Articles Flashcards
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.)
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
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper, petroleum, plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
Areas of study: history, math, biology, etc.
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
Sports: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
Languages: Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
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
Geographical names are confusing because some require the and some do not.
Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands Japan Chico Mt. Everest San Francisco Bay
Examples of the Use of Articles
I do not want a gun in my house (any gun).
The gun is in his closet (implies there is a specific gun).
I am afraid of guns (all guns in general).
Examples of the Use of Articles
She sent me a postcard from Italy (an unspecific postcard - not a letter, not an e-mail).
It’s the postcard that I have in my office (one specific postcard).
Getting postcards makes me want to travel (any postcard in general).
Examples of the Use of Articles
I have a dog (one dog).
The dog is very friendly (the dog that I have already mentioned).
Dogs make great pets (dogs in general).
Examples of the Use of Articles
Greta needs furniture in her apartment (furniture is a noncount noun).
She is going to select the furniture that she needs (the specific furniture that she needs).
She hopes to find some furniture this weekend (an unspecified, limited amount of furniture).
Examples of the Use of Articles
We are going to see the Statue of Liberty this weekend (the only Statue of Liberty).
Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles
When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncount noun, use some.
