Grammar Flashcards
When not to use “a” or “an” (1)
Do not use “a” or “an” for plural nouns.
I have a car.
I have three cars.
Do not use “a” or “an” for uncountable nouns: liquids, powders, names of materials, etc.
He put an ice cube into the glass.
He put ice into the glass.
When not to use “a” or “an” (2)
Do not use “a” or “an” for names of languages.
She speaks Japanese.
She is studying English.
Do not use “a” or “an” with names of sports.
I love football.
They play tennis.
Do not use “a” or “an” with names of academic subjects.
She is very good at science.
John loves math.
When not to use “a” or “an” (summary)
Do NOT use “a” or “an” for:
plural nouns
uncountable nouns: liquids, powders, names of materials, etc.
names of languages
names of sports
names of academic subjects
When to use “the”
Use “the” when talking about things known to both the speaker and the listener.
I like the food in this restaurant.
“The” is placed before a noun when the listener can easily identify which person/s, thing/s, etc., are being talked about.
Answer the phone.
Use “the” when the thing being talked about is the only one that exists anywhere, like the sun, the Earth, or the universe.
Martha enjoys running under the sun.
Use “the” before superlative adjectives, like “the best,” “the biggest,” etc.
Bill is the wealthiest man in the world.
When not to use “the”
Do not use “the” with determiners like “your,” “her,” “that,” “these,” etc.
This is her car.
I want those pens.
Do not use “the” with singular proper nouns.
Mary lives in Switzerland.
Do not use “the” when talking about things in general.
Life is beautiful.
When to use “the” (summary)
“The” can be used
- to talk about things known to both the speaker and the listener.
- to talk about something that is the only one that exists anywhere, like the sun, the Earth, or the universe
- with superlative adjectives
“The” is NOT used
- to talk about things in general
- with singular proper nouns or pronouns like “your,” “her,” “that,” and “these”
More uses of THE - Titles of people
Use “the” with titles of people.
the president
the Queen of England
the judge
Do NOT use “the” with titles of people when they are followed by the name of the person.
President Roosevelt
Queen Victoria
Judge Roberts
More uses of THE - Names of countries
se “the” with names of countries that refer to groups, or are in the plural form.
the Netherlands
the United Kingdom
the United States
Do NOT use “the” with names of countries in the singular form (except “the Caribbean”).
Holland
Great Britain
America
More uses of THE - Names of islands
Use “the” with names of island chains.
the Aleutians
the Hebrides
the Canary Islands
Do NOT use “the” with names of islands.
Easter Island
Maui
Key West
More uses of THE - Points of the globe and names of continents
Use “the” with points of the globe.
the equator
the North Pole
the South East
Do NOT use “the” with names of continents.
Asia
North America
Europe
More uses of THE - Regions of a country or a continent
Use “the” with regions of a country or of a continent, when the country/continent is not mentioned.
the Midwest
the Middle East
Do NOT use “the” with regions of a country or of a continent when the country/continent is mentioned.
Western Europe
Southeast Asia
More uses of THE - Different bodies of water
Use “the” with names of rivers, oceans, seas.
the Nile River
the Pacific Ocean
the South China Sea
Do NOT use “the” with names of lakes and bays (except for groups of lakes like the Great Lakes).
Lake Erie
Koenigs Bay
More uses of THE - Different landforms
Use “the” with names of deserts, forests, gulfs and peninsulas.
the Sahara
the Persian Gulf
the Black Forest
the Iberian Peninsula
Do NOT use “the” with names of cities, towns, states and streets.
Rome
Toulouse
California
Fifth Avenue
More uses of THE - Different landmarks
Use “the” with names of monuments, buildings and national shrines.
the Statue of Liberty
the Johns Hopkins Building
the Eiffel Tower
More uses of THE - Summary
The article “the” is used in different contexts.
Use “the” with the following:
titles of people
the president
names of countries that refer to groups, or are in the plural form
the Netherlands
names of island chains
the Aleutians
points of the globe
the equator
regions of a country or of a continent, when the country/continent is not mentioned
the Midwest
names of rivers, oceans, seas
the Nile River
names of deserts, forests, gulfs and peninsulas
the Sahara
names of monuments, buildings and national shrines
the Statue of Liberty
Do NOT use “the” with the following:
titles of people when they are followed by the name of the person
President Roosevelt
names of countries in the singular form
Holland
names of islands
Easter Island
names of continents
Asia
regions of a country or of a continent when the country/continent is mentioned
Western Europe
names of lakes and bays
Lake Erie
names of cities, towns, states and streets
Rome
