Uncountable nouns are always used in the singular form and subsequently need a singular form of verb. In this post I am going to provide you with some of the most widely used uncountable nouns. Getting familiar with these nouns will help you speak and write by far better. After these nouns you are given an exercise on using suitable form of verbs with different subjects.Try to answer the questions.It woulb be a good practice for you.  

COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Information                       literature                            vocabulary                           advertising                            lumber

Vegetation                         youngster (C)                    stationery                             stationary                              luggage

Climate (C,U)                     homework                         assingment(C,U)                  slang                                      fish

Weather                             clothing                            machinary                           propaganda                            traffic

Equipment                          laughter                            knowledge                           architect                             

Engineering                        architecture                       skyscraper(C)                                            

Coffee                                  sugar                              chicken                               meat                                     advice

Gold                                      iron                                coal                                    oxygen                                 tennis

Recreation                             relaxation                        enjoyment                          technology                            liberty

French                                    English                            fear                                  research                               warmth work  

 news                                     paint                                  food                                                      

AGREEMENT OF THE SUBJECT AND THE VERB

1.A second series of books on American literature (is,are) being planned by the publisher.

2.several means of accomplishing our purpose(was,were) proposed at our meeting.

3.over $1500 (has,have) already been withheld from his salary.

4.two gallons of paint (is,are) all we need.

5.the goods (was,were) shipped yesterday.

6.athletics (has,have) always been emphasised in this school.

7.the proceeds of the sale (is,are) going to charity.

8.his riches (is,are) obtained illegally.

9.the measles (cause,causes) very vital problems.

10.the acoustics in this room(is,are)not good. 

Tag Questions;

Part 2;

Intonation

We can change the meaning of a tag question with the musical pitch of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn't require a real answer:

Answers to tag questions

How do we answer a tag question? Often, we just say Yes or No. Sometimes we may repeat the tag and reverse it (..., do they? Yes, they do). Be very careful about answering tag questions. In some languages, an opposite system of answering is used, and non-native English speakers sometimes answer in the wrong way. This can lead to a lot of confusion!

For example, everyone knows that snow is white. Look at these questions, and the correct answers:

In some languages, people answer a question like "Snow isn't black, is it?" with "Yes" (meaning "Yes, I agree with you"). This is the wrong answer in English!

Here are some more examples, with correct answers:

• The moon goes round the earth, doesn't it? Yes, it does.
• The earth is bigger than the moon, isn't it? Yes.
• The earth is bigger than the sun, isn't it? No, it isn't!
• Asian people don't like rice, do they? Yes, they do!
• Elephants live in Europe, don't they? No, they don't!
• Men don't have babies, do they? No.
• The English alphabet doesn't have 40 letters, does it? No, it doesn't.

Question tags with imperatives

Sometimes we use question tags with imperatives (invitations, orders), but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct answer. We use won't for invitations. We use can, can't, will, would for orders.

Same-way question tags

Although the basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive, it is sometime possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure. We use same-way question tags to express interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real questions.

• So you're having a baby, are you? That's wonderful!
• She wants to marry him, does she? Some chance!
• So you think that's amusing, do you? Think again.

Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile:

• So you don't like my looks, don't you?

Hi all dear students;

I’m going to post a two part series of information about a common part of speech which is of very frequent use among native speakers. It is known as “Tag Questions”. Becoming skillful in using tag questions makes your speech more and more native-like. If there is any problem, I’ll be glad to help you.

Tag Questions

Part 1;

A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question. The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question tag".

We use tag questions at the end of statements to ask for confirmation. They mean something like: "Am I right?" or "Do you agree?" They are very common in English.

The basic structure is:

Look at these examples with positive statements:

Look at these examples with negative statements:

Some special cases:

Here are some mixed examples:

• But you don't really love her, do you?
• This will work, won't it?
• Well, I couldn't help it, could I?
• But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you?
• We'd never have known, would we?
• The weather's bad, isn't it?
• You won't be late, will you?
• Nobody knows, do they?

Notice that we often use tag questions to ask for information or help, starting with a negative statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of making a request. For example, instead of saying "Where is the police station?" (not very polite), or "Do you know where the police station is?" (slightly more polite), we could say: "You wouldn't know where the police station is, would you?" Here are some more examples:

• You don't know of any good jobs, do you?
• You couldn't help me with my homework, could you?
• You haven't got $10 to lend me, have you?

Grammar competition:

This is a grammar contest. ALL of the following sentences contain errors. Find them, and write the correct form of the sentences in a Microsoft Office Word file. E-mail the file to me at ed@ieicielts.com. Don’t forget to write your name in the mail you send. Remember: DO NOT WRITE THE ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Thank you and see you soon.

1.   Ali and Jack were talking about some problems. The problems which have never been the matter of focus seemed really difficult for them to solve. They decided to talk to a man, who lived in a city called Ouchtapuia which was located 300 kilometers from their house…

2.   Jack and Mary were studying with each other. Suddenly, Mary started and shouted: “Oh, I am remembering the sentence Ali has said yesterday!”

3.   When have you gone to Michigan? You never said me you did that!

4.   When you are angry, what do you do?

5.   I can’t remember why what he said was really embarrassed.

6.   Where Jack is is really beautiful decorated.

7.   Don’t you know the people who Jack visited their house on Sunday where do they live?

8.   The number of advices Mary got to me were so much that I am forgetting that right now.

9.   I have a car which is red. My car which is always parked in front of Mr. Smith’s house who is an English teacher is usually so obvious to see.

10.                 Write the longest noun phrase you can.