英语入门对话：45 Using Measure Words

This can be used to practice Count and Non-count nouns in context.
When talking about non-count items (such as sugar, water, toothpaste, etc.),
it is common to use measure words to indicate how much of the substance you are referring to.
Below are a few examples of measure words used in English.

 

Food

A bowl of rice

A dish of spaghetti

A pound of meat/cheese

A piece of cake/pie

A can of soup

A box of cereal

A bag of flour

A carton of ice cream

A jar of peanut butter

A loaf of bread

A slice of bread/pizza

A package of pasta

A dash of salt

A cube of ice

A pack of gum

A head of lettuce/cabbage

An ear of corn

A kernel¹ of corn

A grain of wheat/salt

A stalk of celery

A spear of asparagus

A clove² of garlic

 

Liquid

A teaspoon³ of medicine

A tablespoon of vinegar

A glass of water

A cup of coffee

A pint⁴ of blood

A quart of milk

A half gallon of juice

A gallon of punch

A tank of gas

A jug⁵ of lemonade

A bottle of wine

A keg of beer

A shot of vodka

A drop of rain

 

Personal items

A bar of soap

A tube of toothpaste

A container of shampoo

A stick of deodorant⁶

A bottle of perfume/cologne

A roll of toilet paper

A ball of cotton

Sewing items

A spool⁷ of thread

A skein of yarn⁸

A yard/meter of ribbon

A (square) foot/meter of fabric/cloth

Stationery⁹

A piece of paper

A pad of paper

A roll of tape

A stick/piece of chalk

A bottle/tube of glue

A jar of paste

A pair of scissors

Notes:
1. Measure words can also be counted:
one slice of toast, two slices of toast, etc.

2. Some items can be either count or non-count, depending on composition or arrangement. For example,

A bar of chocolate (non-count [perceived as one solid item])
A box of chocoloates (count [perceived as several individual items])

 

 

1 kernel   

n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心

参考例句：

• The kernel of his problem is lack of money.他的问题的核心是缺钱。
• The nutshell includes the kernel.果壳裹住果仁。

2 clove   

n.丁香味

参考例句：

• If tired,smell a whiff of clove oil and it will wake you up.如果疲倦，闻上一点丁香油将令人清醒。
• A sweet-smell comes from roses and clove trees.丁香与玫瑰的香味扑鼻而来。

3 teaspoon   

n.茶匙

参考例句：

• Add one teaspoon of sugar.加一小茶匙糖。
• I need a teaspoon to stir my tea.我需要一把茶匙搅一搅茶。

4 pint   

n.品脱

参考例句：

• I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
• In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前，花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。

5 jug   

n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂

参考例句：

• He walked along with a jug poised on his head.他头上顶着一个水罐，保持着平衡往前走。
• She filled the jug with fresh water.她将水壶注满了清水。

6 deodorant   

adj.除臭的；n.除臭剂

参考例句：

• She applies deodorant to her armpits after she showers.沐浴后，她在腋下涂上除臭剂。
• Spray deodorant and keep the silk garments dry before dressing.在穿衣之前，洒涂防臭剂并保持干燥。

7 spool   

n.（缠录音带等的）卷盘（轴）；v.把…绕在卷轴上

参考例句：

• Can you wind this film back on to its spool?你能把这胶卷卷回到卷轴上去吗？
• Thomas squatted on the forward deck,whistling tunelessly,polishing the broze spool of the anchor winch.托马斯蹲在前甲板上擦起锚绞车的黄铜轴，边擦边胡乱吹着口哨。

8 yarn   

n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事

参考例句：

• I stopped to have a yarn with him.我停下来跟他聊天。
• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。

9 stationery   

n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封

参考例句：

• She works in the stationery department of a big store.她在一家大商店的文具部工作。
• There was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationery.文具一多，心里自会觉得踏实。