English Recordings

Countable or uncountable, and why it matters
By Liz Walter

Many dictionaries for learners of English (including the one on this site) show whether nouns are ‘countable’ or ‘uncountable’, often using the abbreviations C and U. Countable nouns are things that you can count – one dog, two dogs, twenty dogs, etc. Uncountable nouns are things that you cannot count – water, sadness, plastic, etc.

It is important to know whether a noun is countable or uncountable, otherwise you are likely to make basic grammar mistakes. For example, countable nouns can have indefinite articles and can form plurals, but uncountable nouns cannot:
+ You should bring a coat. (‘coat’ is a countable noun)
+ I have three winter coats.
+ The teacher gave us a homework. (‘homework’ is an uncountable noun)
+ We have lots of homeworks.

If you have countable and uncountable nouns in your own language, you need to be very careful because they may not be the same ones. If I had £1 for every time one of my students has said or written ‘an advice’ or ‘some informations’, I would be very rich by now! In English, advice and information are both uncountable nouns, so they cannot have ‘an’ in front of them and they cannot be made plural.

Other common uncountable words that often cause problems are: equipment, furniture, transport, knowledge, countryside, traffic, research, progress, evidence, machinery.

You also need to know whether a noun is countable or uncountable in order to decide whether to say ‘much’ or ‘many’. ‘Many’ is used with plural countable nouns and ‘much’ with uncountable nouns:
+ How many brothers and sisters do you have?
+ How much brothers and sisters do you have?
+ How much money do you have?

‘Some’ and ‘any’ are used with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns, but not with singular countable nouns:
+ We don’t have any eggs/sugar.
+ Would you like some mushrooms/cheese?
+ Do you have any coat?

Sometimes we may want to make an uncountable noun more like a singular countable one. We do this by using a quantity expression before it:
+ She gave us an advice/information.
+ She gave us a piece of advice/information.
+ We bought a few furnitures/clothings.
+ We bought a few items of furniture/clothing.

Finally, some uncountable nouns end in ‘s’. They include activities such as aerobics, athletics, gymnastics and darts; academic subjects such as economics, linguistics, politics and physics and illnesses such as measles, mumps, rabies and diabetes. These nouns look like countable plurals, but they are uncountable and therefore need a singular verb:
+ Linguistics is a very interesting subject.
+ Aerobics makes you fit.

You will probably notice that some words in the dictionary are labelled both C and U. In my next post, I’ll look at some of these words and explain how nouns can be both countable and uncountable.

It’s out of the ark! Talking about old-fashioned things
By Liz Walter

My last post looked at words and phrases for describing people or things that are old. Today I am looking at a closely-related idea – that of being old-fashioned.

The word old-fashioned itself is used to refer to objects or people who look as if they come from the past, though are not necessarily old in reality: Those old-fashioned glasses are popular again now. It can also refer to ideas and attitudes: They have old-fashioned ideas about the role of women. Interestingly, ‘old-fashioned’ can also be used in a positive way: We had a good, old-fashioned roast dinner.

The words retro, vintage and antique are also positive. They are used to describe objects or styles that are old or look old in a way that we find attractive: He collects antique furniture. She has a retro hair style.

Other words are more negative. Dated, for example, implies that something is unattractive or is no longer suitable for the modern world: The furniture was beginning to look rather dated. Outmoded and antiquated are more formal words with the same idea: She holds some rather outmoded views. We are still using our antiquated washing machine.

Archaic is a stronger word, and refers to things such as rules, ideas or words that are very old and rarely used now: This relates to archaic laws on property. An even stronger adjective is obsolete, which means that something has no purpose at all now: New technology has made these systems obsolete.

Prehistoric can be used literally to mean ‘from before recorded history’: We visited the prehistoric caves. However, it is also a rather jokey way to describe very old-fashioned things: These early computers look practically prehistoric now. A similar rather advanced word is antediluvian. This literally means ‘before the flood’, referring to the great flood described in the Bible: His views on class structure are positively antediluvian. We use a related idiom when we describe things or ideas as being out of the ark (the ark was the large boat that Noah used to save his family and the animals during the biblical flood): The bathroom was straight out of the ark.

