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1. Use "a" or "an" before singular countable nouns when first mentioned, with certain expressions of quantity, and in exclamations. 2. Do not use "a" or "an" before plural nouns, uncountable nouns, or names of meals unless preceded by an adjective. 3. Use "the" before nouns made definite by context, location, superlatives, proper names of geographic features, and when referring to a class.

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Elo Rubio
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41 views

Articles

1. Use "a" or "an" before singular countable nouns when first mentioned, with certain expressions of quantity, and in exclamations. 2. Do not use "a" or "an" before plural nouns, uncountable nouns, or names of meals unless preceded by an adjective. 3. Use "the" before nouns made definite by context, location, superlatives, proper names of geographic features, and when referring to a class.

Uploaded by

Elo Rubio
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USE OF ARTICLES 1. Use of a/an. 1.

Before a singular noun which is countable when it is mentioned for the first time and represents a particular person or thing: I need a visa. They live in a flat. 2. Before a singular countable noun which is used as an example of a class of things: A car must be insured. A child needs love (All children need...) 3. With a noun complement. This includes names of professions: It was an earthquake. Shell be a dancer. 4. In certain expressions of quantity: a lot of, a couple, a great many, a great deal of, a dozen. 5. With certain numbers: a hundred, a thousand 6. In expressions of price, speed, ratio, etc. 5p a kilo. 10p a dozen, 60 kms an hour. 7. In exclamations before singular, countable nouns: Such a long queue! What a pret girl! But Such long queues! What pret girls! 8. a can be placed before Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms + surname: A Mr Smith. 2. Omission of a/an. 1. Before plural nouns. 2. Before uncountable nouns. 3. Before names of meals, except when they are preceded by an adjective: We have breakfast at eight. He gave us a good breakfast. The article is also used when it is a special meal given to celebrate something or in someones honour: I was invited to dinner but I was invited to a dinner given to welcome the new ambassador. 3. Use of THE. 1. When the object or group of objects is unique or considered to be unique: the earth, the sea, the sky, the equator, the stars. 2. Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time: His car struck a tree; you can still see the mark on the tree. 3. Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause: the girl in blue. The boy I met at the party. 4. Before a noun which by reason of locality can represent only a particular thing: Ann is in the garden. Please pass the wine. 5. Before superlatives and first, second, etc. used as adjectives or pronouns, and only: the first week, the best day, the only way. 6. The+singular noun can represent a class of animals or things: The whale is in danger of becoming extinct. The can be used before a member of a certain group of people: The small shopkeeper is finding life increasingly difficult. 7. the+ adjective represents a class of persons: the old. 8. the is used before certain proper names of seas, rivers, groups of islands, chains of mountains, plural names of countries, deserts, regions: The Atlantic, the Netherlands, the Thames, the Alps, the Sahara, the Azores

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