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Use of the possessive/genitive case and of + noun A . The possessive case is chiefly used of people, countries or animals as shown above. It can also be used: 1 Of ships and boats: the ship’s bell, the yacht’s mast 2 Of planes, trains, cars and other vehicles, though here the of construction is safer: [...]
The form of the possessive/genitive case A. ‘s is used with singular nouns and plural nouns not ending in s: a man’s job the people’s choice men’s work the crew’s quarters a woman’s intuition the horse’s mouth the butcher’s (shop) the bull’s horns a child’s voice women’s clothes the children’s room Russia’s exports B. A [...]
Uncountable nouns (also known as non-count nouns or mass nouns) A1. Names of substances considered generally: bread cream gold paper tea beer dust ice sand water cloth gin jam soap wine coffee glass oil stone wood 2 Abstract nouns: advice experience horror pity beauty fear information relief courage help knowledge suspicion death hope mercy work [...]
Plurals A. The plural of a noun is usually made by adding s to the singular: day, days dog, dogs house, houses s is pronounced /s/ after a p, k or f sound. Otherwise it is pronounced Izl. When s is placed after ce, ge, se or ze an extra syllable (/iz/) is added to [...]
Kinds and function A. There are four kinds of noun in English: Common nouns, dog, man, table Proper nouns,: France, Madrid, Mrs Smith, Tom Abstract nouns: beauty, chanty, courage, fear, joy Collective nouns: crowd, flock, group, swarm, team B. A noun can function as: The subject of a verb: Tom arrived The complement of the [...]
this/these, that/those (demonstrative adjectives and pronouns) A. Used as adjectives, they agree with their nouns in number. They are the only adjectives to do this. This beach was quite empty last year This exhibition will be open until the end of May. These people come from that hotel over there What does that notice say”’ [...]
A. The definite article is not used 1. Before names of places except as shown above or before names of people 2. Before abstract nouns except when they are used in a particular sense Men fear death but The death of the Prime Minister left his party without a leader 3. After a noun in [...]
6. the (the definite article) A. Form the is the same for singular and plural and for all genders: the boy the girl the day the boys the girls the days B. Use The definite article is used. 1. When the object or group of objects is unique or considered to be unique: the earth [...]
5. a little/a few and little/few A. a little/little (adjectives) are used before uncountable nouns: a little salt/little salt a few/few (adjectives) are used before plural nouns. a few people/few people All four forms can also be used as pronouns, either alone or with of: Sugar? ~ A little, please Only a few of these [...]
4 a/an and one A. a/an and one (adjective) 1. When counting or measuring time, distance, weight etc we can use either a/an or one for the singular: £1 = a/one pound £1,000,000 = a/one million pounds (See chapter 36.) But note that in The rent is £100 a week the a before week is [...]