Other idioms connected with being old-fashioned include have had its day, meaning that something or someone is no longer popular or useful: Coal power has had its day. We can also say that someone or something is past their sell-by date: Is your website past its sell-by date? Someone who is behind the times is unaware of modern ideas or habits: I don’t have a smartphone – I’m afraid I’m a bit behind the times.

The fact that we have so many words and expressions for the idea makes me think that this must be something we worry about a lot!

A bit long in the tooth: words and phrases for talking about old age
By Liz Walter

The Bible says that most of us will live for ‘three score years and ten’ – in other words, 70 years. Nowadays however, most people consider 70 the beginning of old age. This is probably why although the word sexagenarian (person from 60-69) exists, we rarely use it – being in your sixties is nothing remarkable. However, the slightly formal terms septuagenarian (70-79), octogenarian (80-89), nonagenarian (90-99) and centenarian (100 or over) are used both as adjectives and nouns: The dinner party included several octogenarian men. She was a nonagenarian when she found fame.

They say that growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative, but old age is still a sensitive topic for many people, which is why although we may talk about ‘old people’ or ‘an old man’ privately, we would rarely use such blunt words in public or directly to the person in question. The most common, softer synonym is elderly: She cares for her elderly mother. In medical contexts, the word geriatric is used: He works in the geriatric unit. ‘Geriatric’ is also sometimes used as a derogatory word for someone who is too old and weak: The company is run by a group of geriatric idiots.

Slightly formally, we sometimes refer to elderly people as senior citizens (in US English also just seniors): Some companies offer discounts to senior citizens. This is a respectful term, but the phrase be having a senior moment is a humorous way of saying that someone has done something foolish such as forgetting something or becoming confused: She went for her appointment on the wrong day – I think she was having a senior moment.

The humorous phrase a bit long in the tooth means that someone is old, usually in the context of being too old to change their ideas or do something new: I’m getting a bit long in the tooth to go back to school. More cruelly, we could talk about someone having one foot in the grave, meaning that they are close to death: He looked like a man with one foot in the grave.

There are also some positive words associated with old age. We talk about old people being spry or sprightly, meaning that they are healthy and energetic: She is a sprightly 94-year-old. We also talk about people doing things at the grand/ripe old age of (number), meaning that we are impressed that they are still able to do whatever it is: He’s still swimming in the sea at the grand old age of 89.

In my next post I will look at a closely related area: words for people or things that are old-fashioned or past their best.

Having the time of your life: phrases with time
By Liz Walter

In my last post, I mentioned that the word “time” is the most common noun in English. This is partly because there are so many phrases which contain the word. This post looks at some common and useful examples.

If you say that “it’s time to do something or it’s time for something,” you mean that it should happen now:
+ It’s time to start the meeting.
+ It’s time for lunch.

If something takes a long time, you need a lot of time to do it:
+ It takes a long time to become a doctor.

If someone or something does something “all the time,” they do it a lot. We often use this phrase for things we find annoying:
+ My laptop keeps crashing all the time.

If something happens or if you do something “on time,” it happens at the correct time, and if you do something “in time,” you do it before it is too late:
+ The train arrived on time. We ran all the way to the station and got there just in time.

If you “take your time,” you do something slowly and often carefully:
+ The quiz is difficult, so take your time and think about the answers.

If you say that something happens “from time to time,” you mean that it happens sometimes – not very often, but not very rarely either. You can also say that it happens “at times”:
+ I have to travel abroad from time to time.
+ Her job can be very stressful at times.

Moving to some slightly more advanced phrases now, if you say that something is “just/only a matter of time,” you mean that it will certainly happen at some point in the future:
+ It’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured on that road.

If you “have time on your hands,” you don’t have enough to do. We often talk about people “having too much time on their hands,” when we disapprove of something unimportant they are doing:
+ Anyone who irons their sheets clearly has too much time on their hands.

