Containers and quantities – A2 English Vocabulary

Containers and quantities

In this Pre-intermediate Vocabulary Lesson about Containers and Quantities, you will learn common words for different types of containers and portions, parts, or quantities. The pictures, descriptions, and examples below will help you understand and remember the terms.



1 A piece is a small part of something bigger, like cheese, cake or meat.

• I cut myself a piece of cake.

2 A loaf of bread is a whole piece of bread.

• I bought a loaf of bread from the bakery.

3 A slice is a thin piece cut from something bigger, like bread, cheese or pizza.

• I had a slice of bread and butter for breakfast.

4 A bag is a soft plastic or paper container for things like crisps or flour.

• I am eating a bag of crisps.

5 A carton is a container for things like milk or juice.

• Can you buy a carton of milk?

6 A box is a container for things like cereal or chocolates.

• There is a box of cereal on the shelf.

7 A packet is a small bag for things like biscuits, sweets, or gum.

• I opened the packet of biscuits.

8 A spoonful is the amount that fits on a spoon, like sugar or coffee.

• I added a spoonful of sugar to my coffee.

9 A cup is a container with a handle for hot drinks like tea or coffee. A cup is also a measurement equal to 250 millilitres.

• Peter is drinking a cup of tea.

10 A glass is a clear container for cold drinks like water or juice.

• I poured myself a glass of water.

11 A can is a metal container for drinks or food, like soda, tuna, or beans.

• There is a can of beans in the cupboard.

12 A jar is a glass container for things like jam or honey.

• I bought a jar of honey from the supermarket.

13 A tub is a big container for soft food like ice cream.

• There is a tub of ice cream in the freezer.

14 A tube is a long container for things like toothpaste.

• There is a tube of toothpaste next to my toothbrush.

15 A bar is a long piece of something like chocolate or soap.

• I ate a bar of chocolate during the break.

16 A roll is a round tube of things like toilet paper.

• There is a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.

17 A bowl is a deep round dish for food like soup or cereal.

• I usually have a bowl of cereal for breakfast.

18 A bottle is a tall container for liquids like water or juice.

• I opened the bottle of wine and poured myself a glass.

19 A bucket is a large container with a handle for water or ice.

• The champagne was sitting in a bucket of ice.

20 A basket is a container with a handle, used for carrying things like fruit or eggs.

• I collected a basket of eggs when I went to feed the chickens.

After completing the exercises in this lesson on the Containers and Quantities, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.