Level: Pre-intermediate and above

Brief description:

This unit is designed to raise students’ awareness of the common errors with use of nouns in business email writing.

KEY CONCEPTS:

Accuracy in writing: Which words can be used to talk about one or many things? How do they affect other words in the sentence?

Purposes in writing: Are there certain uncountable words or nouns you use in business writing?

An inconsistent writer: Do your readers get confused when you talk about something that cannot be considered many?

Let’s begin the adventure!!!! …

Some Nouns in English are countable.

One cat

Two cats

With these nouns, you need to make sure that the verb agrees: The cat was sleeping. / The cats were sleeping.

We can also use modifiers such as too many, too few and enough with countable nouns in the plural (more than one).

There are too many cats. There are too few cats. There are enough cats.

Other Nouns in English are uncountable.

One information

Three informations

With these nouns, you use the verb in the singular – Information is….

Here, we use the modifiers too little, too much and some

Put the words into the correct column to match your opinion:

cars     pollution     litter     traffic     supermarkets

discos     parks     pretty     women     handsome     men

schools     train     stations     sunshine     rain

tourists     football     stadiums     good     drivers

libraries     new     buildings     people     who     queue

taxis     dogs     restaurants     fresh     air

In Hanoi / HCMC there is / are

Glossary:

• To queue (verb): to stand in a line (Đứng xếp hàng)

• Slot (noun): a narrow opening or slit as in a machine or mailbox (Khe (nhét tiền))

• Punchy (adj.): expresses meaning in a forceful or effective way, sometimes draws attention effectively (Về mặt văn phong) (Sắc sảo)

• Litter (noun): trash, garbage, rubbish (Rác, chất thải)

Writing Practice:

Work out the rules governing these types of words by inserting C (for countable) and / or U (uncountable) in the following statements.

 ________ nouns have no plural form.

 ________ nouns can occur in the singular without any article.

 ________ nouns can be preceded by the definite article, the.

 ________ nouns can be preceded by the indefinite article, a or an.

 ________ nouns can be used with numbers.

Remember the rules and insert the correct countable or uncountable noun in the following sentences.

1 Insert a ________________ into the slot. (coin, money)

2 Various ________________ are available for spreadsheet work. (software, program)

3 ________________ must be worn when on official business. (office wear, tie)

4 The invoice is for twenty ________________. (furniture, table)

5 From home to work is a _____________ of about 45 minutes. (travel, journey)

6 Her boss smokes fifteen ________________ a day. (cigarette)

7 He checked in two ________________ at the airport. (suitcase, luggage)

8 On Valentine's Day, he gave his secretary ten ________________. (rose)

9 Newsletters contain ________________ (news, information, fact) written in punchy ________________. (word, wording)

10 The ________________ in the factory were damaged in the fire. (equipment, machine, machinery)

WELL- DONE! You have fulfilled another mission in the adventure to master Business English. See you in the next lesson.

ANSWERS:

In Hanoi / HCMC there is / are

C cars     U pollution     U litter     U traffic     C supermarkets

C discos     C parks     C pretty women     C handsome men

C schools     C train stations     U sunshine     U rain

C tourists     C football stadiums     C good drivers

C libraries     C new buildings     C people who queue

C taxis     C dogs     C restaurants     U fresh air

U = uncountable: use too little, too much, or enough

C = countable: use too few, too many, or enough

Work out the rules governing these types of words by inserting C (for countable) and / or U (uncountable) in the following statements.

U nouns have no plural form.

U nouns can occur in the singular without any article.

C/U nouns can be preceded by the definite article, the.

C nouns can be preceded by the indefinite article, a or an.

C nouns can be used with numbers.

Remember the rules and insert the correct countable or uncountable noun in the following sentences.

1 Insert a coin into the slot. (coin, money)

2 Various programs are available for spreadsheet work. (software, program)

3 Office wear / Ties must be worn when on official business. (office wear, tie)

4 The invoice is for twenty tables. (furniture, table)

5 From home to work is a journey of about 45 minutes. (travel, journey)

6 Her boss smokes fifteen cigarettes a day. (cigarette)

7 He checked in two suitcases at the airport. (suitcase, luggage)

8 On Valentine's Day, he gave his secretary ten roses. (rose)

9 Newsletters contain news / information / facts (news, information, fact) written in punchy words/ wording. (word, wording)

10 The machines in the factory were damaged in the fire. (equipment, machine, machinery)

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).