a/an and some
a/an + singular countable nouns (car/apple/shoe etc.):
O I need a new car.
O Would you like an apple?
some + plural countable nouns (cars/apples/shoes etc.):
O I need some new shoes.
O Would you like some apples?
some + uncountable nouns (water/money/music etc.):
O I need some water.
O Would you like some cheese? (or Would you like a piece of cheese?)
Compare A and Some:
O Nicola bought a hat, some shoes and some perfume.
O I read a newspaper, made some phone calls, and listened to some music.
Many nouns are sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable:
For example:
Compare a paper (= a newspaper) and some paper:
O I want something to read. I'm going to buy a paper.
but O I want to make a shopping list. I need some paper / a piece of paper. (not a paper)
Be careful with:
These nouns are usually uncountable. So you can't say a/an ... (a bread, an advice ), and they can't be plural (-advices, furnitures- etc.):
O Can I talk to you? I need some advice. (not an advice)
O I'm going to buy some bread. (not a bread)
O They've got some nice furniture in their house. (not furnitures)
O Silvia has very long hair. (not hairs)
O Where can I get some information about hotels here? (not informations)
O Listen! I've just had some good news. (not a good news)
O It's nice weather today. (not a nice weather)
O Do you like your job? Yes, but it's hard work (not a hard work)
Text translation
Source text
We say a job (but not a work):
O I've got a new job. (not a new work):
Make sentences use a Or some:
1. Some perfume, a hat and some shoes.
2. a newspaper (or a paper), some flowers (or a bunch of flowers) and a pen
3 some bananas, some eggs and some bread (or a loaf of bread)
4 some toothpaste, some soap (or a bar of soap) and a comb.
Make sentences with Would you like a...? OR Would you like some...?
1. Would you like some cheese ?
2. Would you like some coffee?
(or ... a cup of coffee?)
3. Would you like a biscuit?
4. Would you like some bread? (or ... a piece of bread? / a slice of bread?)
5. Would you like a chocolate?
6. Would you like some cake?
(or ... a piece of cake?)
Make sentences Use a/an or some.
1. I read a book and listened to some music.
2. I need some money. I want to buy some food.
3. We met some interesting people at the party.
4. I'm going to open a window to get some fresh air.
5. Rachel didn't eat much for lunch - only an apple and some bread.
6. We live in a big house. There's nice a garden with some beautiful trees.
7. I'm going to make a table. First I need some wood.
8. Listen to me carefully. I'm going to give you some advice.
9. I want to make a list of things to do. I need some paper and a pen.
Another example:
1 I'm going to buy some new shoes
2 Mark has brown eyes.
3. Paula has short black hair.
4. The tour guide gave us some information about the city.
5. We're going to buy some new chairs.
6. We're going to buy some new furniture.
7. It's hard to find a job at moment
8. We had wonderful weather when we were on holiday.
