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Grammar Basics: Unit 69 – Countable & Uncountable Nouns, Part 2

a/an” can be used in front of countable nouns:

Pattern:  a/an + singular countable noun:

Jack bought a pencil.
Eat an apple every day.

some” can be used in front of: 1) plural countable nouns, and 2) uncountable nouns:

Pattern:  some + plural countable noun:

Jack bought some pencils.
Some apples in the barrel were rotten.

Pattern:  some + uncountable noun:

We drank some tea.
There is some rice in the rice cooker.

Note:  Sometimes a noun can be either countable or uncountable, depending on the situation.

A cake: We need to get a birthday cake for Jane.

A cake:
We need to get a birthday cake for Jane.

A chicken: Mother always roasts a chicken for Sunday dinner.

A chicken:
Mother always roasts a chicken for Sunday dinner.

Some cakes: Kathy practiced decorating some cakes.

Some cakes:
Kathy practiced decorating some cakes.

Some chickens: I think the supermarket has some roast chickens available in the deli.

Some chickens:
I think the supermarket has some roast chickens available in the deli.

Some cake / a piece of cake: Would you like some cake/a piece of cake?

Some cake / a piece of cake:
Would you like some cake/a piece of cake?

Some chicken / a piece of chicken: Have some chicken/a piece of chicken if you’re hungry.

Some chicken / a piece of chicken:
Have some chicken/a piece of chicken if you’re hungry.

 Note:  Some nouns are usually uncountable – we often use “some” with these:

advice bread furniture
hair information news
paper weather work

Examples:

Let me give you some advice. (not an advice)
If you want me to make you a sandwich, we’re going to need some bread. (not a bread)
My brother Jim brought some old furniture when he went away to college. (not furnitures)
I prefer short hair.  (not hairs)
I need to look up some information in the encyclopedia.  (not informations)
I hope you have some good news for me.  (not a good news)
Take out some paper and write your name at the top.
Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny – it’s about time we had some nice weather.  (not a nice weather)
Uncle Jack finally found some work, but it’s only part-time.  (not a work)

In this last example, we can also say “a job” instead of “work”:

Uncle Jack finally found a job, but it’s only part-time.

Exercise.  Use the pictures to write sentences using the phrase “I bought ______.”

Example:

==> I bought a tie, a belt, and some sunglasses.

==> I bought a tie, a belt, and some sunglasses.

 

 

 

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

Exercise.  Write sentences using the phrase “Would you like a ______?” or “Would you like some ______?”

Example:

==>  Would you like some hors d’oeuvres?

==> Would you like some hors d’oeuvres?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.

5.

6.

6.

 

Exercise.  Complete the sentences, using “a/an” or “some.”

Example:

I sat under ______ tree and drank ______ lemonade. ==>  I sat under a tree and drank some lemonade.

1.    I’m really tired.  I need to get ______ sleep.
2.    Jack likes to have ______ crackers when he has tomato soup.
3.    Mother usually relaxes by reading ______ book or listening to ______ music.
4.    We didn’t do anything last night except watch ______ TV.
5.    Tom needs to find ______ work.  He hasn’t has ______ job for several months.
6.    Swimming and walking are great ways to get ______ exercise.
7.    The car needs ______ gas.  Is there ______ gas station nearby?
8.    The bride’s mother gave her ______ advice for the wedding.
9.    Sam ordered ______ cup of coffee and ______ pie.
10.    If you’re going to write ______ letter, you’ll need ______ stationery, ______ envelope, and ______ stamps.

Exercise.  Select the correct word or phrase to complete the sentence.

Example:

I need to get my (hair/hairs) cut.  ==> I need to get my hair cut.

1.    Give me two (breads/slices of bread), so I can make a sandwich.
2.     I don’t want to get lost.  Let’s ask the concierge for (an information/information/informations) about the art museum.
3.    We’re supposed to have (a nice weather/nice weather/nice weathers) for our picnic this weekend.
4.    Kevin is stubborn, and won’t ask for (an advice/advice/advices).
5.    Mother has been sad ever since she read Uncle Paul’s letter – I think it must have contained (a bad news/bad news).
6.    Joan and Dave finally got (a new furniture/ new furnitures/some new furniture) for their apartment.
7.    Steve is looking for (a job/a work).
8.    If you’re going to the store, can you get (a toothpaste/toothpastes/some toothpaste) for me?

