English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 64: Containers and quantities

Word List
  • bag
  • bar (of chocolate)
  • bottle
  • bowl
  • box
  • bunch
  • cancel
  • carton
  • container
  • contents
  • couple [several]
  • dozen
  • drop (of milk)
  • half a dozen
  • in large quantities
  • jar
  • jug
  • packet
  • pair
  • piece
  • plenty
  • quantity
  • several
  • sheet [of paper]
  • slice
  • spoonful
  • tin (of fruit, etc.)
  • tube
  • vase
Exercises

64.1 ‣ How do you pronounce the underlined letters? Use the index to help you.

  1. tin    Is it like fine or wind?
  2. pair    Is it like car or care? _____
  3. vase    Is it like far or face? _____
  4. tube    Is it like noon or new? _____
  5. couple    Is it like pool or cup? _____
  6. dozen    Is it like run or rob? _____
  7. quantity    Is it like ran or want? _____

64.2 ‣ Complete the phrases below.

  1. a of water
  2. a _____ of spaghetti
  3. a _____ of fruit
  4. a _____ of coffee
  5. a _____ of milk
  6. a _____ of water
  7. a _____ of matches
  8. a _____ of soap
  9. a _____ of apples

64.3 ‣ Correct the mistake with the container.

  1. a packet of chocolate
  2. a vase of jam _____
  3. a tube of cigarettes _____
  4. a tin of cola _____
  5. a can of milk _____
  6. a carton of toothpaste _____
  7. a jar of flowers _____
  8. a jug of biscuits _____

64.4 ‣ Complete the sentences with one word.

  1. I need two of socks inside these shoes.
  2. I gave her a big _____ of flowers from my garden.
  3. I cut about six _____ of bread and put them on a plate.
  4. Could you get half a _____ more chairs?
  5. The teacher told us to take out a blank _____ of paper.
  6. I like to put a _____ of cream in my coffee.
  7. There’s no need to hurry – we’ve got _____ of time.
  8. I met a _____ of friends – Stefan and Julia – on the way to the station.
  9. She opened her bag on the table, turned it upside down, and all the _____ fell out.
  10. Tennis is quite popular in our office. I know _____ people who play.

64.5 ‣ Cross out the wrong answer.

  1. Could you get a carton of milk / juice / coffee?
  2. I bought a bunch of grapes / bananas / apples. _____
  3. There were a couple of / a pair of / several people waiting at the bus stop. _____
  4. Would you like a slice of cake / bread / biscuit? _____
  5. It’s nice with a spoonful of sugar / jam / crisps. _____
  6. I bought two pairs of socks / shirts / jeans. _____
  7. Have you got a piece / bunch / sheet of paper I could borrow? _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Containers and contents*


  1. a bag of shopping

  2. a bottle of apple juice

  3. a jar of jam

  4. a bowl of sugar

  5. a jug of water

  6. a box of chocolates

  7. a packet of biscuits

  8. a packet of crisps

  9. a can of cola

  10. a carton of orange juice

  11. a tube of toothpaste

  12. a vase of flowers

  13. a tin of fruit

  14. a bar of chocolate

* the things inside something

Language help

A tin usually has something we eat inside it; a can has something we drink.

B ‣ Quantities*


  1. three slices of beef

  2. two sheets of paper

  3. a spoonful of sugar

  4. a bunch of keys

Just a drop of milk [a very small amount] and no sugar in my coffee, please.

I’ve cut three slices of beef; that should be enough for the sandwiches. (Or three pieces of beef)

I took my boss a bunch of flowers when I visited her in hospital.

I need a sheet of paper. (Or a piece/bit of paper)

Andrew bought two pairs of trousers and a pair of shoes yesterday.

I bought a couple of books. [two, perhaps three]

We saw several churches on our way here. [some but not a lot, e.g. between three and eight]

I bought half a dozen eggs at the supermarket. [six]

There are a dozen students in the class. [twelve]

Could I have a spoonful of sugar in my tea?

We’ve got plenty of time. [a lot of]

The company is now making the toys in large quantities.

* the amount or number of something

Language help

We can usually use slice when talking about pieces of bread, cakes and meat. We can use bunch to talk about flowers, grapes, bananas and keys.

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