A Cup of Tea, Two Bottles of Water
By the end: I can ask for food and drink in simple amounts.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
One container
Use a or one before the container. Put of before what is inside.
I’d like a cup of tea.
There’s a bottle of water.
More than one
Make the container plural after two or more. The food or drink name usually stays the same.
We need two bottles of milk.
There are three cups of coffee.
The counted unit also controls is or are
One glass is singular.
Two glasses is plural; water stays unchanged.
Pieces and slices
Use a familiar unit when there is no container. A slice is a thin piece.
Can I have a slice of bread?
There are two pieces of cake.
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.
1. Complete: a cup ___ tea.
Compare a model and explanation
of
Of links the unit and its contents.
2. Make plural: one bottle of milk; two ___.
Compare a model and explanation
bottles of milk
Bottles changes; milk does not.
3. Complete: three ___ of bread. Use slice.
Compare a model and explanation
slices
The unit is plural after three.
4. Correct: two bottle of water.
Compare a model and explanation
two bottles of water
Add -s to bottle.
5. Correct: a piece cake.
Compare a model and explanation
a piece of cake
Add of.
6. Ask for coffee using cup.
Compare a model and explanation
I’d like a cup of coffee, please.
The unit makes the amount clear.
7. There is one glass. Change to two, with water.
Compare a model and explanation
There are two glasses of water.
Use are and glasses.
8. Make a short order: one tea in a cup, two pieces of cake.
Compare a model and explanation
A cup of tea and two pieces of cake, please.
Keep one unit singular and the other plural.
A short conversation
Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.
Open the conversation transcript
A: Can I have two cups of tea, please?
B: Of course. Anything to eat?
A: Yes, a slice of cake and two slices of bread.
B: Certainly. Two cups of tea, one slice of cake and two slices of bread.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Use it in your own words
Speaking 1
Order one drink using cup, glass or bottle.
Reveal a possible response
A glass of water, please.
Success check: Include of and a singular unit.
Speaking 2
Describe three different amounts on a table.
Reveal a possible response
There are two cups of tea, three pieces of cake and a bottle of milk.
Success check: Make counted units agree with their numbers.
Put it all together
Order for two people, then repeat the order to check it.
Reveal a possible response
Two cups of coffee and two slices of cake, please. That’s two cups and two slices. Yes, thank you.
Success check: Use a clear unit for every amount.
Take it with you
I can ask for food and drink in simple amounts.