Grammar 1 – Countable and uncountable nouns

Countable Nouns
Singular Plural
- refer to ONE person or thing - refer to MORE THAN ONE
- must carry a determiner: the bus- person or things
driver, that magazine, my eyelash, - When we refer to people or things in
an employee general, plural countable nouns do
not carry a determiner: Taxes are
very expensive.
- But they do carry a determiner if we
refer to specific things or people:
The company’s foreign branches
are closing down.
- Also, we can modify noun phrases
by using quantifiers: Some theories
make no sense at all;
or a numeral: Two hundred
employees were fired last week.

Spelling rules
- add –s to make a plural noun: chairs,
wallets
- add –es to nouns ending in –s, -ch,
-sh, -ss, -x and –o: buses, branches,
brushes, glasses, taxes, heroes
- consonant + –y, turn it into –i+es:
activities, babies, theories
- vowel + -y, just add an –s: delays,
surveys, ways
- Irregular plurals:
person – people
foot – feet
leaf – leaves
crisis – crises

Uncountable nouns
- usually refer to substances such as food or water, feelings like anger and
happiness, activities such as travel or work, concepts like beauty and life
- cannot be made plural or be used with a/an:
They tried a lot of different food (not foods)
That’s important information (not an important information)
- quantifiers can come before uncountable nouns:
The guide gave us some advice on places to visit downtown.
- Some uncountable nouns finish in an –s, such as: mathematics, gymnastics, cards,
 measles, rabies.

Turning uncountable nouns into countable nouns

- If we want to turn uncountable nouns into countable nouns, we can use expressions
such as: a piece of…/ a bit of…/ an item of…/ pieces of …/ bits of… / items of…
Let me give you a piece of advice.
They carried ten items of luggage in total.
- however, accommodation, money and traffic cannot be made plural in this way:
She has lived in three different apartments so far (not bits of accommodation).
I’ve received two large sums of money this month.
We got delayed by two traffic jams on the way home.

Nouns which can be both countable and uncountable

I love coffee in the mornings/ I’d like a coffee, please (meaning a cup of coffee)/
They offer a lot of coffees (that is, different kinds of coffee)
There’s a danger of floods in the north/ She actually enjoys danger.
I need a glass of water / The panels are made of glass;
Our house has four rooms/ Is there enough room for the fridge in the kitchen?

:
Exercises
1. Complete the sentences with the right form of the nouns in the box:
woman – industry – window – information – baby – news
- question – accommodation- box- machinery

a. Is it OK if I close __the window________? It’s getting a bit cold.

b. Sorry to interrupt, but can I ask _a__ quick __question___?
c. Could you help me bring those cardboard __boxes____ from the attic?
d. Nurses take care of newborn ___babies_______ in that area.
e. More and more young __women________ are into science these
days.

f. Helen had __a__sad bit of ___news_______ yesterday. Her uncle died.

g. The car factory uses many items of heavy ____machinery_____.
h. We’ll need better __accommodation________ for our guests from abroad.
i. Students received all this __information___________ at the beginning of the
course.
j. All __(the) industries__________ in town should have a policy on
environment care.
2. Choose the right answer to fill in the gaps:

a- Be careful, there's __________ on the floor! Someone has broken the window.

. a glass

. glasses

. some glass

b- There _________________ not far away from the suburbs.

. are a lot of heavy industries

. is a lot of heavy industry

.are much heavy industry

c- ______________ on the way to the office this morning?

. Were there many traffics

. Was there much traffic

. Was there much traffics

d- The company’s managers refused to give us ______________ about the new

project.

. an information

. some informations

. any information

e- My grandma had ________________ when she was a teenager.

. long hair

. a long hair

. long hairs

f- I’m considering buying a new car. Could you give me __________________?

. advices

. an advice

. some advice
g- Is there ________________ to read while I wait out here?

. paper

. a paper

. some paper

h- We’re moving out because there _________ in this house for the children.

. isn’t enough spaces

. isn’t enough space

. aren’t enough spaces

i- Wait outside, please! I need _____________ to finish wiping the floor.

