Conversation
In this lesson, you will hear a conversation at the airport check in between a Clerk and a Passenger. Then you will learn about the difference between uncountable nouns and countable nouns. How to use countable nouns and uncountable nouns in everyday English conversation. Finally, you will do the exercise to understand the lesson.
Language Notes:
Travelling (v)
the act of going from one place to another
ticket (n)
A paper slip or card indicating that its holder has paid for a specified service, such as travelling on a bus, train, airplane or entering a place.
passport (n)
An official document issued by a government identifying a citizen, certifying his or her nationality
check in (v)
To register
hand luggage (n)
luggage that is light enough to be carried by hand
window seat (n)
A seat next to a window, on a bus or airplane
aisle seat (n)
the seat in the middle of the airplane
boarding card (n)
a pass that allows you to board a ship or plane
boarding (n)
the act of passengers getting aboard a ship or aircraft
Learn more:Â Have you ever been to the Taj Mahal?
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Some nouns in English are countable or uncountable. We can use countable nouns in singular form and plural form, meanwhile the uncountable nouns are only i singular form.
I’ve got some pencils and a notebook. And I also have two rulers, an eraser and some ink. I drink some water and start doing my homework.
In the above example, we have some countable and uncountable nouns. What are they?
| Countable | Uncountable |
|---|---|
| some pencils | some ink |
| a notebook | some water |
| two rulers | home work |
| an eraser |
A noise or noise?
The uncountable noun is more general and countable noun is more specific.
| Countable | Uncountable |
|---|---|
| We heard a strange noise. (a particular noise) | Traffic noise is very annoying. (noise in general) |
| This museum has a very expensive painting. | My sister likes painting very much. |
| Michael Jackson has an excited life | Life is always very beautiful. |
| Football is a sport. | Do you like sport? |
Learn more:Â Did you have a good holiday?
How to know if a noun is countable or uncountable
Some nouns in English can be both countable or uncountable and they sometimes have different meanings.
- He has a box of chocolates. (manu individual chocolates)
- He eats some chocolate before the run. (a piece of chocolate from a bar)
- Would you like some cake? (a piece of cake)
- I made a cake this afternoon. (the whole cake)
- I turned all the lights on. (the lights = the light bulbs)
- I like to sit by the window where there’s more light. (light = bright)
A tea or tea?
Drink is usually uncountable.
- Tea is cheaper than coffee.
But when we talk about the drink, we often say a tea or a cup of tea.
- Four teas, please (= four cups of teas)
- Do you want a cup of tea?
Learn more:Â Asking for Information
Uncountable noun to use as countable noun
When we are talking about a particular kind or about different kinds of something, we will use the uncountable noun as a countable noun
- Heineken is a Dannish beer (= a kind of Danish beer)
- The use of papers has become more and more wasted. (= the use of different kinds of papers)
Exercise
1. Are the statements True (T) or False (F)
[rapid_quiz question=”The passenger is travelling to Japan.” answer=”False” options=”True|False” notes=””]
[rapid_quiz question=”The clerk wans to see his passport.” answer=”True” options=”True|False” notes=””]
[rapid_quiz question=”He’s checking in two bags.” answer=”True” options=”True|False” notes=””]
[rapid_quiz question=”He didn’t packed his bag.” answer=”False” options=”True|False” notes=””]
[rapid_quiz question=”He hasn’t got any hand luggage.” answer=”False” options=”True|False” notes=””]
[rapid_quiz question=”He wants to sit next to the window.” answer=”False” options=”True|False” notes=””]
2. Choose the correct answer
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct question.” answer=”Would you like an orange?” options=”Would you like an orange?|Would you like orange?|Would you like a orange?” notes=”Correct answer: Would you like an orange?”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct sentence.” answer=”I need some lemons.” options=”I need a lemons.|I need an lemon.|I need some lemons.” notes=”Correct answer: I need some lemons.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct sentence.” answer=”Chickens have two legs” options=”Some chickens have two legs|Chickens have two legs|Some chickens has two legs” notes=”Correct answer: Chickens have two legs”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct sentence” answer=”Have some cheese on your bread” options=”Have a cheese on your bread|Have some cheeses on your bread|Have some cheese on your bread” notes=”Correct answer: Have some cheese on your bread”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct sentence” answer=”I have an apple from the shop.” options=”I have an apple from the shop.|I have a apple from the shop.|I have some apples from the shop.” notes=”Correct answer: I have some apples from the shop.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct answer” answer=”I love beer!” options=”I love beer!|I love some beer!|I love a beers!” notes=”Correct answer: I love beer!”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct answer” answer=”She’s got some new trousers.” options=”She’s got a new trousers.|She’s got some new trousers.|She’s got a new trouser.” notes=”Correct answer: She’s got some new trousers”]
[rapid_quiz question=”Choose the correct answer” answer=”Would you like a tea?” options=”Would you like a tea?|Would you like one teas?|Would you like an tea?” notes=”Correct answer: Would you like a tea?”]
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