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9 views

4

Uploaded by

ChéRif PiaNist
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite article the with any noun

(whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the
noun is known to the reader, as in the following situations:

Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.
I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious.

Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun
clarifies or restricts its identity.
The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
Thank you for the advice you gave me.

Use the article the when the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.
the theory of relativity
the 2003 federal budget

Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns
or any noncount nouns used to mean all or in general.

Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)

Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles

When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncount noun, use


some.
My cousin was seeking some advice from a counselor (not advice in general or advice
about everything, but a limited amount of advice).

I would love some coffee right now (not coffee in general, but a limited amount of
coffee).

We might get rain tomorrow. Some rain would be good for the crops (a certain amount
of rain, as opposed to rain in general).

There are some drops of water on the table (a limited number, but more than one
drop).

Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common
examples:
◊ Certain food and drink items: bacon, beef, bread, broccoli, butter, cabbage,
candy, cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, chicken, chocolate, coffee, corn,
cream, fish, flour, fruit, ice cream, lettuce, meat, milk, oil, pasta, rice, salt,
spinach, sugar, tea, water, wine, yogurt

◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper,
petroleum, plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool

◊ Most abstract nouns: advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun,
happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty,
satisfaction, truth, wealth

◊ Areas of study: history, math, biology, etc.

◊ Sports: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.


◊ Languages: Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.

◊ Other: clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber,


machinery, mail, money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic,
transportation, violence, weather, work

Geographical names are confusing because some require the and some do not.
◊ Use the with: united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, seas,
gulfs, canals, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands

the Gobi Desert


the United Arab Emirates
the Sacramento River
the Aleutians

◊ Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries,
continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands

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