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MASTERING ARTICLES--NINE RULES FOR ESL STUDENTS

RULE 1:

Use a or an for general reference. When you use a or an, you mean any item.

Al owns a car. [This is the same as saying any car.]

Nina saw a dolphin. [This is the same as saying any dolphin.] Use the when you mean a single, specific person, place or thing. This unique person, place or thing may have been mentioned using a or an earlier in the writing. The car stalled. [The refers to a specific car.]

The dolphin jumped very high. [The refers to a specific dolphin.] PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 1



RULE 2:

Place a or an before singular nouns only.



 an atom
a building
a cell
a Canadian dollar
an Indian elephant
 atoms
buildings
cells
Canadian dollars
Indian elephants

 

 Place the before singular or plural nouns.
 

the computer the computers
the disk drive the disk drives
the electric bill the electric bills


 

NOTE: 

In general, do not use an article before nouns that name religions, philosophies, intellectual or artistic movements, or nations.


 Not:  The Roman Catholicism
 But:  Roman Catholicism

 

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 2



RULE 3:

Place a or an before nouns that can be counted. Don't use a or an before nouns that cannot be counted.


Count
The mountain climber used a tank of oxygen.
They marveled at the many cultural wonders of France.
Jason was a hero.

Noncount
Oxygen and hydrogen combine to from water.
They learned to speak French.
Jason had courage.


PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 3



RULE 4:

Use a before consonant sounds; use an before vowel sounds.


Consonant: 

A thick green slime covered the bay.

Sajid bought a copier and a fax machine.

Vowel: 

She developed an aptitude for skiing.

Andre saw an octogenarian leading an animal that resembled an opossum.


CAUTION: 

Words beginning with a silent -h actually begin with a vowel sound; they take an:

an hour, an honor

Some words beginning with -un take a:

a university, a union, a unicycle

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 4



RULE 5:

If an adjective comes before a noun

  1. Place a before adjectives that begin with consonants.

    2. a disastrous error in judgement
    a     juvenile attempt to be funny

  2. Place an before adjectives that begin with vowels.

    3. an elegant reception at the British consulate
    an     online course in English composition

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 5



RULE 6:

In most cases, don't use articles with abstract nouns, such as words that name attitudes, diseases, emotions, holidays, languages, philosophies, religions, sports, and studies.

Henri loves art history.

There are laws against sexual harassment.

Marion had recovered from pneumonia.

Enzo's only vice is gluttony.

Our vacation ends on Labor Day.

Paul studied Sanskrit.

My friends follow Buddhism.

Ernie believes excessive pride is a sin.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 6



RULE 7:

Don't use the when referring to all members of a group.


 Not:  The woodchucks hibernate in winter.
 But:  Woodchucks hibernate in winter.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 7



RULE 8:

Don't use articles with these kinds of proper nouns:

  1. People, real or fictional


    2. Ms. Aarons, Superman

  2. Countries, continents, states, provinces, cities, towns, islands

    3. Chad, Asia, Minnesota, Ontario, Sardinia

  3. Parks

    4. Everglades National Park, Lincoln Park

  4. Mountains

    5. Mount Vesuvius, Mount Rainier

  5. Lakes, ponds, other small bodies of water

    6. Lake Victoria, Scudder's Basin

  6. Names of specific political or religious leaders

    7. President Ford, Pope John Paul II

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 8



RULE 9:

Use articles with these types of proper nouns:

  1. Regions of a country or of the world

    2. the Far East, the West, the Arctic

  2. Mountain ranges


    3. the Cascade Mountains, the Caucasus

  3. Groups of islands


    4. the Shetland Islands, the Lipari Islands

  4. Large bodies of water


    5. the Bay of Bengal, the Caribbean Sea

  5. Names of certain nations


    6. the United States of America, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China

  6. Wars


    7. the Russian Revolution, the Boxer Rebellion, the Second World War (    But: World War II)

  7. Buildings, canals, bridges


    8. the White House, the Suez Canal, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

  8. Official titles of political and religious leaders


    9. the president of the United States, the sultan of Brunei, the archbishop of Canterbury

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 9



USING PLURALS—10 RULES FOR ESL STUDENTS

RULE 1:

Form plurals of regular nouns by adding -s or -es.


SingularPlural
school
college
schools
colleges

NOTE: 

Form the plurals of irregular nouns in ways other than adding -s or -es.


SingularPlural
child
woman
deer
children
women
deer

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 1



RULE 2:

Remember that noncount nouns are always singular.


 Not:  The equipments are expensive.
 But:  The equipment is expensive.

 Not:  The homeworks were difficult.
 But:  The homework was difficult.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 2


RULE 3:

Use plural nouns immediately after adjectives such as a few, many, most, and some and after demonstratives such as these and those.


 Not: Most student like computer-assisted writing courses.
 But: Most students like computer-assisted writing courses.

 Not:  These tree provide no shade.
 But: These trees provide no shade.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 3



RULE 4:

Use plural nouns after adjective phrases beginning with one of.


 Not:  Felix takes pride in being one of the most humble member of the Egotists Club.
 But:  Felix takes pride in being one of the most humble members of the Egotists Club.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 4


RULE 5:

Use many and many of with plural count nouns. Use much and much of with noncount nouns, which are singular.



 Plural count noun
 Not:  Much of the refugees came from Rwanda.
 But:  Many of the refugees came from Rwanda.

 Singular, noncount noun
 Not:  Many sufferings comes with war.
 But:  Much suffering comes with war.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 5


RULE 6:

Use a few with plural count nouns; use a little with noncount nouns, which are singular:


Plural count noun: 

They read a few poems.

Singular, noncount noun: 

Try writing a little poetry.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 6


RULE 7:

Use all, a lot of, most of, and more with both plural count nouns and with noncount nouns, which are singular.

Plural Nouns

All citizens should vote.

A lot of students were absent.

Most of the men wore black.

More doctors are needed.

 

Singular, Noncount Nouns

All racism is evil.

They accumulated a lot of wealth.

She gets most of her warmth from her mother.

Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote more poetry than most students realize.

NOTE:

Any can be used with singular and plural nouns


Singular: 

Any student can check out books.

Plural: 

We don't need any rules.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 7



RULE 8:

Use the pronouns this and that with singular nouns; use these and those with plural nouns.


 Not:  This printers are not working.
 But:  This printer is not working.
 Or:  These printers are not working.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 8



RULE 9:

Adjectives are never plural.


 Not:  The bests wines had already been drunk.
 But:  The best wines had already been drunk.

 Not:  The children were ills.
 But:  The children were ill.

NOTE: 

This rule applies even when a noun acts as an adjective.


 Not:  She worked in a shoes factories.
 But:  She worked in shoe factories.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 9


RULE 10:

Use singular, not plural, nouns after phrases such as a kind of, a type of, a sort of, and a style of.


 Sigmund preaches about a type of vegetarianism.
 Her home contains a style of furniture popular in the 1930s.
  BUT
 Use plural nouns after phrases such as kinds of, types of, sorts of, and styles of:
 I dislike the types of movies he recommends.
 What sorts of people do you think we are?

NOTE: 

Noncount nouns are always singular.

I like his style of journalism.

They studied three styles of journalism.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 10






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