Noun Trouble
Is information countable or uncountable? Can we say an information?
Information is uncountable. We say some information or a piece of information, not an information.
Choose the correct option: She is ___ honest person. (a / an / the / —)
an — “She is an honest person.”
What is the difference between chicken and a chicken?
Chicken usually refers to meat: “We had chicken for dinner.” A chicken refers to the animal: “A chicken escaped from the farm.”
Correct the sentence: She gave me an advice.
“She gave me some advice.” Alternatively: “She gave me a piece of advice.”
Complete the sentence: Could you close ___ window, please? (a / the / —)
the
What is the plural form of phenomenon?
Phenomena
Complete the sentence: I usually have ___ breakfast at 8 a.m.
No article — “I usually have breakfast at 8 a.m.”
Explain the difference between experience and an experience.
Experience is uncountable when referring to knowledge or skill gained over time: “She has teaching experience.” An experience is a particular event or situation: “It was an unforgettable experience.”
Correct the sentence: The news are very surprising.
“The news is very surprising.” News is grammatically singular.
Choose the correct option: We need ___ new equipment for the laboratory. (a / an / some / many)
some
Correct the phrase: three advices and two useful informations.
Three pieces of advice and two useful pieces of information.
Explain the difference: She went to school vs. She went to the school.
She went to school means she went there as a student for educational purposes. She went to the school means she went to a particular school building, perhaps to meet someone or attend an event.
What is the difference between paper and a paper?
Paper refers to the material: “I need some paper.” A paper can mean an academic article, essay, or newspaper: “She presented a paper at the conference.”
Correct the sentence: I went to the cinema and watched a film with the friend.
“I went to the cinema and watched a film with a friend.” Use a friend when mentioning a friend for the first time and not identifying a particular person.
Complete the sentence: ___ rich should do more to help ___ poor.
“The rich should do more to help the poor.”
What is the difference between work and a work? Give an example of each.
Work is usually uncountable when referring to activity or employment: “I have a lot of work to do.” A work refers to a creative or academic piece, often in formal contexts: “This is a work of art.”
Add the necessary articles: ___ life in ___ big city can be stressful.
“Life in a big city can be stressful.” No article is needed before life when speaking about life in general; a is used before singular countable city.
Explain the difference between room and a room.
Room can mean available space: “There isn't enough room.” A room means a separate part of a building: “We booked a room at the hotel.”
Correct the sentence: My brother is engineer and works for a university.
“My brother is an engineer and works for a university.” Singular countable professions generally require an article.
Find and correct the mistake: Although she had little experience, she gave an excellent presentation about the education.
“Although she had little experience, she gave an excellent presentation about education.” Education is used without an article when referring to the concept in general.
Explain the difference between a number of students and the number of students. How does the verb change?
A number of students means “several students” and takes a plural verb: “A number of students are absent.” The number of students refers to the total or figure and takes a singular verb: “The number of students is increasing.”
Explain the difference in meaning: He was elected president vs. He met the president.
No article is used before president when it refers to a position someone is elected to hold: “He was elected president.” The president refers to a specific person holding that position: “He met the president.”
Explain the difference between time and a time. Give an example of each.
Time usually refers to time in general: “We don't have much time.” A time refers to a particular occasion or period: “There was a time when I lived abroad.”
Correct the sentence: The nature is beautiful, but the life in cities is difficult.
“Nature is beautiful, but life in cities is difficult.” No article is normally used with nature and life when referring to them in a general sense.
Complete the sentence with suitable articles: ___ knowledge she gained at ___ university helped her get ___ job at ___ international company.
“The knowledge she gained at university helped her get a job at an international company.”