Search results for 'tag:Negatives tag:Uncountable nouns' matching tags 'Negatives' and 'Uncountable nouns'

using photoalbums from the net-ideas for teachers

linguaprof — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:24:40 GMT

My tips:
Look at the photoalbum: http://picasaweb.google.com/Sean.Pigg/MimsAndSeanSHouse
With an elementary/pre-intermediate student these pictures could be used to teach:
1. The vocabulary of house and living.
2. Present simple by asking: What do they usually do in this room/ place? (interrogative, negative too)
3. Present continuous, by using the pictures with people, asking What are they doing?, etc.(interrogative, negative too)
4. The use of There is, There are. (interrogative, negative too)
5. Countable, uncountable nouns- much and many- Many chairs, much space
6. Prepositions of place.
7. Comparatives and superlatives- This room is bigger than that one. This is the largest room., etc.

These are just a few ideas. Have fun!
Peter

Re: Problem with There's, there aren't + some/any

Hector9 — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:05:34 GMT

Thank you for your answer.

So, If I want to say that are chairs in here, What must I use?

There are chairs in here. (I think this is wrong)

There are some chairs in here. (I think this is the great sentence)

With gold:

There's some gold in that mine. (I think this is the great sentence)

There's gold in that mine (I think this is wrong)

Am I OK? In accord what you said, I think I'm ok now, but I really don't know.

In other words, with uncountable nouns, Must I use them with 'some and 'any' in negative and positive sentences?

For example:

I have some new information for you or I have new information for you?

There's not any water at the kitchen or There's not water at the kitchen?

Thanks a lot

I Have some doubts, help me please

Hector9 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:48:14 GMT

I donÂ´t understand the use and the meaning of these casses, iÂ´ll put the explanation of my english book

The use of Some/Any (Yes, very difficult)

Some is used in positive sentences with plurals and uncountable nouns
Examples:
I have some friends
Do you want some food?

Any is used in negative sentences and questions with plurals and uncountable nouns.
Examples:
I donÂ´t have any friends
Do you have any coffee?

I donÂ´t understand nothing about this.

The use of Take

The verb take has lots of meanings. Here are some examples:
Take me to the airport, please.
Take this ticket!
Can i take a message?

I donÂ´t understand the use of Something/Anything and Someone/Anyone, either.

Sorry guys A lot of people explained me these uses, but i donÂ´t understand Perhaps you can explain me

Thank you very much for your time

any in summary

New2grammar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:52:45 GMT

I have gone through a lot of the old posts on the topic any. This is my understanding of any usage.

Any can be followed by a plural/uncountable/singular noun.

1. When any is used in interogative or negative form, it is usually followed by a plural/uncountable noun. Does it mean that the verb always agrees with the plural/uncountable noun if the noun is also a subject?

For example,

Do you have any kids that are older than 9 years old?

There aren't any good options.

Exceptional case.

He is amazed that there isn't any sales tax in MN.

There isn't any widely used password checker out there which has the ...

2. When it is used in declarative form, it is usually followed by a singular noun.

Any idea is a good idea => the verb agrees with the singular noun idea.

Exceptional case.

If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. => the pronoun agrees with the plural noun comment

Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks

a little and little revisited

Believer — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 20:35:37 GMT

Hi,

Please check if my reasoning is correct.

a little and little are ususally used in front of uncountable nouns to signal the amount in possession and they respectively are coming from the positive polarity and negative polarity view points.

I have a little or little money -- Here, it is acting as a sort of quantifier, I think.

1. OK, but I think, this take on looking from the positive polarity view point and negative polarity view point fails somewhat when they are used as adverbs like this.

I speak English a little.

I think you can say, "I speak English little," but is awakward and sounds stilted??.

2. And that "polarity view point" thing?? also isn't applicable when they are used to modify adjectives, I think.

I am a little angry.

I think you cannot say "I am little angry."

3. And I think you can't use for this too.

He has been Treasurer for a little over four years.

Here, I think, you cannot say, "He has been Treasrer for little over four years."

Re: two questions on board

Clive — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:49:26 GMT

Hi,

1. Which one is right or are they both right?

Everything went smooth.