. a few more time

. a little more time

. a few more times

j- Have you ever been bowling? Yes, ____________

. a little time

. a few times

. much time
Grammar 2 – Determiners for countable and uncountable nouns
We use much if the noun is uncountable and many if the noun is countable.

I don’t have  much money.

They own many houses.

We use a little / little before uncountable nouns and a few / few before countable nouns.

There’s only a little food left at the party.

I bought a few snacks at break time.

We can only use several and a couple of before countable nouns.

There are  a couple of students waiting for you.

I’ve been to several countries this year.

A great/ good/ small/ large number of are used before plural countable nouns, too:

Despite the instructions, a large number of people didn’t know what to do.

I don't know if there will be a great number of changes
Only a small number of employees attended the ER training.

A great/good deal of and a large/small amount of are generally used with uncountable
nouns.

I have spent  a great deal of time thinking of the design.

You have got rid of  a large amount of old clothing.
They couldn't have succeeded without  a good deal of  luck.

A lot of, lots of, plenty of and hardly any can be used with both countable and uncountable
nouns.

We have  lots of  coffee/apples.

She eats hardly any fruit/vegetables
Exercises

1. Complete the sentences using much/ many/ little/ few/ a few / a little.

a. The website isn’t very popular. It has __few____ visitors.

b. I am very busy these days. I don’t have ___much____ free time.
c. I can’t give you an answer yet. I need only __a little__ time to think,
please!
d. I don’t know much French. Only _a few___ words
e. HR doesn’t seem to have _much__ to do today. They are all chatting and
having coffee at the cafeteria.
f. Dubai is super modern. There are ___few____ old buildings.
g. Oh, dear. My plants are dying! We’ve had ___little____ rain lately.
h. I haven’t been to my grandparents’ home in __many_____ years. I don’t
think I even remember how to get there!
i. There was ___little_______ traffic, so the journey didn’t take very long.
j. I have to admit I’m having ___a few________ problems.

2. Rewrite the sentences using the word or expression given.

a. I’ve called him again and again but he doesn’t pick up the phone.
several
I’ve called him ___several times_______ but he doesn’t pick up the
phone.
b. I visited my parents twice last month.
couple
I visited my parents __a couple of times_______ last month.
c. Only five people showed up for the contest.
small
Only _a small number of people____ showed up for the contest.
d. There is so much work to do before we can go home.
deal
There _is a great deal of____ work to do before we can go home.
e. That wedding party must have cost a pile of money!
amount
That wedding party must have cost _a good/ great/big amount of___
money.
 f. They spent most of the time quarrelling.
lot
They spent _a lot of____ time quarrelling.
g. A crowd showed up for the concert.
number
_A large number of people_____ showed up for the concert.
h. We still have four hours before they arrive.
plenty
We still have _plenty of time______ before they arrive.
i. There’s just a handful of sugar left.
hardly
There’s __hardly any_____ sugar left.
j. The museum is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
lots
The museum is visited by ___lots of____ tourists every year.

Vocabulary 1  Descriptive adjectives for touristic sites and

destinations

Breathtaking – Extremely exciting, beautiful, or surprising.

The view  from the  top  of the mountain is breathtaking.

Stunning – Extremely beautiful or attractive.

It’s a stunning sight of the bay of Saint Tropez.

Picturesque – (especially of a place) Attractive in appearance, especially in an old-

fashioned way.

I just loved the picturesque narrow streets of the old city.

Quaint – Attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned.

We stayed at a quaint old cottage.

Awe-inspiring – causing you to feel great respect or admiration.

Niagara Falls really is an awe-inspiring sight.

Striking – very unusual or easily noticed, and therefore attracting a lot of attention.

The library is a striking example of modern architecture.

Bustling – If a place is bustling, it is full of busy activity.

This used to be a bustling town but a lot of people have moved away

over recent  years.

Iconic
-very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or
a particular time.

The Bronx is an iconic neighbourhood in New York.

Idyllic – An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful.

We visited an idyllic village in the South of England. 

 
off the beaten track (US also off the beaten path) in a place where
few people go, far from any main roads and towns.
The farmhouse we stayed in was completely  off the beaten track.

