- pieces and amounts
- There are many words which are used in front of `of' and an uncount noun to refer to a piece of something or a particular amount of something. The most common words are given here.\Some words can be used to refer to a piece or amount of many kinds of substance:atom, ball, bit, block, chunk, crumb, dab, dollop, flake, fragment, heap, hunk, lump, mass, molecule, mound, mountain, patch, particle, piece, pile, pinch, ring, roll, scrap, sheet, shred, slab, slice, sliver, speck, splinter, stick, strip, trace, tuft, wad, wedge, wodge
Always kneel on a bit of sponge rubber.
\An arrow painted on a strip of plywood indicated a ticket office.
◊ liquidsSome words are used to refer to an amount of a liquid:dash, dribble, drop, globule, jet, pool, puddle, splash, spot, trickleRub a drop of vinegar into the spot where you were stung.
A high pressure jet of water was directed onto the set of plates causing the pulley to spin.
\One fireman was kneeling down in a great pool of oil.
◊ foodHelping, portion, and serving are used when talking about the amount of a particular kind of food that you are given at a meal.He had two helpings of ice-cream.
\I chose a hefty portion of local salmon.
You can refer to a small piece of food as a morsel of food.\He had a morsel of food caught between one tooth and another.
◊ typical pieces and amountsThe following table shows you which word is typically used to refer to a piece or amount of something of a particular kind.\◊ measurements and containersYou can also refer to an amount of something using a measurement noun such as `pound' or `metre', or a noun referring to a container such as `bottle' or `box'. See entry at ↑ Measurements and section on containers in entry at ↑ Quantity.\
Useful english dictionary. 2012.