plural nouns, but it can't be used with noncount nouns.
False! "The" can be used with all nouns--singular, plural, and noncount: The black dog and the pink elephants read the information and did the homework.
I need the sweaters now that it’s getting cold, so I tried on a orange sweater and a green sweater. (2 errors)
I need sweaters now that it’s getting cold, so I tried on AN orange sweater and a green sweater.
You just need sweaters in general--some sweaters, THE is too specific. AN orange sweater because orange starts with a vowel sound.
Advice
Noncount! We can't see advice, and nouns that are "invisible concepts" are generally noncount. Also, this word has no plural (XX "advices"), and you cannot give "an advice."
The first time you introduce a noun, use A/AN. After that, use THE.
True! We went to see a movie. We fell asleep because the movie was so boring.
The green sweater I tried on didn't have a price tag, so I asked a salesperson for an assistance. She told me a price tag must have been torn off. (2 errors)
The green sweater I tried on didn't have a price tag, so I asked a salesperson for assistance. She told me THE price tag must have been torn off.
1) Assistance is noncount, and you CANNOT use a/an with noncount nouns. 2) once you have introduced "a price tag," it becomes "the price tag."
Beer
Trick question! Technically noncount (it's a liquid), but functionally a count noun, as we say things like "She had two beers and a glass of wine," and "come over for some beers and burgers" ALL THE TIME in spoken English. I have A BEER with your name on it if you got this one right (kidding. I do not.)
You can use A or AN with noncount nouns.
FALSE! You cannot say an information or a rice or there is a water on the floor! No way!
Deb, the salesperson, told me she thought the green sweater was the same price as the the orange sweater--$7.99! In the end I got two sweaters, a hat and a scarf for $15. The hat is pink, but it was cheap, and the scarf is warm.
NO ERRORS! HOORAY!