Unspoiled – (UK also unspoilt) An unspoiled place is beautiful because it has not

been changed or damaged by people.

We flew to this incredible  island with clean, unspoiled beaches.

Mighty - very large, powerful, or important:

The mighty River Po in Italy is a stunning trail to follow across Northern Italy.

World-class - Someone or something world-class is one of the best that there are of

that type in the world:

‘World class’ hotels attain the highest scores and exceed all expectations.

Upscale - (UK upmarket) Upscale goods and products are of very

high quality and intended to be bought by people who are quite rich:

There are two upscale Mediterranean restaurants on board in this cruise

ship.

High-end - intended for people who want very good quality products and who do

not mind how much they cost.

The trend is moving to the higher-end market, for both Chinese and
European tourists.
Bleak - If a place is bleak, it is empty, and not welcoming or attractive.

The house  stands on a bleak, windy hilltop.

Boring - not interesting or exciting.

It's boring to sit on the plane with nothing to read.

Dull – boring, not interesting or exciting in any way.

Omaha, in Nebraska, is the dullest city in the world. There is absolutely nothing

to do but eat at one of the local chain restaurants.

Nightmarish - extremely unpleasant and very upsetting or frightening:

The Island of Dolls, near the Azteca Stadium, offers a nightmarish sight of dolls
hanging from trees above the water.  

Rundown - a reduction in the size or quality of something.

A short look over the destroyed pool will clearly show you how this place is
rundown!

Inhospitable - not welcoming

The jungle is an inhospitable place for newcomers.

Derelict - derelict buildings or places are not cared for and are in bad condition.

The theatre  has been left to stand derelict.

Touristy - a touristy place is not attractive because a lot of tourists visit it and it

is full of things for them to buy and do.

This used to be a pretty little fishing town, but now it's become very touristy.

Activity: Complete this description of a touristic destination using the
vocabulary learnt in this lesson (descriptive adjectives).

This summer, we visited this little place in Palms Springs, somewhat away from the city
center – what you would call an __off the beaten track_______ place, next to the
whitest, most ___unspoiled____ beach I’ve ever seen. We stayed in a bed & breakfast
kind of place, with a very ___picturesque____ garden full of colorful flowers. The
atmosphere was familiar and cozy - a bit ___quaint__ really, the sort of place grandma
would choose – nothing like the __upscale___ hotels down the road, where tourists go
to show off their money.
The view from the terrace was ___stunning/ breathtaking_____. I could see the waves
breaking against the quay, which actually was left to lie __derelict___, since it was out
of use. Going downtown, however, meant a _nightmarish____ experience. Crowds of
people coming and going, buying souvenirs here and there; Palm Springs is certainly
_touristy__! After that, evening tea in the garden was an __idyllic__ moment out of a
fairy tale.

Vocabulary 2 - Expressions of quantity

A pang of - a sudden sharp feeling, especially of painful emotion

He suddenly felt a pang of anger when he lost his keys.

A clove of - a small separate part of a bulb of garlic.

This recipe takes  four cloves of garlic.

Take a breath - to breathe air into your lungs (as a single action)

The doctor told me to take a deep breath.

A scrap of - a small piece of something or a small amount of information.

There's not a scrap  of evidence to suggest that he committed the crime.

A ear of corn - a tall plant grown for its whole yellow or white seeds which

are eaten cooked, made into flour, or fed to animals.
Let’s pick up a half dozen ears of corn for supper.

A pat of butter - a small piece; a lump

I’ll just put a pat of butter over my toast.

A work of art - a painting, sculpture, etc.

El Prado exhibits the most wonderful works of art.

A fit of - a sudden attack of illness, especially epilepsy; something that happens

suddenly

  Her quick wit and confident delivery had the audience in fits of laughter.

A pride of - group (of lions or of peacocks)

During the safari we saw a pride of lions by the river.

A ball of - a long piece of thread that has been rolled into a ball.

Grandma’s ball of wool rolled out her bag.

A bar of- a long, thin, straight piece of metal or wood.

