Articles & Agreement

Question 1

Articles (‘the’)

Answer 1

There are numerous rules to using the definite article ‘the.’ However, for IELTS essays, the rules listed below are the most relevant:
Use ‘the’ when the reader knows exactly to whom or what you are referring.
1. When mentioning something again. I planted a tree in my garden. The tree is now big.
2. With superlative adjectives: China had the highest growth rate.
3. When making a statement about all things referred to by a singular countable noun: The dolphin is a very intelligent animal.===>All dolphins are very intelligent animals.
4. When discussing groups of people:** the elderly**, the poor, the wealthy, the employed
5. When the figure is an important part of the noun phrase: The number of mangoes sold in Britain was surprisingly high.

Question 2

Articles (‘a/an’)

Answer 2

There are numerous rules to using the indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an.’ However, for the IELTS essays, the rules listed below are the most relevant:
Use ‘a’ or ‘an’ with singular countable nouns when the reader does not know exactly to
whom or what we are referring:
1. When showing that something or someone is part of a group
○ There is a way to prevent crime rates from rising. One way out of several
2. When saying something about all things of that kind
○ A teacher has the responsibility of educating our children. Not a specific teacher
3. Do not use ‘a/an ’ when referring to uncountable nouns or plurals
○ The price of oil stabilized by January. (Uncountable noun)
○ There are many Italians living in New York.
(Plural noun)

Question 3

Subject-Verb Agreement

Answer 3

Subjects and Verbs must agree with each other in number (singular or plural).
If a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular;
if a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural.