ARTICLES

Articles, Quantifiers, Infinitive & Gerund

WHAT ARE ARTICLES?

Articles

are kinds of Adjectives that are used to refer to/modify nouns.

Example: a boy, an apple, the tree

English

has two types of articles: i. definite article (the) & ii. indefinite articles (a, an.) The use of these articles depends mainly on whether you are referring to any member of a group, or to a specific member or members of a group.

INDEFINITE ARTICLES: A & AN

a

and an show that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. indefinite articles are used with singular nouns when the noun is general. some is used for plural general nouns.

These

Whereas

Usage of the Indefinite Articles

If

there is a singular noun beginning with a consonant we use a: a boy If there is a singular noun beginning with a vowel we use an: an elephant

But

if a singular noun begins with a vowel sound then we use an: an hour (pronounced as our) And if a singular noun begins with a consonant sound then we use a: a user, a university (sounds like 'yoo-zer' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used) (sounds like youniversity i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used)

If

there is an adjective before the noun, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:
Articles a an a Adjectives broken unusual European Nouns leg Problem country

Another Use of A & An

The

indefinite articles are also used to indicate membership in a profession, nation, or religion.

am a teacher. Brian is an Irishman. Seiko is a practicing Buddhist.

2. Definite Article: the

The

definite article is used before both singular and plural nouns when the noun is particular or specific. The shows that the noun is definite; that it refers to a particular member of a group.

Compare the indefinite and definite articles in the following examples:

Singular

Indefinite (a or an) a dog (any dog) an apple (any apple)

Definite (the) the dog (that specific dog)

Plural

the apple (that specific apple) some dogs (any dogs) the dogs (those specific dogs) some apples (any apples) the apples (those specific apples)

Usage of The
i. The is not used with uncountable nouns referring to something in a general sense: [No article] I do not like seafood. [No article] Coffee is a popular drink. [No article] Japanese was his native language. [No article] Intelligence is difficult to quantify.

Exception
iii. The is used with uncountable nouns that are made more specific by an additional phrase or clause: The seafood he has brought is rotten. The coffee in my cup is too hot to drink. The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the countryside. The intelligence of animals is variable but undeniable.

ii. The is not used with plural count nouns referring to something in a general sense:
[No

article] Dogs make good pets. [No article] Astronauts go through rigorous training programs before space flight.

iv. The is also used before certain nouns when we know there is only one of a particular thing. the rain, the sun, the wind, the world, the earth, the White House etc..

v. However if you want to describe a particular instance/example of these you should use a/an. "I could hear the wind." / "There's a cold wind blowing." "What are your plans for the future?" / "She has a promising future ahead of her."

Geographical uses of the

Do not use the before:
1.

2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

Names of countries (Pakistan, Italy, South Africa, China) except the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and the United States. Names of cities, towns, or states (Islamabad, Boston, Delhi, Manchester) Names of streets (University Road, Main St.) Names of lakes (Lake Saiful Malook) except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes Names of mountains (Mount Everest, Mount Fuji) except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn Names of continents (Asia, Europe) Names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

You must use the before:

names

of rivers, oceans and seas (the Nile, the Pacific) points on the globe (the Equator, the North Pole) geographical areas (the Middle East, the West) deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas (the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula)

Countable vs. Uncountable

A and an are used if the noun can be counted and is singular. I stepped in a puddle. (How many puddles did you step in? Just one. Therefore, use a.)

drank a glass of milk. (Glasses of milk can be counted)

 The

must be used in some cases when the noun cannot be counted. I dove into the water. (How many waters did you dive into? The question doesn't make any sense because water is uncountable. Therefore, use the.)

saw the milk spill. (How many milks? Milk cannot be counted)

First vs. Subsequent Mention

She's

got two children; a girl and a boy. The girl's eight and the boy's fourteen.

General vs. Specific

Girls

are traditionally shyer than guys. girls are all invited to the party.

The

Omission of Articles
While some nouns combine with one article or the other based on whether they are countable or uncountable, others simply never take either article unless you want to specify a particular example of it. Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are: Languages & Nationalities Chinese English Spanish Sports Volleyball Hockey Baseball Academic subjects Mathematics Economics English

Quantifiers
Quantifiers

are words that tell us how many of something we have. *Oneof the cars is red. *Twoof the cars are red. *Halfof the cars are red. *Someof the cars are red. *Allof the cars are red.

Usage
Plural Countable Nouns Many More Most With Uncountable Nouns Much More Most With Plural Countable Nouns Few Fewer Fewest With Uncountable Nouns Little Less Least

0%, 10%, 50%, 100%, etc. , , etc. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. one, two, three, four, etc. one half, one third, one fourth, one quarter, one fifth, etc. a bit a couple a few a minority a quantity an amount any

a good deal a good many a good few a great deal a great many a little a little bit a majority a number all another both

Certain Either Few Heaps Little Lots Masses Most Neither Numbers Plenty Several The majority The rest Tons

Each Enough Fewer Less Loads Many More Much None Part Quantities Some The remainder The whole Various

Infinitive
Infinitive

is a verb form consisting of to plus first form of the verb. This combination can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. For example: to study, to go home early, to visit friends

"It

is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." (Mark Twain)

Gerund
A

gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a present participle. It is important to understand that they are not the same.

When

we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund: Fishing is fun. When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or an adjective, it is usually a present participle: Anthony is fishing.

am teaching right now. Teaching is a profession preferred by many females in our society.

Comparing Gerunds and Infinitives

The

difference in the form of gerunds and infinitives is quite clear just from comparing the following lists: Gerunds: swimming, hoping, telling, eating, dreaming Infinitives: to swim, to hope, to tell, to eat, to dream