Seminar 1B -- Tasks / Worksheet 1

   

   

   I. QUESTIONS (to answer after you have studied the seminar handout carefully)

   

   

   1.      Explain the main differences between proper and common nouns, give examples
   illustrating the differences and supporting your explanation.

   

   

   

   

   2.      What are the characteristic features of countable and uncountable nouns, give
   examples.

   

   

   

     

   3.      What kinds of determiners can be used with a countable noun in the singular? Do we
   need a determiner with a singular countable noun or not?

   

   

   

   

   4.      Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, give an example and explain the
   difference.

   

   

   

   

   5.      Some nouns are normally uncountable (e.g. wine, coffee). In what context are they used
   as countable, give examples and explain them.

   

   

   

   6.      What are the roles of `partitives'? What is the pattern of a phrase with `a
   partitive'?

   

   

   

   

   7.      We differentiate two main types of `partition'. Give examples.

   

   

   

     

     8.  The quantity `partitives' are of two kinds. Which ones? Give examples.

   II. PRACTICE

   

   If you are not sure, consult either the seminar handout or a good monolingual dictionary or
   both!

   

   

   1. Are the following nouns concrete or abstract, countable or uncountable? Write a short
   sentence which makes it clear how to use these words:

   

   1.      sailor

   2.      grass

   3.      chair

   4.      brick

   5.      chicken

   6.      cake

   7.      stone

   8.      gossip

   9.      warmth

   10.  homework

   

   

   2. Are the following sentences right or wrong? Correct the wrong ones:

   

   1.      The camping is very popular in the States.

   2.      No, thanks. I don't like cake.

   3.      She was a beauty in her youth.

   4.      I will give you my address. Do you have a paper?

   5.      What are you fond of? -- I like the music and dancing.

   6.      She will give a talk on a Chinese art.

   7.      That's foolish talk.

   8.      (In a restaurant) Three beers, please.

   9.      How many luggages have you got? -- Just this two bags.

   10.  I asked the doctor for an advice.

   11.  I had a strange experience the other day while I was going home late at night.

   12.  I have no informations concerning the meeting.

   

   

   3. Use the following words in sentences illustrating their countable and uncountable usage:

   

   1.      experience C = _________________________________________________

                           U = _________________________________________________

   

   2.      hair C = _______________________________________________________

                U = _______________________________________________________

   

   3.      chocolate C = ____________________________________________________

                         U = ____________________________________________________

   

   4.   time   C = _______________________________________________________

                   U = _______________________________________________________

   

   

   4. Fill in the nouns that collocate (=are typically used) with the following `partitives':

   

   1.      a speck of ______________

   2.      a sip of ________________

   3.      a flash of _______________

   4.      a burst of  ______________

   5.      a fit of ______________

   6.      a jar of ________________

   7.      a pinch of _________________

   8.      a wisp of _________________

   9.      a mug of ________________

   10.  a drop of ________________

   11.  a pile of _________________

   12.  a dash of ________________

   13.  a spoonful of ____________

   14.  a bar of _________________

   

   

   5. Fill in the appropriate `partitives':

   

   1.      a ___________ of cattle

   2.      a ___________ of sugar

   3.      a ___________ of rice / sand

   4.      a ___________ of sheep

   5.      a ___________ of scissors

   6.      an __________ of truth

   7.      a ___________ of grass

   8.      a ___________ of thunder

   9.      a ___________ of luck

   10.  a ___________ of sleep

   11.  a ___________ of bees

   12.  a ___________ of keys

   13.  a ___________ of insect

   14.  a ___________ of calm