Partitives

Partitives help counting the uncountable nouns. But not only uncountable nouns.

a bag of cherries, potatoes, beans, peas, tomatoes, peaches (fruit and vegetable)

a bar of chocolate, soap

a bottle of mustard, coke, beer, water, perfume

a bowl of cereal, candies, fruits, peanuts

a box of chocolate, biscuits

a can of cola, beer, water

a carton of milk, juice

a cup of tea, coffee

a gallon / liter of beer, juice, milk, water, gasoline

a glass of water, juice, milk

a jar of jelly beans, jam, honey, pickles

a kilo of cauliflower, mushrooms, eggplants, apricots, melon (fruit and vegetable)

a loaf of bread

a packet of biscuits, flour, sugar, salt, coffee, cocoa

a piece of pizza, cake, cheese, meat, bread, pie

a slice of pizza, cake, meat, bread, ham, pie

a spoon / teaspoon / spoonful of flour, sugar, salt, pepper, spices, ice cream

a tin of fish, meat, beans

a ton / gram /pound of flour, sugar, salt, pepper, spices

a tube of ice cream, tooth paste

1. Match the two columns:

1. a piece of a. wine                         6. a slice of                 f. juice
2. a loaf of b. peach jam             7. a can of                   g. candies
3. a jar of c. cheese             8. a carton of               h. biscuits
4. a bag of d. onions             9. a bowl of                 i. cola
5. a bottle of e. bread             10. a packet of                        j. apple pie

1. Odd one out:

1. a slice – carton – glass – cup of milk 6. a spoonful – piece – jar of honey
2. a piece – slice – tin – loaf of bread 7. a can – piece – bar of chocolate
3. a liter – jar – bottle – can of beer 8. a packet – carton – cup of coffee
4. a kilo – loaf – packet – spoon of flour 9. a tin – bar – piece of fish
5. a packet – slice – piece – spoon of ham 10. a slice – pound – bowl of peanuts

1. Choose the correct partitive for each noun:

1. The children prefer a bowl / a glass of cereals for breakfast.
2. I think they changed the colour of the tin / packet of flour.
3. I can’t believe your brother eats a bar / bowl of chocolate every day.
4. Can you buy two cartons / glasses of orange juice on your way home, please?
5. There’s a tube / piece of pizza on the plate for you.
6. Haley usually drinks a bottle / glass of milk every evening, before going to bed.
7. We eat too much bread. We buy five pieces / loaves of bread every week.
8. I’d like o box / tin of chocolates for my friend.
9. I think dad bought a bag / liter of red peppers.
10. Jason brought two bottles / tubes of ice cream.

1. Fill in the sentences with the correct partitives. More partitives are possible:

1. Can you please buy a …………………………………….. of sugar. I want to make a pie.
2. I would like a …………………………………………………….… chicken ham, please.
3. I want to go and buy two ………………………………………….…….. of orange juice.
4. Would you like a …………………………………………………………… coffee or tea?
5. My mum brought two …………………………..……. of raspberry jam. It’s home made.
6. We need some mustard. Can you bring the …………………………………………….. ?
7. How many ……………………………………………….……… of bread do you want?
8. I think a ………………………………….… of caramels would be a good gift for Sarah.
9. I would like a …………………………………….……………… of pumpkin pie, please.
10. Everything is so expensive. A ……………………………………. of tune fish is £3,50.