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Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 40 (Solution)

basic vocab 40-sol

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Grammar Basics: Unit 68 – Countable & Uncountable Nouns, Part 1 (Solution)

Exercise.  Identify the following items, using the given nouns.  Use an appropriate phrase:  “It’s a ______.” or “It’s ______.”

Example:

==> It’s a cat.

==> It’s a cat.

==> It’s milk.

==> It’s milk.

 

1.  It’s money.

1. It’s money.

2.  It’s salt.

2. It’s salt.

3.  It’s bread.

3. It’s bread.

4.  It’s rice.

4. It’s rice.

5.  It’s a girl.

5. It’s a girl.

6.  It’s frost.

6. It’s frost.

7.  It’s a wheel.

7. It’s a wheel.

8.  It’s grass.

8. It’s grass.

9.  It’s a bench.

9. It’s a bench.

10.  It’s water.

10. It’s water.

11.  It’s an apple.

11. It’s an apple.

12.  It’s a pencil.

12. It’s a pencil.

 

Exercise.  Correct the following sentences by adding “a/an” if needed.  If no article is needed, write “OK.”

Example:

I found wallet. ==>  I found a wallet.
Buy milk at the store.  ==>  OK.

1.    We rented car on our vacation.  ==>  We rented a car on our vacation.
2.    I want to listen to music.  ==>  OK.
3.    Tom needs money.  ==>  OK.
4.    The dog hid under chair.  ==>  The dog hid under a chair.
5.    Vegetarians don’t eat meat.  ==>  OK.
6.    Do you like coffee?  ==>  OK.
7.    Could I borrow pen?  ==>  Could I borrow a pen?
8.    There was big scratch on the piano.  ==>  There was a big scratch on the piano.
9.    I need coin for the vending machine.  ==>  I need a coin for the vending machine.
10.    The teacher dropped piece of chalk.  ==>  The teacher dropped a piece of chalk.
11.    Jack took test in school today.  ==>  Jack took a test in school today.
12.    Do you have salt?  ==>  OK.
13.    I want cup of tea.  ==>  I want a cup of tea.
14.    We have grass in our back yard.  ==>  OK.
15.    Sally eats fish.  ==>  OK.
16.    The machine needs oil.  ==>  OK.

Exercise.  Describe the pictures, using the phrase “a ______ of ______” with a word from each box.

Example:

==> a glass of water

==> a glass of water

 

 

 

 

 

1.   a cup of coffee

1. a cup of coffee

2.  a slice of bread

2. a slice of bread

3.   a piece of pie

3. a piece of pie

4.  a bowl of soup

4. a bowl of soup

5.   a jar of honey

5. a jar of honey

6.  a glass of milk

6. a glass of milk

7.   a sack of peas

7. a sack of peas

8.   a bottle of wine

8. a bottle of wine

9.   a sheet of paper

9. a sheet of paper

10.  a bag of popcorn

10. a bag of popcorn

11.  an ear of corn

11. an ear of corn

12.   a piece of wood

12. a piece of wood

 

 

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Grammar Basics: Unit 68 – Countable & Uncountable Nouns, Part 1

All nouns are either countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns are nouns that are individual things.  They can be numbered one, two, three, etc.

Example:

One bird

One bird

Two chairs

Two chairs

Three cars

Three cars

Four trees

Four trees

etc.

Countable nouns can be singular or plural:

Singular:  a chair, the chair, my chair, his chair, etc.
Plural:  chairs, the chairs, my chairs, his chairs, some chairs, many chairs, etc.

Note:
The singular form can never be used alone – it always needs an article (a, an, the) or a possessive adjective (my, your, his, etc.).

Example:

We sat under a tree.  (not under tree)

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are not individual things.  They cannot be numbered one, two, three, etc.

Some uncountable nouns:

Water, milk, oil, etc. (any liquid)
Salt, sugar, flour, etc.
Money, music, bread, grass, work, rice, etc.

Uncountable nouns do not use “a/an.”  They do not use a plural form:

Bread, the bread, my bread, some bread, much bread, etc.

Example:

I’m going to eat some bread.  (not a bread)

We can use “a piece of ~,” “a glass of ~,” “a slice of ~,” etc.:

Would you like a piece of cake / a slice of cake?
I’m thirsty – could I please have a glass of water?
The recipe calls for a cup of milk.

