Basic Grammar

3. Non-count nouns can't be counted, but they may be measured.
Partitives measure specific quantities of non-count nouns. Partitives can
be counted.
Example:
a head of lettuce
two heads of lettuce
a can of soup
two cans of soup

4. 1. specific items or amounts:
• a bar of chocolate/soap/metal
• a block of marble/ice/wood
• a box of matches
• a book of stamps
• a breath of air
• a bunch of bananas
• a cube of ice
• a drop of oil
• a flash of light
• a grain of corn
• a jar of jam
• a loaf of bread
1. specific items or amounts:
• a bar of chocolate/soap/metal
• a block of marble/ice/wood
• a box of matches
• a book of stamps
• a breath of air
• a bunch of bananas
• a cube of ice
• a drop of oil
• a flash of light
• a grain of corn
• a jar of jam
• a loaf of bread
Partitives: they are those nouns which may refer to:
• a pat of butter
• a piece of
wood/furniture/paper/glass/chalk/
information/wisdom
• a pinch of salt
• a portion of food
• a puff of smoke
• a sip of tea
• a slice of bread/cake
• a stick of chalk
• a strand of hair/wool
• a pat of butter
• a piece of
wood/furniture/paper/glass/chalk/
information/wisdom
• a pinch of salt
• a portion of food
• a puff of smoke
• a sip of tea
• a slice of bread/cake
• a stick of chalk
• a strand of hair/wool

5. a box of cereal a bag of flour a can of soup
a jar of jam a bottle of ketchup

Partitives can measure by describing the container.

6. 2. containers
•a bag of flour
•a barrel of beer
•a basket of fruit
•a bottle of milk
•a packet of cigarettes
•a glass of water
•a jug of water
•a mug of cocoa
•a can of soup
•a tube of paste
•a vase of flowers
2. containers
•a bag of flour
•a barrel of beer
•a basket of fruit
•a bottle of milk
•a packet of cigarettes
•a glass of water
•a jug of water
•a mug of cocoa
•a can of soup
•a tube of paste
•a vase of flowers
3. games
• a game of billiards/
cards/ chess/ darts/
tennis
3. games
• a game of billiards/
cards/ chess/ darts/
tennis

7. Partitives can
measure by weight or
size.
a pound of cheese a gallon of milk
a quart of orange
juice
pint of ice cream

8. 4. Measures
•a gallon of petrol
•an ounce of gold
•a pint of ice cream
•a spoonful of medicine
•a yard of cloth
4. Measures
•a gallon of petrol
•an ounce of gold
•a pint of ice cream
•a spoonful of medicine
•a yard of cloth

9. 5. types/species
• a species of fish
• a type of drug
• a variety of pasta
5. types/species
• a species of fish
• a type of drug
• a variety of pasta
6. abstract nouns
• a bit/piece of advice
• a bit of knowledge
• a wink of sleep
6. abstract nouns
• a bit/piece of advice
• a bit of knowledge
• a wink of sleep
7. pairs
a pair of:
• boots
• shoes
• glasses
• jeans
• pants
• scissors
• shorts
• socks
• stockings
• trousers
7. pairs
a pair of:
• boots
• shoes
• glasses
• jeans
• pants
• scissors
• shorts
• socks
• stockings
• trousers