The gorilla rattled the bars of its cage.
 
- a substance that has been made into a solid rectangular shape.

Could you buy a bar of soap on your way home? We’ve run out of it and I need
to wash the baby’s clothes!

A crowd of - a large group of people who have come together.

A crowd of about 15,000 attended the concert.

An item of- something that is part of a list or group of things.

Several items of  clothing  lay on the floor.

A loaf of - bread that is shaped and baked in a single piece and can be sliced for eating.

I’ll take two loaves of white bread, please.

A pane of- a flat piece of glass used in a window or door.

This scratched pane of glass should be replaced.

A piece of - a part of something.

 The police found a piece of cloth torn from her coat in the car park.

A school of –
part of a college or university specializing in a particular subject or group of subjects.

If you are interested in China, you should attend the School of Oriental  Studies at
Cambridge.

A clap of thunder – a loud noise

It also happens to make an awesome sound for such a small car, like

a clap of thunder when you change  gear on the limit.

A glass of – a type or amount of drink contained in a glass.

Would you like a glass of water?

A slice of - a flat, often thin, piece of food that has been cut from a larger piece:

I’ll have a slice of bread for breakfast.

Reading – You are going to read an article on overcrowded tourist areas. Five sentences
have been removed from the article. Choose from sentences A-F the one which fits each
gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Crowded tourist areas

Should we try to leave the beaten path?

Recently, Venice was hit by the thunderclap of a 2,000 locals’ crowd who marched
through the city, voicing anger at rising rents and the impact of huge cruise ships which
pollute the city’s delicate environment. The anti-tourist protest demanded sustainable
tourism polices to safeguard the city from becoming “Veniceland”.1) _C__. On its
busiest days, around 120,000 people visit this city which is home to just 55,000
permanent residents. The reasons behind overtourism in Venice are complex and
manifold: the rapid growth of low cost aviation, cruise ships and peer-to-peer home
sharing platforms are all guilty parties.

The rise of the day tripper is a huge problem, too. Many have poured off a cruise ship –
on some days as many as 44,000 cruise passengers come to the city – or are on a
whirlwind tour of Italy.2) _A__. They bring no economic benefit to the city in this way.
Many of these tourists stick to the famous landmarks – the Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s
Square – further concentrating numbers into a tiny footprint. This damages Venice’s
fragile buildings, strains its infrastructure, inhibits local people from going about their
business and, frankly, makes for a nightmarish visitor experience, too. Nobody benefits,
not even the tourists.

The mayor’s office has announced some measures which attempt to tackle the problem,
such as a ban on new tourist accommodation in the city centre, and “people counters”,
which have been installed at popular sites to monitor overcrowding.3) __E__. Train
companies have been requested to limit their services to try and stem the flow of
tourists, too.

Similar protests have been held in Barcelona, where demonstrators have even slashed
tyres of rental bikes and a tour bus. It’s no wonder when you consider that the Catalan
city attracted 32 million tourists in 2017. Anti-tourist activists claim that the current
model of tourism expels people from their neighbourhoods and harms the environment.

A 2015 consultation carried out by the Barcelona authorities reported various issues,
ranging from overcrowding and tension to a loss of identity and a rise in antisocial
behaviours. 4) _D__

Although tourism brings substantial revenue into the city, currently comprising around
12 percent of Barcelona’s economy, “poor redistribution of the wealth generated and
poor quality jobs” were further issues highlighted in the consultation.5) __B__. Of
around 16,000 holiday rentals in the city, 7,000 are believed to be unlicensed.

Government attempts to reduce the number of tourists coming to the city include
limiting the expansion of the airport and placing limits on cruise ships. Barcelona has
the Mediterranean’s largest port, which makes it a prime spot for huge cruise ships In
1990, just 115,000 cruise passengers arrived in Barcelona; by 2017, that figure stood at
2.7 million. In 2019, Barcelona earned the unwanted title of most polluted port in
Europe.

A- Some stay for just a few hours, see little, buy a few trinkets and leave.

B- Tensions have been rising for years over the unchecked surge in visitors and the
impact of sites such as Airbnb on the local housing market.

