Question 1
Let me give you _____.
Advice is uncountable, so we can't say an advice. To talk about one item, use a piece of advice.
Question 2
_____ good news!
News looks plural, but it is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb: This is good news.
Question 3
We are making _____ with our report.
Progress is uncountable, so it takes no a. The fixed phrase is make progress.
Question 4
Neil has _____ friends.
Friends is a plural countable noun, so we use many. Much goes with uncountable nouns.
Question 5
I wish you _____ luck with your job search.
Luck is uncountable, so it takes much, not many. In everyday speech people also say lots of luck or the best of luck.
Question 6
The information you gave me _____ useful.
Information is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb: The information is useful.
Question 7
The clothing you gave my daughter _____ beautiful.
Clothing is an uncountable noun, so the verb is singular: is. Compare clothes, which is plural: The clothes are beautiful.
Question 8
We had _____ time for sightseeing on our business trip.
Time here is uncountable, so we use little to mean 'not much'. Few goes with plural countable nouns.
Question 9
I only have _____ dollars left in my wallet.
Dollars is a plural countable noun, so we use a few. A little goes with uncountable nouns, as in a little money.
Question 10
How _____ cups of coffee have you had today?
Cups is plural and countable, so the question is How many…? We use How much…? with uncountable nouns, as in How much coffee?
Question 11
The CEO of Walt Disney made over $53 million last year. That boggles my _____!
It boggles my mind (or it boggles the mind) means 'it is so surprising or big that it is hard to imagine'. The idiom always uses mind, not brain or head.
Question 12
I can't find my theater ticket anywhere. Can you help me track it _____?
Track something down means to search for something and finally find it. Example: I finally tracked down my keys.
Question 13
Can I call you back later? I'm pressed _____ time right now.
Be pressed for time means to be busy and not have enough time. The preposition is always for.
Question 14
Good news! My missing theater ticket just turned _____.
Turn up means that something lost is found or appears again. Example: My wallet turned up in my coat pocket. Not turned down, which means 'refused'.
Question 15
Ted needs to be at the airport in an hour and his car won't start. He's _____ a bind.
Be in a bind means to be in a difficult situation with no easy way out. The idiom uses in.
Question 16
Is Paul moving to Prague for _____ or is he just going to spend a year or two there?
For good means 'permanently, forever'. Paul either moves to Prague for good or stays only for a year or two.
Question 17
- "What if we can't get up our driveway due to the snowstorm?"
- "Let's cross that _____ when we come to it."
Let's cross that bridge when we come to it means 'let's not worry about a problem until it actually happens'. The idiom always uses bridge.
Question 18
If you want to apply for a job with the Central Intelligence Agency, be prepared to fill _____ a lot of paperwork.
Fill out means to complete a form or document by writing the needed information. Example: Please fill out this application. British English also says fill in a form.
Question 19
If we don't get our visas for Vietnam by next Tuesday, we're going to be up the _____.
Be up the creek (short for up the creek without a paddle) means to be in serious trouble. The idiom uses creek, not river or stream.
Question 20
_____ your best to finish your homework so you can come to the movies with us.
The fixed expression is do your best, meaning to try as hard as you can. Not make, because we don't say make your best.
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Free worksheets for class or home
LESSON 17 – Dealing with Lost Luggage
DEALING WITH LOST LUGGAGE
Tom complains to Jim, a Flyaway Airlines representative, that his suitcase is lost. Jim asks him to fill out some paperwork and assures him his bag will likely be found.
Tom: Excuse me, I just arrived on the flight from Atlanta and my suitcase is missing.
Jim: Did you wait until all the bags were unloaded?
Tom: Yes, I did. My suitcase is not there.
Jim: Here’s a card with various suitcases. Which looks most like your piece of luggage?
Tom: It’s like this one, and it’s green.
Jim: Okay, I’ll just have you fill out this paperwork.
Tom: I had all my clothes for a meeting this afternoon in that bag. Now I’m in a bind.
Jim: We’ll reimburse you for clothing you buy today for up to $100.
Tom: I’m really pressed for time. I won’t have time to go shopping for a new suit now!
Jim: Well, we’ll do our best to track down your bag as quickly as possible.
Tom: What if my suitcase is lost for good?