Other examples:

a bottle of beer
a bowl of cereal
a piece of candy
a game of chess

Exercise.  Identify the following items, using the given nouns.  Use an appropriate phrase:  “It’s a ______.” or “It’s ______.”

Example:

 

 

==> It’s a cat.

==> It’s a cat.

==> It’s milk.

==> It’s milk.

 

apple bench bread frost
girl grass money pencil
rice salt water wheel

 

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.

5.

6.

6.

7.

7.

8.

8.

9.

9.

10.

10.

11.

11.

12.

12.

 

Exercise.  Correct the following sentences by adding “a/an” if needed.  If no article is needed, write “OK.”

Example:

I found wallet. ==>  I found a wallet.
Buy milk at the store.  ==>  OK.

1.    We rented car on our vacation.
2.    I want to listen to music.
3.    Tom needs money.
4.    The dog hid under chair.
5.    Vegetarians don’t eat meat.
6.    Do you like coffee?
7.    Could I borrow pen?
8.    There was big scratch on the piano.
9.    I need coin for the vending machine.
10.    The teacher dropped piece of chalk.
11.    Jack took test in school today.
12.    Do you have salt?
13.    I want cup of tea.
14.    We have grass in our back yard.
15.    Sally eats fish.
16.    The machine needs oil.

Exercise.  Describe the pictures, using the phrase “a ______ of ______” with a word from each box.

Example:

==> a glass of water

==> a glass of water

 

 

 

 

 

bag bottle bowl cup
ear glass jar piece
piece sack sheet slice

 

bread coffee corn honey
milk paper peas pie
popcorn soup wine wood

 

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.

5.

6.

6.

7.

7.

8.

8.

9.

9.

10.

10.

11.

11.

12.

12.

 

 

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Grammar Basics: Unit 67 – Singular and Plural (Solution)

Exercises.  Write the plural of the following words.

Example:

cat ==> cats

1.    cow ==> cows
2.    tomato ==> tomatoes
3.    wish ==> wishes
4.    child ==> children
5.    thief ==> thieves
6.    box ==> boxes
7.    kitty ==> kitties
8.    tooth ==> teeth
9.    church ==> churches
10.    dress ==> dresses
11.    bay ==> bays
12.    man ==> men
13.    apple ==> apples
14.    story ==> stories
15.    wife ==> wives

Exercises.  Use the pictures to complete the sentences.

Example:

There are a lot of ________ in the pasture.   ==>  There are a lot of sheep in the pasture.

There are a lot of ________ in the pasture. ==> There are a lot of sheep in the pasture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1.  Do you like peaches?

1. Do you like peaches?

 

2.   I had two eggs for breakfast.

2. I had two eggs for breakfast.

 

3.  I have lost my keys somewhere.

3. I have lost my keys somewhere.

 

 

4.  How many children do you have?

4. How many children do you have?

 

 

Exercises.  Rewrite any sentences that have incorrect plural forms.  If no correction is needed, write “OK.”

Example:

Take these boxs and put them in the car. ==> Take these boxes and put them in the car.
All the benches in the park were freshly painted.  ==>  OK

1.    Jack washed the dishs after dinner. ==> Jack washed the dishes after dinner.
2.    The department store has a fine selection of watches. ==> OK
3.    I have to return these bookes to the library. ==>  I have to return these books to the library
4.    Whenever the sun is very bright, Father has to wear a sunglasses. ==> Whenever the sun is very bright, Father has to wear (some/a pair of) sunglasses.
5.    All children like to get toyes for Christmas. ==> All children like to get toys for Christmas.
6.    Your backpack is so heavy.  What do you have in there – rocks? ==> OK
7.    Grandfather had a flock of gooses on his farm. ==> Grandfather had a flock of geese on his farm.
8.    Have you seen “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”? ==> OK (can also be written “dwarves”)
9.    Mother bought me a new jeans. ==> Mother bought me (some/a pair of) new jeans.
10.    Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. ==> OK
11.    Would you like tomatos in your salad? ==> Would you like tomatoes in your salad?
12.    I don’t care for peas. ==> OK
13.    We need new batteries for the radio. ==> OK
14.    Neon is one of the so-called “noble gasses.” ==> OK (can also be written “gases”)
15.    The horse had injured one of its hoofs.  ==> OK (can also be written “hooves”)

Exercises.  Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

Example:

The people (is/are) tired and hungry.  ==> The people are tired and hungry.

