Unit 5: NOUN PHRASES

EG. Smoking has an negative/adverse/

damaging/devastating effect on our health
I’m deeply interested in football
I have a deep interest in football
1. Countable nouns
 (a/an/the) OR THE ENDING “S”
(The) government need to take immediate steps
- Singular and plural form(s,es).
The student/students is/are intelligent
- Irregular plurals (NO ENDING “S”)
People- a person-> peoples(tribes)
Mice-a mouse
Data-datum
Bac’teria-bacterium
Paparazzi(‘ratsi)-paparazzo(ratso)
- Do not change in their plural form
The sheep is/are
Army personnel are (employees)
Airline personnel are
The staff in this shop are friendly
- Hyphens: brothers-in-law/over-achievers (KEY WORDS)
- NOTE: REFER TO A GROUP-> PHRASES OF COUNTABLE NOUNS
A FLOCK OF SHEEP/BIRDS
A BUNCH/BOUQUET OF FLOWERS/GRAPES/KEYS
A PACK OF CARDS/DOGS/WOLVES
A SHOAL OF FISH
A HERD OF COWS/ELEPHANTS
A SET OF TEACUPS / ENCYCLOPAEDIAS
2. UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
 SINGULAR UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS: + SINGULAR VERB
- SOAP,CHOCOLATE,INFORMATION,BLOOD,BREAD,RESPECT,
KNOWLEDGE,LUGGAGE/BAGGAGE
Chocolate is mass produced in this country
ADVICE
JEWELLERY(JEWELRY)
FURNITURE
WASTE/LITTER/GARBAGE/RUBBISH
RESEARCH (scientific STUDIES)
NEWS
Equipment (tools=facilities=amenities=apparatuses)
- REFER TO A PARTICULAR ITEM.
PHRASES OF UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
 A LOAF OF BREAD
A PIECE/PIECES OF FURNITURE/advice
A DROP OF WATER
A BAR OF CHOCOLATE
A BIT/PIECE OF HELP/ADVICE
A BLOCK OF CONCRETE (a concrete foundation)
A SHEET/SCRAP OF PAPER
A SPECK OF DUST/DIRT
A GUST OF WIND
A SPOT OF INK
 PLURAL UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS: PLURAL VERB
- ONLY PLURAL FORM:
GLASSES, SCISSORS, ARMS,
CATTLE/livestock a herd of cattle
CLOTHES
EARNINGS (money)
SAVINGS (money)
CONGRATULATIONS
THANKS
SHORTS, JEANS, PANTS, TROUSERS, PYJAMAS, GOODS,
GROCERIES,
SURROUNDINGS, REMAINS, REGARDS:
NOTE. SOMETIMES A PAIR OF
SHOES/TROUSERS/SCISSORS/BINOCULARS
3. Quantifiers

 Quantifiers only used with countable nouns:

Few= not many
A few=some=Several
The number of (cái số lượng) V(s/es)
A number of=some Vplural
Eg. The number of students (who join)joining in the class is increasing.
There are an increasing number of students choosing to study pr and
marketing
A number of workers are not satisfied with their current job.

Many/both/either/neither/the whole/the entire (of) (the)

Each/every

Eg. both parents are very worried about their children’s academic results.
Both of the parents are
There is an additional café, a changing room and a sports shop in either side
of the main entrance
I don’t think he is going to invite either of us
Neither of our cars has enough petrol so we have to take the bus.
Note: Both= the two alternatives
 This and that
 I can speak Both English and French
Either= one of the two alternatives= this or that
 I can speak Either English or French
Neither=None=not this and not the other
 Neither my father nor my mother likes watching football
 Quantifiers only used with uncountable nouns:
The amount of water/ electricity/ waste(litter,rubbish)
Eg. A/The amount of electricity (which was) generated/produced from fossil
fuels increased significantly over the last 10 years (one decade)
A huge/massive/large amount of + V(S/ES)
A great deal of
She spent a great deal of money on furnishing her apartment.
The charitable works of the famous(celebrities) have excited a large amount of
media interest.
A great deal of research has been conducted/carried out/done about the
vaccines of covid-19
(A sheer/colossal number of scientific studies)
Little= not much
A little = some
The volume of solid waste in urban areas has significantly decreased in recent
years.
 Quantifiers used with all nouns:
All (of the)
EG. All developing countries (all of the developing countries) are speeding up
the vaccination rate.
All butter will melt if subjected to heat.
A lot of/ lots of (the)
Enough (of the)
More (of the)
Most(of the)= the majority of
Some (of the)
Plenty of
None of

4. Articles
 Indefinite articles: a/an singular countable nouns: a student/a person/ a
concert/ a movie
An-vowel sounds (not spelling-euoai)
A- Consonant sounds
EG. a unique experience
a university
an umbrella
 Definite article: the + singular countable nouns/ uncountable nouns: the
guitar/ the scores/the equality/the government(s).
 The + adjective -> refer to a group of people
The old/elderly (older people=the elderly)
The rich (rich people)
The famous (famous people)=celebrities
The homeless
Note: physical things that are unique or the famous: the sun/the moon/ My
Tam, the singer/the king/ the Queen

 Zero article: uncountable nouns

Eg. An artist always needs inspiration