Training exercises

Ex.1. Some of these sentences need a/an. Correct the sentences which are wrong. If the sentence is already correct, put 'right'.

1. Jim goes everywhere by bike. He hasn't got __ car. ...a car...

2. Ann was listening to music when I arrived. ...RIGHT…

3. We went to very nice restaurant last weekend.

4. I clean my teeth with toothpaste.

5. I use toothbrush to clean my teeth.

6. Can you tell me if there's bank near here?

7. My brother works for insurance company in London.

8. I don't like violence.

9. Can you smell paint?

10. We need petrol. I hope we come to petrol station soon.

11. I wonder if you can help me. I have problem.

12. John has got interview for job tomorrow.

13. Liz doesn't usually wear jewellery but yesterday she was wearing necklace. ..

14. I think volleyball is very good game.

Ex.2. Complete the sentences using one of the following words. Use a/an where necessary.

accident biscuit blood coat decision electricity key letter moment

music question sugar

1. It wasn't your fault. It was ...an accident....

2. Listen! Can you hear ...music?..

3. I couldn't get into the house because I didn't have _____________

4. It's very warm today. Why are you wearing ________________?

5. Do you take___________ in your coffee?

6. Are you hungry? Would you like ___________ with your coffee?

7. Our lives would be very difficult without _____________ .

8. I didn't phone them. I wrote _________ instead.

9. The heart pumps _____________through the body.

10. Excuse me, but can I ask you _____________________ ?

11. I'm not ready yet. Can you wait _______________, please?

12. We can't delay much longer. We have to make _________soon.

Ex.3. Complete the sentences using one of the following words. Sometimes the word needs to be plural (s).

air country day friend meat language letter patience people

photograph queue space

1. I had my camera but I didn't take many ...photographs. ...

2. There are seven ________ in a week.

3. A vegetarian is a person who doesn't eat ______________.

4. Outside the cinema there was ______ of people waiting to see the film.

5. I'm not very good at writing _____________ .

6. Last night I went out with some ________________ of mine.

7. There were very few ________ in the shops today. They were almost empty.

8. I'm going out for a walk. I need some fresh __________________.

9. George always wants things quickly. He's got no _____________ .

10. Do you speak any foreign _____________?

11. Jane travels a lot. She has been to many _____________ .

12. Our flat is very small. We haven't got much ___________ .

Note 1. Many nouns in English can be used both as countable and uncountable. It depends upon the context.

E.g. Did you hear a noise? (=a particular noise)

There is a hair in my soup. (=one single hair)

Enjoy your holiday. Have a good time!

Two coffee and an orange juice, please. (in a restaurant=two cups of coffee and a glass of orange juice).

Note 2. There are some nouns that are usually uncountable in English but countable in Russian.

accommodation advice baggage luggage

behaviour bread chaos weather

information luck work

furniture news progress

Ex.4. Which of the underlined parts of these sentences is correct?

1. 'Did you hear noise / a noise just now?' 'No, I didn't hear anything.' ('a noise' is correct)

2. a If you want to know the news, you can read paper / a paper.

b I want to write some letters but I haven't got a paper / any paper to write on.

3. a I thought there was somebody in the house because there was light / a light on inside,

b Light / A light comes from the sun.

4. a I was in a hurry this morning. I didn't have time / a time for breakfast.

b Did you enjoy your holiday?' 'Yes, we had wonderful time / a wonderful time.'

5. Sue was very helpful. She gave us some very useful advice / advices.

6. We had very good weather / a very good weather while we were on holiday.

7. We were very unfortunate. We had bad luck / a bad luck.

8. It's very difficult to find a work / job at the moment.

9. Our travel / journey from London to Istanbul by train was very tiring.

10. When the fire alarm rang, there was total chaos / a total chaos.

11. I had to buy a / some bread because I wanted to make some sandwiches.

12. Bad news don't / doesn't make people happy.

13. Your hair is / Your hairs are too long. You should have it / them cut.

14. Nobody was hurt in the accident but the damage / the damages to the car was / were quite bad.

Ex.5. Complete the sentences using these words. Sometimes you need the plural (-s).

chair experience experience furniture hair information

job luggage permission progress work

1. I didn't have much ...luggage... - just two small bags.

2. They'll tell you all you want to know. They'll give you plenty of ___ .

3. There is room for everybody to sit down. There are plenty of ______.

4. We have no __________ , not even a bed or a table.

5. 'What does Alan look like?' ' He's got a long beard and very short _ .

6. Carla's English is better than it was. She's made _______________.

7. George is unemployed. He's looking for a ___________________ .

8. George is unemployed. He's looking for _____________________ .

9. If you want to leave work early, you have to ask for ____________ .

10. I don't think Ann will get the job. She hasn't got enough _____ .

11. Rita has done many interesting things. She should write a book about her _______.