1.    The police are asking everyone to stay off the roads due to the bad snowstorm.
2.    Were there many people at the amusement park today?
3.    Have you seen my sunglasses?  I don’t know where I left them.
4.    People usually don’t realize the importance of checking the air pressure in car tires.
5.    Once a month the local clergy meet to have a prayer breakfast.
6.    My shorts have a hole in the pocket.
7.    Mother has some scissors in her sewing kit.
8.    Have the police caught the bank robber yet?
9.    The couple are having their first baby next month.
10.    Most people are confused by the new rules.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 67 – Singular and Plural

When we talk about the singular form of a noun, we are talking about only one thing.  When we talk about the plural form of a noun, we are talking about two or more things.

Pattern – plural forms have different spellings:

Usually, a plural form is spelled by adding –s to the end of the noun:

 

One kitten

One kitten

 

Two kittens

Two kittens

 

 

One kite

One kite

 

 

Two kites

Two kites

 

Nouns that end in –s, –sh, –ch, or –x form the plural by adding –es:

One bus

One bus

Three buses

Three buses

One dish

One dish

Four dishes

Four dishes

One watch

One watch

Three watches

Three watches

One fox

One fox

Two foxes

Two foxes

 

Nouns that end in –y (following a consonant) form the plural by changing the y to i and adding –es–ies:

 

One baby

One baby

 

Two babies

Two babies

 

Nouns that end in –y (following a vowel:  a, e, i, o, or u) do not change the –y to –ies.  They just add –s:

 

One boy

One boy

 

Three boys

Three boys

 

Nouns that end in –f or –fe change the –f to –ves:

 

One leaf

One leaf

 

Several leaves

Several leaves

 

One knife

One knife

 

Several knives

Several knives

 

And nouns that end in –o form the plural by adding –es:

 

One potato

One potato

 

Many potatoes

Many potatoes

 

There are also nouns which have irregular plural forms.

One child Many children
One man Many men
One ox Many oxen
One woman Many women
One louse Many lice
One mouse Many mice

 

One foot Many feet
One goose Many geese
One tooth Many teeth

Quite a number of irregular plural forms are a result of the influence of Latin on English:

One alumnus Many alumni
One cactus Many cacti
One focus Many foci (focuses)
One fungus Many fungi (funguses)
One nucleus Many nuclei
One radius Many radii
One stimulus Many stimuli
One appendix Many appendices
One index Many indices (indexes)
One matrix Many matrices (matrixes)

 

One antenna Many antennae (antennas)
One formula Many formulae (formulas)
One nebula Many nebulae
One vertebra Many vertebrae
One vita Many vitae

 

One bacterium Many bacteria
One curriculum Many curricula
One datum Many data
One medium Many media
One memorandum Many memoranda
One stratum Many strata
One criterion Many criteria
One phenomenon Many phenomena
One genus Many genera
One corpus Many corpora

Some irregular plural forms are a result of the influence of Greek on English:

One axis Many axes
One analysis Many analyses
One basis Many bases
One crisis Many crises
One diagnosis Many diagnoses
One ellipsis Many ellipses
One hypothesis Many hypotheses
One oasis Many oases
One paralysis Many paralyses
One parenthesis Many parentheses
One synthesis Many syntheses
One synopsis Many synopses
One thesis Many theses

Even French influence can be seen in a few irregular plural forms:

One beau Many beaux
One bureau Many bureaux (bureaus)
One tableau Many tableaux (tableaus)

Some nouns do not change at all.  Their plural form is the same as their singular form:

One deer Many deer
One fish Many fish
One means Many means
One offspring Many offspring
One series Many series
One sheep Many sheep

Certain words always have a plural construction and use a plural verb, even though they are a single thing:

scissors:  Careful – those scissors are sharp.
(eye/sun)glasses:  I don’t know where my sunglasses are.
pants:  Steve’s pants were wrinkled.
jeans:  These jeans were on sale.
shorts:  Have you seen my gym shorts?  I thought I put them in the dirty laundry.
pajamas:  Jesse’s pajamas are full of holes.

We often use the phrase “a pair of ~”:

Have you seem my good pair of scissors?
Jack needs to get a new pair of glasses.
There’s a clean pair of pants in the drawer.
That pair of jeans doesn’t fit Tom any more.
This pair of shorts has a hole in the pocket.
Don’t forget to pack a pair of pajamas.