Everything went smoothly.

In your example, you need the adverbial form. 'Smoothly' modifies 'went', ie it describes the 'going', not 'everything'.

However, consider 'When I fell and hit my head, everything went black'. Here' 'black' is an adjective describing 'everything'. Everything became black.

2. When puttng the word "more" in front of uncountable nouns, is it always the case that the verbs have to be in singular? I always try to avoid saying 'always', but generally speaking, yes. However, it's not because of the use of 'more'. It's because such nouns require a singular verb.

More furniture means more money.OK

More equipment means more money.OK

How about the word "some" in front of uncountable nouns, is it the same case of having to put singular verbs? Same comment as above.

Some rice needs not be given. The use of ('need' + a negative) expresses a necessity or obligation. The form 'need' is used, not 'needs'. This is true for both uncountable and countable nouns, eg This chair need not be painted.

Some time is needed. OK

Best wishes, Clive

Re: singular / plural

Goodman — Tue, 16 May 2006 23:09:56 GMT

Ah! You've just pointed out something rather interesting. It just occurred to me that âcomplainingâ as used in my original sentence, could be perceived as an uncountable noun by itself followed by ânegative emotion; or an adjective describing âemotionâ depending on the person reading it.

âIn the town hall meeting, there was/ were a lot of complaining and negative emotionâ

So if I interpret it correctly, you agree that in the context where two uncountable nouns are in the sentence which starts with âthere is/ areâ¦.â, singular is the correct form. A few people already used the â uncountable noun + uncountable noun + plural verb + adjective â argument which I think is not the same as my question.

How about this one: There was /were a tremendous amount of screaming and panic when the fire broke out in the theater. My understanding is âwasâ.

Re: singular / plural

Grammar Geek — Tue, 16 May 2006 22:27:55 GMT

Pinenut wrote:
Goodman wrote:

Can any expert answer this question?

If there are two uncountable nouns in a sentence, should we should singular / plurla verb?

Ex: In the townhall meeting, there was/ were a lot of complaining and negative emotion.

I know with a single uncountalbe noun, th answer is "was" but not sure with two nouns.

Thanks

In the townhall meeting, there was a lot of (complaining and negative) emotion.

'emotion' is an uncountable noun and 'complaining and negative' is two adjectives.

Time, money, and effort were needed.

At the great risk of being told by Pinenut that I don't know a thing about grammar, the sentence doesn't include one uncountable noun (emotion) with two adjectives, but two uncountable nouns: complaining AND [negative] emotion.

Obviously, when two nouns come before the verb, the verb is plural. Complaining and bigotry are two things I can't abide.

It's the use of of "there are" and "there is" that changes the rule. Even then, if you are forthright in the "pluralness" (I made up that word, please don't look for it) of the nouns that follow, use the plural form of the verb - There were two things that made the meeting so unpleasant - all the negativity and the complaining.

However, you'll find "there is" (or "there was") used almost idiomatically, in the singular.

Compare: The weather was unbearable. There was so much heat and humdity and There were two things that made it so: the heat and humidity.

You wouldn't say There were a lot of time and money wasted on that project, but rather There was a lot of time and money wasted on that project. On the other hand, you could say There were a lot of people [people being plural] who put their time into that project.

Re: singular / plural

Pinenut — Tue, 16 May 2006 20:10:34 GMT

Goodman wrote:
Can any expert answer this question?

If there are two uncountable nouns in a sentence, should we should singular / plurla verb?

Ex: In the townhall meeting, there was/ were a lot of complaining and negative emotion.

I know with a single uncountalbe noun, th answer is "was" but not sure with two nouns.

Thanks

In the townhall meeting, there was a lot of (complaining and negative) emotion.

'emotion' is an uncountable noun and 'complaining and negative' is two adjectives.

Time, money, and effort were needed.

singular / plural

Goodman — Tue, 16 May 2006 19:15:51 GMT

Can any expert answer this question?

If there are two uncountable nouns in a sentence, should we should singular / plurla verb?

Ex: In the townhall meeting, there was/ were a lot of complaining and negative emotion.

I know with a single uncountalbe noun, th answer is "was" but not sure with two nouns.

Thanks