Отсутствие артикля (Zero Article)

1. Артикль отсутствует перед именами существительными отвлечённого или вещественного характера.

Many people are afraid of death.

2. Перед существительными во множественном числе, использующимися в общем значении (смысле).

I buy magazines about computers.

3. С именами собственными: Peter, London, Hungary, а также титулами и званиями: Colonel Ivanov, Professor Smith.

4. Когда за существительным следует количественное числительное.

Let’s meet in room 21.

5. Перед притяжательными местоимениями и существительными в притяжательном падеже.

I have found my own way of life.

We like Spilberg’s films because they are very interesting.

6. Перед существительными, употребляющимися парами и соединёнными предлогами типа: from … to, from … till, from beginning to end, from north to south.

7. В сочетаниях: go to bed/be in bed/go to work/be at work/start work/finish work/go home/come home/be at home/stay at home/by bus, train, plane …

8. Перед названиями аэропортов и железно-дорожных станций, университетов, церквей, болезней, улиц, дорог, гор, континентов, озёр, школ, колледжей, тюрем, больниц.

Exercises:

1. Put in a/an or the.

1. What is ____ name of this village?

2. Jane is ___ very nice person. You must meet her.

3. Montreal is ___ large city in Canada.

4. What is ___ largest city in Canada?

5. Don’t sit on ___ floor. It’s very dirty.

2. Put in the where necessary. Write ‘okay’ if the sentence is correct.

1. Sky is blue and sun is shining. (the sky, the sun)

2. What are you going to have for lunch? Okay

3. Our apartment is on third floor.

4. Which city is capital of your country?

5. What is largest city in world?

6. It was a very nice hotel but I don’t remember name.

7. “Have you got any milk?” “Yes, there’s some in fridge.”

3. Put in the where necessary. If the sentence is correct, write ‘okay’.

1. Kevin lives in Coronation Street. Okay

2. Have you ever been to National Theater? (The National Theatre)

3. “Where are you staying?” “At Intercontinental Hotel.”

4. Milan is a large city in north of Italy.

5. Brussels is the capital of Belgium.

6. Manila is the capital of Philippines.

7. In London, Houses of Parliament are beside River Thames.

8. Have you ever been to British Museum?

Translate the sentences.

1. Я ненавижу дождь.

2. Он не заметил, как начался дождь.

3. Париж – один из самых красивых городов в мире.

4. Я купил в магазине фрукты.

5. Всем нужна еда.

6. Британия – это остров. Какой самый большой остров в мире?

7. Земля – одна из планет нашей солнечной системы.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Существительные могут быть исчисляемыми и неисчисляемыми.

• Неисчисляемые существительные имеют только одну форму (единственное число) и не требуют неопределённый артикль (a/an).

• Неисчисляемые существительные включают:

- субстанции, материалы: gas, gold, plastic, water, air, sand …

- абстрактные идеи: profitability, progress, travel, weather, luck

- отглагольные существительные: brainstorming, engineering, timing, advertising

(+ см. Laboratory work No.3)

Разница между исчисляемыми и неисчисляемыми существительными

	countable example	uncountable example
use of a, an, the plural noun some + noun any + noun enough + noun many + noun few/a few + noun less + noun little/a little + noun much + noun that/this + noun those/these + noun	a book, the book books, the books some books any book, any books enough books many books (a) few books (not possible) (not possible) (not possible) that/this book those/these books	cheese, the cheese (no plural form) some cheese any cheese enough cheese (not possible) (not possible) less cheese (a) little cheese much cheese that/this cheese (not possible)

• Неисчисляемые существительные всегда требуют после себя глагол в единственном числе.

The money is insufficient.

• Многие существительные могут быть как неисчисляемыми, так и исчисляемыми:

There is a fine cheese. (= a fine variety or type)

These cheeses are produced only in Italy. (= these types of cheese)

• fish – fishes (all the fishes in the sea = the different varieties of fish)

He studies the fishes in the Atlantic. (= types of fish)

• fruit – fruits (Fruit is sweet.)

noun	countable example	uncountable example
chicken coffee experience fruit hair juice noise	He sat there and ate a whole chicken. I’d love a coffee now. (= cup of coffee) Failing an exam was a new experience for me. A kumquat is an exotic fruit. The cat has left white hairs all over the sofa. I’d like an orange juice, please. (= a glass of) I heard a noise outside the window.	I’ll have some chicken and chips, please. Is there any coffee left? Have you had any previous experience? You should eat fruit every day. Get your hair cut – it’s getting too long. I’ll just squeeze some juice from these oranges. Stop making so much noise.

• Некоторые исчисляемые и неисчисляемые формы имеют абсолютно разные значения:

iron (железо) - an iron (утюг)

paper (бумага) - a paper (газета)

wood (дерево) - a wood (лес)

work (работа) - a work (произведение)

Exercises

1. In the following pairs of words, one is countable and the other is uncountable. Write some or a before each word.

1. __a__ book/ some_ literature

2. _____ report/ _____ news

3. _____ desk/ _____ furniture

4. _____ accommodation/ _____ hotel

5. _____ chance/ _____ luck

6. _____ water/ _____ litre

7. _____ equipment/ _____ machine

8. _____ dollar/ _____ money

9. _____ cheque/ _____ cash

10. _____ letter/ _____ correspondence

2. Fill in the gaps in the text with a few/a little/much/many. Retell the text.

Two Bags of Groceries

Michael is at the supermarket and he's really upset. He just bought some groceries, and he can't believe he just spent forty dollars!

He only bought … oranges, … apples, … milk, … ice cream, and … eggs.

He also bought just … coffee, … onion, … bananas, … rice, … cheese, and … lemons.

He didn’t buy very … fish. He didn’t buy very … grapes. And he didn’t buy very … meat.

Michael just spent forty dollars, and he’s walking out of the Supermarket with only two bags of groceries. No wonder he’s upset!