LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

3.1 The indefinite article: 'a/an' (1)

3.2C

Study:

та

Write:

3.2D

Study:

I**]

'A/an' for price, distance and frequency: '80p a kilo' [> LEG 3.12]

price/weight: 80p a kilo distance/speed: 40 km an hour

distance/fuel: 30 miles a (or to the) gallon frequency/time: twice a day

Write complete answers to these questions.

1 How much are these apples? 90p/kilo

2 How often do you take these pills? once/day

3 What speed are we doing? 100 km/hour

4 How many miles a gallon do you do? 45 miles/gallon

5 How often is the rubbish collected? twice/week

6 What does olive oil cost? £3/litre

'A/an' or zero with reference to illnesses: 'a cold' [> LEG 3.15]

1 We always use a/an with these illnesses: a cold, a headache, a sore throat.

2 We can use or omit a/an with these:

catch (a) cold, have (a/an) backache/earache/stomach-ache/toothache.

3 We use no article at all with these plurals: measles, mumps, shingles.

4 We use no article with these: (high) blood pressure, flu, gout, hepatitis.

Write: Supply a/an where necessary. Note where you can use a/an or zero (-).

1 I'm going to bed, I've got headache. 6 measles can be very unpleasant.

2 I was awake all night with toothache. 7 Don't come near me. I've got sore throat.

3 I think Gillian's got flu. 8 I think I've got cold!

4 The children are in bed with mumps. 9 I've had terrible backache.

5 Mind you don't catch cold. 10 I often suffer from backache.

3.2E Context

Write: Put in a, the, or one only where necessary.

HERE'S HEALTH!

'I think that's all, Mrs Grant,' Dr Grey said as she handed her^1 & list of

prescriptions.^2 list was very long and Mrs Grant almost fainted as

she tried to read it. She had^3 headache and^4 cold and felt

as if she was getting^5 flu. On top of this, one of her children was in

bed with^6 mumps. 'I've prescribed some pills for^7 high

blood pressure as well,' Dr Grey said. 'How many do I have to take -

(^8) pill (^9) day?' 'No. One pill with each meal. Three pills
(^10) day.' Mrs Grant thanked (^11) doctor and walked out of her
surgery with some difficulty. She staggered into the local chemist's and
handed^12 long prescription list to Mr Burt,^13 chemist. Mr
Burt greeted her cheerfully. 'Good morning, Mrs Grant,' he said, glancing at
(^14) list. 'What a list! I trust you're keeping well!'
I trust you're keeping well!