Certain words have plural construction because they refer to a group of persons/animals (collective nouns):

clergy: The clergy are highly respected.
people:  People are so busy that they don’t have time to relax.
police:  You’ll have to take a different route home – the police have blocked Main Street.

Note:  When we use “couple” or “pair” to refer to people, we use plural construction:

couple:  The elderly couple have been married for over 70 years.
pair:  James and John go everywhere together.  The pair are never apart.

Note:  The collective noun “number” uses plural construction in the phrase “a number of ____,” and singular construction in the phrase “the number of ____”:
number:

A number of women are expecting babies this summer.

but

The number of students getting As in trigonometry is small.

In American English, some collective nouns are often treated as singular, whereas in British English they are treated as plural:

audience class committee
corporation crew crowd
enemy faculty family
flock government group
herd jury panel
staff team

 

Exercises.  Write the plural of the following words.

Example:

cat ==> cats

1.    cow
2.    tomato
3.    wish
4.    child
5.    thief
6.    box
7.    kitty
8.    tooth
9.    church
10.    dress
11.    bay
12.    man
13.    apple
14.    story
15.    wife

Exercises.  Use the pictures to complete the sentences.

Example:

There are a lot of ________ in the pasture.   ==>  There are a lot of sheep in the pasture.

There are a lot of ________ in the pasture. ==> There are a lot of sheep in the pasture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Do you like ________ ?

1. Do you like ________ ?

 

2.  I had  two ________ for breakfast.

2. I had two ________ for breakfast.

 

3.  I have lost my ________ somewhere.

3. I have lost my ________ somewhere.

 

 

4.  How many ________ do you have?

4. How many ________ do you have?

 

Exercises.  Rewrite any sentences that have incorrect plural forms.  If no correction is needed, write “OK.”

Example:

Take these boxs and put them in the car. ==> Take these boxes and put them in the car.
All the benches in the park were freshly painted.  ==>  OK

1.    Jack washed the dishs after dinner.
2.    The department store has a fine selection of watches.
3.    I have to return these bookes to the library.
4.    Whenever the sun is very bright, Father has to wear a sunglasses.
5.    All children like to get toyes for Christmas.
6.    Your backpack is so heavy.  What do you have in there – rocks?
7.    Grandfather had a flock of gooses on his farm.
8.    Have you seen “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”?
9.    Mother bought me a new jeans.
10.    Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.
11.    Would you like tomatos in your salad?
12.    I don’t care for peas.
13.    We need new batteries for the radio.
14.    Neon is one of the so-called “noble gasses.”
15.    The horse had injured one of its hoofs.

Exercises.  Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

Example:

The people (is/are) tired and hungry.  ==> The people are tired and hungry.

1.    The police (is/are) asking everyone to stay off the roads due to the bad snowstorm.
2.    (Was/Were) there many people at the amusement park today?
3.    Have you seen my sunglasses?  I don’t know where I left (it/them).
4.    People usually (doesn’t/don’t) realize the importance of checking the air pressure in car tires.
5.    Once a month the local clergy (meets/meet) to have a prayer breakfast.
6.    My shorts (has/have) a hole in the pocket.
7.    Mother has (a/some) scissors in her sewing kit.
8.    (Has/Have) the police caught the bank robber yet?
9.    The couple (is/are) having their first baby next month.
10.    Most people (is/are) confused by the new rules.

 

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Crossword – TOEFL 12 (Solution)

toefl12-sol

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Grammar Basics: Unit 66 – Indefinite Articles: a, an (Solution)

Exercises.  Complete the phrases, using a or an.

Example:

______ old hat ==> an old hat

1.    an interesting book
2.    a new car
3.    a bank
4.    an office
5.    an exciting movie
6.    a TV show
7.    an unusual picture
8.    a crazy idea
9.    a big cookie
10.    a new restaurant

Exercises.  Complete the sentences, using a/an and with a word from the list.

Example:

A cat is ______. (mammal)  ==>  A cat is a mammal.

1.    Mars is a planet.
2.    A trumpet is an instrument.
3.    Cake is a dessert.
4.    A dictionary is a book.
5.    The Nile is a river.
6.    The Matterhorn is a mountain.
7.    A tree is a plant.
8.    A bee is an insect.
9.    A photograph is a picture.
10.    Milk is a drink.