C- Known as La Serenissima, ‘the most serene’, Venice is, ironically, flocked by three
million tourists every year.

D- One reason that overtourism has made more headlines in Barcelona than in other
destinations is the local response.

E- Everyday shops are being replaced by souvenir stands, bike rental shops and cafes
which may be unaffordable – or simply unnecessary – for many local residents.

F- They have also proposed to monitor visitors' cell phones in the area "like in
amusement parks" to combat overtourism.

Listening - You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their
favourite tourist destinations. Match each speaker to the reason he/she gives for their
choice. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to
use.

A- It’s all included.

B- It’s upscale.
C- It’s solitary.
D- It’s unspoiled.
E- It’s full of historical sites.
F- It’s a great way of making friends.
G- It’s touristy.
H- It’s known for its cuisine.

Speaker 1 __G___
Speaker 2 __A___
Speaker 3 __F___
Speaker 4 __E___
Speaker 5 __C___
 1- Most people hate this kind of places. But for me it’s a thrill to be surrounded
by people from all over the world. You get to listen to the oddest languages!
All the tours and activities they offer ensure that you don’t waste a minute of
your holiday. I think that’s good value for money. I always return with my
bag full of presents for the family and souvenirs to decorate my flat.
2- If you want to have a good rest, there’s nothing like it. I mean, you don’t
have to move much to go swim in the pool, have a drink at the bar or get a
massage at the spa. It’s all there at hand! And it’s great for children, too.
There are caretakers who keep them busy all day with games and whatnot.
Food is not world class, but variety compensates for quality.
3- Well, I’m not the most extrovert person in the room, you know? So, what I
like about these trips is that you get to know so many people on board and
everything is set up so that you have to socialize. I mean, all the dancing, the
pool, the card games… you end up making conversation whether you are up
to it or not.
4- It’s a great place for the geek. You get to see some 18 th century documents,
from the time the nation was actually founded. That blew my mind the first
time I was there! Now, I keep going every year because there is so much to
explore… the pilgrims’ trail and the first settlements. Don’t take me wrong,
it’s not all about the past. The town’s nightlife is quite lively actually.
5- I’m in the real estate business. I get to see twenty, thirty people on a daily
basis. Sometimes more. So, for my holidays I drive for as long as I can
remain awake. Then I put up my tent wherever I find myself – I’ve been in
the woods, the desert, and the mountains. Two weeks off the rat race. Just
me and my thoughts.

Writing – You see this announcement on an English language website.

Articles wanted

How do you see tourism in your country?

Is the tourist industry benefitial for the country’s economy?

What are the effects of tourism on culture and the environment?
What could governments do to counteract the negative consequences of
overtourism?

We will publish the best articles on our website.

Write your article in between 150-180 words.

Speaking – Read aloud this passage on Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone is the first national park in the world and to this day it remains as an iconic
site for nature lovers. With well over 2 million acres to explore, the park's highest point
is Eagle Peak standing at a breathtaking 11,358 feet.
There are a large number of geysers in Yellowstone Park, as the whole of the park is
considered to be an active volcano. This is truly one of the most studied hot spots in the
world. Yellowstone is part of an almost unspoiled ecosystem in the northern
hemisphere. It has a great amount of biodiversity. It’s surely a stunning wildlife habitat
housing the gray wolf, the grizzly bear, and the lynx, among many others.
Visitors can choose from tours that explore geyser areas or the famous Grand Canyon of
the Yellowstone. The rivers offer several whitewater adventures for the family. Guided
trips are offered on many waterways in and around the park, as well as full day guided
fly fishing trips. Day horse rides and overnight pack trips are also available booking in
advance.
There are world class lodging facilities at Yellowstone such as The Old Faithful Inn,
which is ideally located within view of the famous Old Faithful Geyser; or, if you are up
to a high end experience, you should visit Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, an
elegant getaway reminiscent of the 1920s. It is listed on the park's Register of Historic
Places as the oldest standing Yellowstone hotel. The hotel is situated on the shore of
dazzling Yellowstone Lake, which radiates through the picturesque windows.