INCOS LA PAZ INGLÉS TÉCNICO

I. Articles
Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific.
For example:

After the long week, the Accounting Department finished its tasks.
By using the article “the”, we refer to one specific week that was long and one specific
Department at the office.
Another example:
By using the article “a”, we imply that the Accounting Department finished the financial
statement after a long day. After a long week, the Accounting Department finished its tasks.

1. The definite article

The definite article is the word “the”. It limits the meaning of a noun to
one particular thing. For example, your boss might ask, “Are you going
to the meeting next Monday?” The definite article tells you that your
boss is referring to a specific meeting that both of you know about. The
definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.
Below are some examples:
2. The indefinite article
Please give me the report.
The indefinite article takes two forms:
Mr. Fernandez printed the financial statements.
 It’s the word “a” when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant.
Please give me the brochure.
 It’s the word “an” when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite article
The client asked for the catalog.
indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing.
For example, you might ask your coworker:
Your coworker will understand that you are not asking about a specific report. Another example:
Should I bring a report to the meeting?
I am going to bring an apple pie
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Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend
probably doesn’t even have any pie yet.
The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns, as in the following examples:
3. Exceptions: choosing “a” or “an”
Please hand me a book; any book will do.
There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using “a” before words that start with consonants
and “an” before words thatPlease
beginhand
with me an autobiography;
vowels. The first letterany
of autobiography willfor
the word honor, do.example, is a
consonant, but it’s unpronounced. Despite its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound.
Therefore, we use “an” as follows:

My accounting chief is a honest man. Incorrect

My accounting chief is an honest man. Correct

4. Article before an adjective

Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. The usual word order is:
If the article is indefinite, choose “a” or “an” based on the word that immediately follows it, as in the
following examples: article + adjective + noun

Carlos will bring a small gift to Lesli’s party. Correct

I heard an interesting story yesterday. Correct

5. Indefinite articles with uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns
include intangible things (e.g., information, air), liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too large
or numerous to count (e.g., equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be counted, you
should never use “a” or “an” with them.
The indefinite article is only for singular nouns. Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like
some, as in the examples below:
Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite article. However, if you
Please
describe the water in terms of countable unitsgive
(likeme a water.
bottles), Incorrect
you can use the indefinite article, as in
the following examples: Please give me some water. Correct

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Please give me a bottle of water. Correct

Please give me an ice. Please give me anIncorrect
ice cube.Correct
Please give
Correct
me some ice.

6. Using articles with pronouns

Possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking about specific or nonspecific items. As
we’ve seen, articles also indicate specificity. But if you use both a possessive pronoun and an article at
the same time, readers will become confused. Possessive pronouns are words like his, my, our, its,
her, and their. Articles should not be used with pronouns, as in the examples below.

Why are you reading the my book?

Incorrect Why are you reading the book?

7. Omission of articles
Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain nouns. In these cases, the article is
implied but not present. This implied article is sometimes called a “zero article.” Often, the article is
omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

Let’s go out for a dinner tonight. Incorrect

Let’s go out for dinner tonight. Correct

The creativity is a valuable quality in children. Incorrect

Creativity is a valuable quality in children. Correct

Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an article, as in the example below:

I studied the French in high school for four years. Incorrect

I studied French in high school for four years. Correct

Sports and academic subjects do not require articles, as in the sentences below:

I like to play the baseball. Incorrect

I like to play baseball. Correct

My sister was always good at the math. Incorrect

My sister was always good at math. Correct

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EXERCISE Nº 1
Listen to the songs (Classroom) and fill in the blanks
Extreme – More than words What would say
If took those words away?
Saying " love you" Then couldn't make things new
Is not words I want to hear from Just by saying "I love ".
It's not that I want not to say
But if only knew
How easy would be The Beatles – Hey Jude
To show how you feel.
Hey, Jude, don't make bad
More than words Take sad song and make better
It´s all have to do Remember to let into your heart
To make real Then can start to make better.
Then wouldn't have to say
That you love Hey, Jude, don't afraid
Cause I'd already know. were made to go out and get
The minute you let under your skin
What would you do Then begin to make better.
If my heart was torn in ?
More than words to show feel And any time feel the pain
That your love for is real. Hey, Jude, refrain
Don't carry world upon your shoulders
What would say For well know that it's a fool
If took those words away? Who plays cool
Then you couldn't make things new By making his world little colder.
Just by saying " love you"
More than words. Hey, Jude, don't let down
You have found , now go and get
Now that I've tried to talk to Remember, to let into your heart
And make understand Then can start to make better.
All have to do close your eyes
And just reach out your hands So let it out and let in, hey, Jude, begin
And touch waiting for someone to perform with
Hold close And don't you know that it's just , hey Jude?
Don't ever let go. You'll do, the movement need
on your shoulder.
More than words
It´s all ever needed you to show Hey, Jude, don't make bad
Then wouldn't have to say Take sad song and make better
That you love Remember to let into your skin
Cause I'd already Then begin to make better.
know.

What would do
If my heart was torn in ?
More than words to show feel
That your love for is real.

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II. Plural nouns

A plural noun is a noun that refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Most singular
nouns are made plural by adding a suffix, usually –s or –es. For example, the singular noun dog takes
the plural form dogs, as in three dogs. However, there are irregular plural nouns that take unique
forms.

Regular Plurals
1. When a noun ends with -sh, -ch, -s, -x, -z, the plural form is by adding -es

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Wish Wishes
Church Churches
Bus Buses
Fox Foxes
Buzz Buzzes

2. When a noun ends with consonant + -o, the plural form is by adding -es

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Potato Potatoes
Hero Heroes
Tomato Tomatoes
Buffalo Buffaloes
When a noun ends with vowel + -o, the plural form is by adding –s

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Radio Radios
Portfolio Portfolios
Stereo Stereos
Video Videos

Exceptions to the rule

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Photo Photos
Piano Pianos

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3. When a noun ends with consonant + -y, the plural form change “y” to “i”
and add –es

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Lady Ladies
Baby Babies
Party Parties

When a noun ends with vowel + -y, the plural form is by adding –s

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Monkey Monkeys
Toy Toys
Boy Boys

4. When a noun ends with -e, the plural form is by adding –s

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Name Names
Tree Trees

5. When a noun ends with –f or –fe, the plural form change “f” to “v” and add
–es

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Life Lives
Thief Thieves
Calf Calves

Exceptions to the rule

Singular nouns Plural nouns

Roof Roofs
Giraffe Giraffes
Wharf Wharfs
Belief Beliefs

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Irregular Plurals
Singular nouns Plural nouns
Person People
Child Children
Woman Women
Mouse Mice
Moose Moose
Deer Deer
Sheep Sheep
Fish Fish
EXERCISE Nº 2
Foot
Tooth
Feet
Teeth
Ticket the correct form of the plural for the given
nouns.

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EXERCISE Nº 3
Write the plural for the following nouns.
Singular nouns Plural nouns Singular nouns Plural nouns
1. Man 9. Box
2. Knife 10. Town
3. Cat 11. City
4. Child 12. Bottle
5. Lady 13. Ocean
6. Match 14. Mountain
7. Car 15. Belief
8. Table 16. Mother

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