Exercises.  Make a sentence that tells what each person’s job is.

Example:

He’s ______.

He’s ______.

 

 

 

==>  He’s a dentist.

 

 

 

 

 

1.    He’s ______. 2.    She’s ______.

1. He’s a doctor.
2. She’s a nurse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.    He’s ______.

3. He’s a teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.    He’s ______.

4. He’s an astronaut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.    He’s ______.

5. He’s a pilot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.    He’s ______. 7.    He’s ______.

6. He’s a policeman.
7. He’s a fireman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.    He’s ______.

8. He’s a plumber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.    She’s ______.

9. She’s a chef.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.    She’s ______.

10. She’s a student.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Exercises.  Write sentences, using words or phrases from each set.  Use a or an.

Example:

(Mr. and Mrs. Jones are going to have) + (baby).  ==>  Mr. and Mrs. Jones are going to have a baby.

1.    Let’s order a pizza.
2.    Can you play an instrument?
3.    The chicken laid an egg.
4.    The cat caught a mouse.
5.    Mrs. Brown is a teacher.
6.    We went out to see a movie.
7.    I’m going to take a shower.
8.    The boy scout lit a fire.
9.    Is that an exciting book?
10.    We flew on an airplane.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 66 – Indefinite Articles: a, an

We use the indefinite article a (or an) when we are referring to one thing or one person:

Pattern:  a / an (adjective) N

a is used before words that start with a consonant sound:

I have a dog.  (not I have dog)
Pikes Peak is a mountain in Colorado.  (not Pikes Peak is mountain in Colorado)
What a lovely day!  (not What lovely day)
I saw a child at the playground.  (not I saw child at the playground)

an is used before words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u):

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.  (not Apple day keeps the doctor away)
I ate an egg for breakfast.  (not I ate egg for breakfast)
We saw an orangutan at the zoo.  (not We saw orangutan at the zoo)
Mr. Jones is an important man.  (“man” does not begin with a vowel sound, but “important” does, so we use “anhere.)

Note:  We use “an hour” rather than “a hour” because “hour” starts with a vowel sound – the “h” is silent:

I worked on homework problems for an hour.

Note:  Certain words that begin with “u” may use “a” because they start with a consonant sound (/ju/):

I studied at a university after I graduated from high school.  (starting sound is /ju/)
We lived in a European country.  (starting sound is /ju/)
A computer is a useful tool.  (starting sound is /ju/)

But:

Do you have an umbrella? (starting sound is not /ju/, but /˄/)

We also use “a/an” when we are talking about what a person or thing is, a person’s job, occupation, etc.:

Stavanger is a European city.
A cow is a farm animal.
Jack is a tall boy.
Mr. Smith is a doctor.
My father is a banker.
Sally wants to be a musician when she grows up.
I am a student.  Actually, I am an English student.

 

Exercises.  Complete the phrases, using a or an.

Example:

______ old hat ==> an old hat

1.    ______ interesting book
2.    ______ new car
3.    ______ bank
4.    ______ office
5.    ______ exciting movie
6.    ______ TV show
7.    ______ unusual picture
8.    ______ crazy idea
9.    ______ big cookie
10.    ______ new restaurant

 

Exercises.  Complete the sentences, using a/an and with a word from the list.

Example:

A cat is ______. (mammal)  ==>  A cat is a mammal.

book drink instrument picture plant
dessert insect mountain planet river

1.    Mars is ______.
2.    A trumpet is ______.
3.    Cake is ______.
4.    A dictionary is ______.
5.    The Nile is ______.
6.    The Matterhorn is ______.
7.    A tree is ______.
8.    A bee is ______.
9.    A photograph is ______.
10.    Milk is ______.

 

Exercises.  Make a sentence that tells what each person’s job is.

Example:

He’s ______.

He’s ______.

 

 

==>  He’s a dentist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.    He’s ______. 2.    She’s ______.

1. He’s ______.
2. She’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.    He’s ______.

3. He’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.    He’s ______.

4. He’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.    He’s ______.

5. He’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.    He’s ______. 7.    He’s ______.

6. He’s ______.
7. He’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.    He’s ______.

8. He’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.    She’s ______.

9. She’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.    She’s ______.

10. She’s ______.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercises.  Write sentences, using words or phrases from each set.  Use a or an.

Example:

(Mr. and Mrs. Jones are going to have) + (baby).  ==>  Mr. and Mrs. Jones are going to have a baby.