If you “have time to kill,” you have nothing to do for a period of time. We often use this idiom to talk about things we do to fill that time. Sometimes we use a specific period of time instead of the word ‘time’:
+ I had two hours to kill while I waited for Tom, so I went to the art gallery.

There are many other phrases with ‘time’ – you may have your own favourites. I will end with a positive one – if you are “having the time of your life,” you are enjoying yourself very much indeed.

Responsibility, Society, and Taxes

Topic: Some people think that paying taxes is their only responsibility towards society while others feel that everyone should do more. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Model answer:

Many are of the opinion that taxpayers are fulfilling their obligations to society at large while other feel that responsibility extends beyond a financial contribution to the government. In my opinion, paying taxes greatly helps fund social programs but individuals have little choice but to do more if they also want to think highly of themselves.

The main reason that many see taxes as enough are the far reaching impact of tax dollars. Take some well-run European socialist countries such as France for example. In France, there are social welfare programs underpinning their progressive society such maternity leave for new mothers, world renowned unemployment benefits, top notch schools, not to mention more basic services like police, fire, and infrastructure maintenance. These are the direct result of taxes and though their net effect varies by implementation in various countries, they are clearly the foundation of stable societies globally.

Despite the discernible impact of taxes, individuals are responsible for their daily decisions related to society. Every job will touch on, with varying degrees of strength, society. A doctor who takes his job seriously, rather than simply trying to push new drugs or unnecessary tests to drive up premiums, helps families in their most dire situations. Even a cashier has a role to play. They can do their job responsibly with a positive attitude and send out other people into society with a good impression or contribute to the rising tide of cynicism in today’s culture. These actions are unavoidable and anyone who feels the need to think of themselves as a good person has no choice but to take up a larger role in making society a better place to live.

In conclusion, thought taxes are part of what a person owes to society, they will necessarily also have a positive, or negative day-to-day impact. People should rightly see their contributions as essentially self-interested excuses to feel good about themselves.

Digital Filmmaking

Topic: Nowadays because of digital technology it is possible for not only studios but also individuals to produce their own films. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Model answer:

The democratisation of film has led to greater opportunity as well as fears as to the future of filmmaking. In my opinion, this is a largely positive development as it opens up the medium for a more diverse range of socioeconomic voices.

The main reason that film purists resist the digital revolution is it brings down the quality of films. A good example of this is when digital film first burst onto the scene and started to replace film around the turn of the century. The initial complaints from viewers were that film looks better and digitally shot movies have a cheap aesthetic akin to a soap opera. As digital film has proliferated beyond studios looking to cut costs, it has exponentially increased the number of films made by amateurs. This naturally leads to movies with bad acting, clumsily written dialogue and poor overall production values.

Despite the admitted cons listed above, digital film has given a voice to less wealthy filmmakers who tend to be of a different class and ethnicity. There are countless examples of students who film digitally, post their video on YouTube and become internet sensations. Many of these new perspectives are outside of the predominantly white, male, heterosexual homogeneity of Hollywood. It is increasingly possible for LGBT themes to surface in these shorts and for ethnic minorities around the world to break through. The most striking evidence is simply comparing the major movies made 50 years ago with the diverse range of cinema on offer today.

In conclusion, although there are drawbacks in terms of quality those are mitigated by novel themes from underrepresented demographics. Studios should pay heed and relax their control over an ever-promising industry.

Television

Topic: Nowadays children watch much more television than they did in the past and spend less time being active or creative. What is the reason for this? What measures should be taken to encourage children to be more active?

Model answer:

Today children spend more time watching television than at any point in the past. The reason for this is the development of online streaming websites and parents should eschew smartphones to curb this trend towards passivity.

The main reason that many children today spend an outsized amount of time watching television is that it is widely available on streaming websites. YouTube was the earliest, and now the most popular, streaming website for video content. Children are often allowed to watch it on smartphones or iPads. The more recent rise of streaming websites like Netflix and Hulu provide the same experience as television on the internet. Simply put, children spend more time watching because they have the ability to choose whatever show they want, pause it, and binge watch TV shows on a variety of portable devices with limited adult supervision.

