Unit 9B Uncountable and Plural Nouns: Exercise A

1. Gymnastics (is / are) my favorite sport.

• is

• are

• both

Answer explanation

Uncountable nouns don't have a plural form and thet use a singular verb. (gymnastics, economics, logistics, etc.)

2. I bought (a pair of / some) new jeans.

• a pair of

• some

• both

Answer explanation

If the word refers to something with two parts, eg. scissors, shorts, pants, jeans, etc., it can be used with a pair of or some.

3. Harvey's clothes (look / looks) expensive

• look

• looks

• both

Answer explanation

Clothes (arms, belongings, manners, outskirts, scissors, pants, jeans. etc.) is a plural noun with no singular. It needs a plural verb and it can't be used with a / an.

4. The flight crew (work / works) hard to make passengers comfortable.

• work

• works

• both

Answer explanation

Crew, family, government, staff, team, etc., are collective singular nouns and refer to a group of people. They need a singular verb.

5. I found out (some / a piece of) interesting information at the meeting.

• some

• a piece of

• both

Answer explanation

These nouns are also unc ountable: advice, bread, equipment, furniture, homework, information, luck. luggage, news, research, toast. With these, you can use a piece of or some to talk aout an individual item.

6. Could I have (a paper / a píece of paper) to write down the new words?

• a paper

• a piece of paper

• both

7. I think I'll have (a / some) time after lunch to help you with that report.

• a

• some

• both

8. I have (a / some) good news for you about your job application.

• a

• some

• both

Answer explanation

The noun "news" is uncountable. You can use some or a piece of to talk about an individual item.

9. We've made a lot of (progress / progresses) this semester.

• progress

• progresses

• both

Answer explanation

Progress is a noun with no singular.

10. Hello, reception? Do you have (an / some) iron I could use?

• an

• some

• both

Answer explanation

Some nouns depend on the context to be either countable or uncountable, as well as for their meaning.