 

Can you play Is that Mrs. Brown is The cat caught We flew on
I’m going to take Let’s order The boy scout lit The chicken laid We went out to see

 

airplane exciting book instrument movie shower
egg fire mouse pizza teacher

1.    _________________________________________________________.
2.    _________________________________________________________.
3.    _________________________________________________________.
4.    _________________________________________________________.
5.    _________________________________________________________.
6.    _________________________________________________________.
7.    _________________________________________________________.
8.    _________________________________________________________.
9.    _________________________________________________________.
10.    _________________________________________________________.

 

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Grammar Basics: Unit 65 – Possessive s: ’s (Solution)

Exercises.  Write sentences about the people in the family.

Row 1 (L to R):  Jack, Mary, Sarah, Peter Row 2 (L to R):  James, Susan, Paulette, Mark

Row 1 (L to R): Jack, Mary, Sarah, Peter
Row 2 (L to R): James, Susan, Paulette, Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack and Mary are married.  Their son is James.  James is married to Susan.
Sarah and Peter are married. Their son is Mark, and their daughter is Paulette.
Jack and Peter are brothers.

Example:

(Jack / husband) ==> Jack is Mary’s husband.

1.    Mary is James’s mother.
2.    James is Mark’s cousin.
3.    Jack is Paulette’s (Mark’s) uncle.
4.    Susan is Mary’s daughter-in-law.
5.    Peter is Jack’s brother.
6.    Mary is Sarah’s sister-in-law.
7.    James is Peter’s nephew.
8.    Paulette is Mary’s niece.
9.    Sarah is James’s aunt.
10.    Peter is Mark’s (Paulette’s) father.
11.    Paulette is Mark’s sister.
12.    Jack is Sarah’s brother-in-law.
13.    Jack is Susan’s father-in-law.
14.    Paulette is Peter’s daughter.
15.    James is Jack’s son.
16.    Sarah is Peter’s wife.

Exercise.  Answer the questions by looking at the pictures.

Example:

Whose umbrella is that? (Timmy)

Whose umbrella is that? (Timmy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whose umbrella is that? (Timmy) ==> It’s Timmy’s.

 

 

(Marcy) 1.Whose ball is that?

(Marcy)
1. Whose ball is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—It’s Marcy’s.

 

 

(Jane) 2.    Whose car is that?

(Jane)
2. Whose car is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—It’s Jane’s.

 

 

(Steve) 3.    Whose bicycle is that?

(Steve)
3. Whose bicycle is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—It’s Steve’s.

 

 

(Edwin) 4.    Whose horse is that?

(Edwin)
4. Whose horse is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—It’s Edwin’s.

 

 

(Rob) 5.    Whose tent is that?

(Rob)
5. Whose tent is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—It’s Rob’s.

 

 

(Nancy) 6.    Whose camera is that?

(Nancy)
6. Whose camera is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—It’s Nancy’s.

 

 

Exercise.   Look at the following sentences and correct the underlined portion if need be.   If the sentence needs no correction, write “OK.”

Example:

The squirrel crawled on the roof of the house.  ==> OK
I rode in the car of my brother.  ==> my brother’s car

1.    I put the book of Jack on the table. ==> Jack’s book
2.    The fifth grade class gave a retirement present to the principal of the school. ==> OK
3.    The keys of Mr. Smith are hanging on the key rack. ==> Mr. Smith’s keys
4.    The coach displayed the trophy of the team in the school lobby. ==> the team’s trophy
5.    We took a rest in the shade of the tree. ==> OK
6.    Grandmother threw out the shoes of my sister. ==> my sister’s shoes
7.    The dog likes to sleep at the foot of the bed. ==> OK
8.    Mrs. Johnson always sits at the front of the bus. ==> OK
9.    Ride the subway until you get to the end of the line, and then get off. ==> OK
10.    The cat was hiding under the bed of the twins. ==> the twins’ bed
11.    Let’s have a party in the middle of the month. ==> OK
12.    Someone stole the trumpet of Mark. ==> Mark’s trumpet
13.    I can’t remember the name of the movie. ==> OK
14.    The car of  my dad had a flat tire. ==> my dad’s car
15.    The nose of my uncle was sunburned. ==> my uncle’s nose
16.    The floor of the cabin was made of rough planks of wood. ==> OK

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