In order to discourage children from watching television, parents should not give their children smartphones under any circumstances. This is the first step that responsible parents must undertake. Once children are no longer tempted by phones, it is much easier to get them interested in creative outlets. Parents can sign up their children for art or music lessons. They could encourage them to do art at home and instead of putting a TV in their room, fill it with books and art supplies. Children’s natural curiosity and artistic energy will naturally take over from that point and parents then need only supervise, guide and intervene when called upon.

In conclusion, parents can counterbalance the rise of streaming by banning portable devices and stocking up on art supplies. Unfortunately, it will take a concerted effort from the majority of parents to prevent children without devices from being ostracised socially.

Social Networking Sites

Topic: Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model answer:

The advent of social networking sites, mainly Facebook and Instagram, in the early decades of the 21st century have transformed the ways that people interact with their friends and community. I am in complete agreement that they have had a negative overall impact on both individuals and society.

Social networking sites hurt individuals by replacing more active forms of enjoyment with transitory, unhealthy self-esteem boosts. In the past, people were more likely to take up an active hobby such as painting, playing a sport or learning a musical instrument. Over time those hobbies increase self-esteem, provide hours of enjoyment, and can be seen as active and healthy to varying degrees. Facebook and Instagram replace not only the time spent on worthwhile hobbies but users also get stuck in a feedback loop which gives them temporary bursts of dopamine in place of longer lasting feelings of accomplishment.

Just as social media has undoubtedly hurt individuals, it has also taken its toll on society. It is a common refrain to hear older people complaining about how generations today are narcissists, glued to their phones. There is an element of truth in this. Social networking sites, coupled with smartphones, allow people to withdraw and be anonymous in public places. Over time people will come to feel they have less in common with their fellow man and society will become fragmented and more insular with deeply complex political, individual and social consequences.

In conclusion, the rise of social networking platforms has hurt individuals and society greatly. In order to combat this, governments and parents should at least better regulate their availability to children and young teens.

Shopping Malls

Topic: Some people think that it is better to build more public parks and sports facilities in new towns rather than shopping malls. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model answer:

It is often suggested that it would be better to erect parks and exercise facilities in new urban developments rather than shopping malls. I agree that this would be an ideal solution as it would spur on increased health awareness.

The main reason detractors are in favour of shopping malls is their benefit to the economy. Malls employ hundreds of workers from cashiers to store clerks to managers as well as the various members of janitorial staff charged with maintaining the mall itself. The benefits are clear when you couple these factors with the increased revenue that businesses bring in the form of taxation and propping up the local consumer product market.

Notwithstanding the economic returns malls bring, parks and sports facilities would do more to encourage better health. In most developed nations, buying more products, especially with online services such as Amazon readily available, is no longer a pressing issue. However, health has become the dominant concern of the decade as obesity soars and heart disease has reached pandemic levels. Well maintained, beautifully landscaped parks and outdoor exercise facilities would instill in residents an obligation to work out. If they are numerous, then older people and children, who may not be able to travel far, will also be able to access them.

In conclusion, the job market is less important than the health of ordinary residents. The bigger issue is the feasibility of such an approach given the lack of financial incentive for those towns to prioritise the foundations for their residents’ well-being over business interests.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching or birding means going outside to enjoy watching birds. It is a popular hobby. Someone who does this may be called a birdwatcher, but more often a twitcher or birder. They are usually amateurs. The scientific study of birds is called ornithology. People who study birds as a profession are called ornithologists.
Birdwatching is very popular in countries such as Britain and the United States. It can be especially rewarding in spring when a lot of birds are singing and building nests to raise their young. In spring and autumn many birds can be seen as they migrate. In winter, some other kinds of birds may be visiting from colder areas such as the Arctic where there is no food in the winter.
It is useful to have a good pair of binoculars to help to see birds that are far away more clearly.
Many birders like to take photographs of birds. This is difficult to do well unless one has good, expensive cameras and long lenses. Modern phone cameras are very useful, and can produce good results.
Also important is to have a good reference book with pictures of the birds in your country. This is called a field guide.