Countable nouns with a/an and some

Countable nouns can be singular or plural:

A dog => dogs

A child/=>  some children      

The evening => the evenings      

This party  =>these parties      

An umbrella  =>two umbrellas

Before singular countable nouns you can use a/an:        

• Goodbye! Have a nice evening.

• Do you need an umbrella?

You cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a/the/my etc.):

• She never wears a hat. (Not 'She never wears hat')

• Be careful of the dog. (Not 'Be careful of dog')

• What a beautiful day!                          

• I’ve got a headache.

We use a/an... to say what kind of thing or person something/somebody is:      

• A dog is an animal.  

• I'm an optimist.

• Tim's father is a doctor.        

• Are you a good driver?

• Jill is a really nice person.

• What a lovely dress!           

We say that somebody has a long nose / a nice face / a strong heart etc.:                            

• Jack has got a long nose, (not 'the long nose')

In sentences like these, we use plural nouns alone (not with 'some'):

• Dogs are animals.

• Most of my friends are students.

• Jill's parents are really nice people.

• What awful shoes!

• Jack has got blue eyes, (not 'the blue eyes')

Remember to use a/an when you say what somebody's job is:

• Sandra is a nurse, (not 'Sandra is nurse')

• Would you like to be an English teacher?

You can use some with plural countable nouns. We use some in two ways:

i) Some = a number of / a few of / a pair of:

• I've seen some good films recently, (not 'I've seen good films')

• Some friends of mine are coming to stay at the weekend.     

• I need some new sunglasses. (= a new pair of sunglasses)   
Do not use some when you are talking about things in general

• I love bananas, (not 'some bananas')

• My aunt is a writer. She writes books, (not 'some books')

Sometimes you can make sentences with or without some (with no difference in meaning):

• There are (some) eggs in the fridge if you're hungry.

ii) Some = some but not all

• Some children learn very quickly, (but not all children)

• Some police officers in Britain carry guns, but most of them don't.

Put in a/an or some where necessary. If no word is necessary, leave the space empty (-).

Intermediate
English exercise "Countable nouns with a/an and some" created by felin (19-12-2005) with The test builder
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1. I’ve seen - a an some good films recently.
2. What's wrong with you? Have you got - a an some headache?
3. I know a lot of people. Most of them are - a an some students.
4. When I was - a an some child, I used to be very shy.
5. Would you like to be - a an some actor?
6. Do you collect - a an some stamps?
7. What - a an some beautiful garden!
8. - a an some birds, for example the penguin, cannot fly.
9. I've been walking for three hours. I've got - a an some sore feet.
10. I don't feel very well this morning. I've got - a an some sore throat.
11. Those are - a an some nice shoes. Where did you get them?
12. Sandra has got - a an some big nose.
13. Do you enjoy going to - a an some concerts?
14. When we got to the city centre, - a an some shops were still open but most of them were closed.
15. I don't believe him. He's a liar. He's always telling - a an some lies.
16. Jane is - a an some teacher. Her parents were teachers too.