The past continuous cannot be used to describe past routines and habits. Participle clauses can introduce a clause giving the main event. The past perfect describes a past event which took place before another past event. If before or after is used, the past perfect is optional. | GRAMMAR 21 COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS Change of meaning Some words have different meanings in countable and uncountable forms. Countable an iron domestic appliance a wood small area of trees a paper newspaper a chicken the animal Uncountable some iron a substance material some wood a substance material some paper a substance material chicken the meat There is a similar contrast between Item a coffee a cup of coffee Material coffee Other examples with a change of meaning business in general a business a company gossip talking a gossip a person hair all together a hair a single strand help in general a help a helpful person thing toast grilled bread a toast formal words said before drinking work in general a work a work of art engineering Plural nouns These nouns only have a plural form and take a plural verb. My trousers are too tight. The stairs are very steep. Other common examples are clothes contents feelings goods jeans means outskirts surroundings thanks - Group nouns Some nouns can be followed by either a singular or plural verb. think the government is are wrong. It depends whether we think of the group as a whole singular verb or its individual members plural verb . Other common examples army audience class company crew crowd data family group media press public staff team Some group nouns only take a plural verb cattle police people 119 FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE Practice Underline the most suitable word in each sentence. a Different countries have different weather weathers. b All areas of the skin are in fact covered in tiny hair hairs. c We ve looked at the menu and we d all like chicken chickens. d Jack is a millionaire and owns a lot of business businesses. e Have you a copy of the complete work works of Dante f None of the passengers had insured their baggage baggages. g Students must pass their paper papers to the front. h I m afraid we can t find cheap accommodation accommodations for all of you. 2 Complete each sentence with a an .