Jim: Baggage usually turns up, so let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.
Tom: I’m really up the creek now. It boggles my mind how you can just lose someone’s luggage!
Jim: Let me give you a piece of advice. Next time, wear your suit on the airplane.
Tom: Thanks for the advice. Next time I think I’ll fly a different airline!
Language Lens: Count & Non-count Nouns
Count nouns (also called “countable nouns”) are people, places, or things that we can count. They can be singular (a chair, a cup, a cat) or plural (chairs, cups, cats).
Non-count nouns are materials, substances, concepts, information, etc. which we cannot count.
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Here are some common non-count nouns: |
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accommodation |
furniture |
postage |
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advice |
garbage |
progress |
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air |
homework |
research |
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baggage |
information |
software |
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bread |
knowledge |
sugar |
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butter |
love |
traffic |
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clothing |
luggage |
trouble |
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equipment |
money |
water |
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energy |
music |
weather |
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fruit |
news |
work |
Non-count nouns:
=> We do not use “a/an” directly before non-count nouns. To express a quantity of one of these nouns, use a word or phrase like:
◼ a piece of: a piece of bread, a piece of advice, a piece of news
◼ a cup of: a cup of soup, a cup of water, a cup of tea
◼ some: some information, some news, some furniture
◼ a lot of: a lot of water, a lot of luggage, a lot of happiness
=> Non-count nouns are always singular. Remembering this can. help you avoid a lot of mistakes.
Say: This is good news! NOT: These are good news!
Say: The equipment is heavy. NOT: The equipment arc hcarry.
Say: The information is valuable. NOT: The infonnation are valuable.
Say: My luggage is heavy. NOT: My luggage are heairy.
Say: The money is in the bank. NOT: The money are in the bank.
Count nouns:
=> A singular count noun always takes either the indefinite article (a, an) or the definite article (the):
◼ Tracy is looking for a job.
◼ Did Tracy get the job she applied for?
=> A plural count noun takes the definite article (the) if it refers to a definite, specific group. It takes no article if used in a general sense (generalizations):
◼ The dogs you adopted are cute. ( specific => the)
◼ Dogs are fun pets. (general => no article)
Using the quantity expressions much, many, a little, a few:
Much/Many
=> Use much with non-count nouns:
◼ How much change should we bring?
◼ I wish you much happiness. (I wish you a lot of happiness).*
=> Use many with count nouns:
• How many quarters should we bring?
• I took many great classes. (I took a lot of great classes).*
* Note: In statements like these, you can also use “a lot of” instead of “much” or “many.” It sounds more conversational.
Little/A Few
=> Use little with non-count nouns:
◼ We have made little progress since the summer.
◼ Sam has little money left.
=> Use few with count nouns:
◼ We have completed a few projects since the summer.
◼ Sam has a few dollars left.
IDIOMS
- (to) do one’s best
→ to try hard
Example: I’ll do my best to finish the report by Friday.
- (to) fill out paperwork
→ to complete one or more forms
Example: Before seeing the doctor, you’ll need to fill out this paperwork.
- for good
→ forever; permanently
Example: After graduating from college, Ryan moved back in with his parents. They hope he’ll move out for good soon.
- in a bind
→ in a difficult situation; in need of help
Example: Our school is in a bind. We need $10,000 to buy new textbooks, but there’s no money in our budget for it.
- it (or that) boggles my mind
→ I’m very surprised by that
Example: Some people spend $100 a day to send their dogs to a spa. That boggles my mind!
- let’s cross that bridge when we come to it
→ let’s not worry about that until we need to
Example: “What if we can’t find a buyer for our house?” – “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.“
- pressed for time
→ in a hurry; not having much time
Example: We asked the waiter to bring the check with dinner, explaining that we were pressed for time.
- (to) track down
→ to find (often after a long search)
Example: A Picasso was stolen from the Metropolitan Museum? I hope they can track down the thieves!
- (to) turn up
→ to be found
Example: Angela hopes her missing earring will turn up before the dance on Saturday.
- up the creek
→ in trouble; in a very difficult situation
Example: Our rent is due on Friday, and we have no money in our bank account. We ‘re up the creek!
NOTE: The longer form of this expression is: up the creek without a paddle.