The indefinite article - a

The indefinte article is the a is the same for all genders. a boy, a girl, a cat The indefinte article has no plural form. a boy - boys We use an if the following word starts with a vowel. the following word starts with a consonant a boy a school a girl the following word starts with a vowel an aunt an old school an American girl

Mind the pronunciation of the following word. a unit an uncle This u sounds like a consonant, so we use a. This u sounds like a vowel, so we use an.

Use of the indefinite article a/an

- before phrases of time and measurements (per week/weekly) We have English 4 times a week. I go on holiday twice a year. Our car can do 220 kilometres an hour. Tomatoes are $2 a kilo. - before phrases of jobs My father is a car mechanic. - before phrases of nationality Bruce Springsteen is an American. - half/quite We need half a pound of sugar. This is quite a good story.

Exercise 1 : Put a/an where it is necessary. Remember we can use a/an only with COUNTABLES nouns!!!!!!
a) Jim hasn't got car.

b) Ann was listening to music when I arrived. c) We went to very nice restaurant last weekend. d) I clean my teeth with toothpaste. e) Can you tell me if there's bank near here ? f) My brother works for company in London. g) I don't like violence. h) Can you smell paint? i) We need petrol. I hope we come to petrol station soon. j) I like oak furniture. I'm going to buy new white table.

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with these words and put a/an when necessary.

accident moment

biscuit blood coat music question

decision sugar

electricity

key

letter

a) It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. b) Listen ! Can you hear ......................... ? c) I couldn't get into the house because I didn't have .................... d) It's very warm today. Why are you wearing ........................ ? e) Do you take ........................... in your coffee ? f) Are you hungry ? Would you like .............................. with your coffee ? g) Our lives would be very difficult without .............................. h) I didn't phone them. I just wrote ......................... i) The heart pumps ............................ through the body. j) Excuse me, but can I ask you ................................... ? k) I'm not ready yet. Can you wait ............................, please ? l) We can't wait any longer. We must make ............................... now.

How much? / How many?

We need some tea. ______ do we need?

We need some eggs. ______ do we need?

We need some paper. ______ do we need?

We need some money. ______ do we need?

______ cigarettes do you smoke a day?

______ packets of cigarettes do you have?

______ work have you got to do?

______ sleep did you get last night?

______ children have you got?

10

______ bottles of wine are there in the cellar?

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______ English grammar do you know?

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______ Americans do you know?

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______ sugar do you take in your tea?

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______ apples do you eat in an average week?

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______ fruit do you eat in an average week?

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______ real friends do you have?

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______ chairs are there in your house?

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______ furniture do you have?

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______ traffic was there on the motorway today?

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______ times must I tell you?

some: affirmative statements, offers, requests and in questions when you expect the
answer "yes"

any: negative statements, questions

Have you got any bananas? No, we haven't got any. But we've got some oranges

Fill in the correct word (some or any).

1. Sue went to the cinema with 2. Jane doesn't have 3. Have you got 4. Here is

of her friends!

friends. brothers or sisters?

food for the cat. flowers on the table. calls on the answering machine?

5. I think you should put 6. Could you check if there are 7. I don't want 8. Did they have 10. There aren't

presents for my birthday. news for you? sandwiches. apples left.

9. I'm hungry - I'll have

Some or any - Choose the correct answer.

1) Can I have 2) We saw

of these kiwis? dolphins in the sea.

3) They went to town without 4) Buy some apples if you see 5) Would you like

money. .

more tea? time you want.

6) Come and see me

7) He never does 8) You can take

work. bus to the city centre.

9) Peter never gives his mother 10) There's hardly

help.

coffee left.