h

11-8 GUIDELINES FOR ARTICLE USAGE

USING THE
USING A OR 0 (NO ARTICLE) USING A OR SOME

,., A dog makes a good pet.
@) A banana is yellow.
o (c) A m c i l contains lead.
z is not specific.
A speaker uses a with a singul-
count noun when s h e is maldng
a generalization.
In (a): The speaker is talking
about any dog, all dogs, dogs in
general.
(j) I saw a dog in my yard.
A speaker uses a with a singular
count noun when s h e is talking
[k) Mary ate a banana.
about one thing (or person) that
:I) I need a p c i l .
In (j): The speaker is saying, "I
saw one dog (not two dogs, some
dogs, many dogs). It wasn't a
specific dog (e.g., your dog, the
neighbor's dog, that dog). It was
only one dog out of the whole
group of animals called dogs!'
(s) Did you feed the dog?
I had a banana and an
The is used in front of
(1) singular count nouns: the
(t)
apple. I gave the banana dog.
to Mary.
(2) plural count nouns: the
(u) The pencil on that desk is dogs.
Jim's. (3) noncount nouns: thefiuit.
(v) The 8un is shining. A speaker uses the (not a, 0, or
(w) Please close the door. aomo) when the speaker and the
(x) Mary is in the kitchen. Listener are thinking about the
same specific person@)or
thin&).
In (s): The speaker and the

II (d) 0 Dogs make good pets.
(e) 0 Bananas are yellow.
( I (g) 0 Fruit is good for you.
A speaker uses no article ( 0 )
with a plural count noun when
s h e is making a generalization.*
In (d):The speaker is talking
about any dog, aU dogs, dogs in
general.
Note: (a) and (d) have the same
meaning.
A speaker uses no article ( 0 )
with a noncount noun when s h e
is making a generalization.
In (&:The speaker is talking
about any fruit, all fruit, fruit in
general.
[m) I saw some dogs in my yard.
:n) Mary bought some
bananas.
(0) Bob has somopencils in his
pocket.
$) I bought some&uit.
:q) Bob drank some coffee.
:r) Would you like to listen to
some music?
A speaker often uses some* with
a plural count noun when s h e is
talking about things (or people)
that are not specific.
In (m):The speaker is saying, "I
saw more than one dog. They
weren't specific dogs (e.g., your
dogs, the neighbor's dogs, those
dogs). The exact number of
dogs isn't important (two dogs,
five dogs); I'm simply saying that
I saw an indefinite number of
dogs."
A speaker often uses some* with
a noncount noun when s h e is
talking about something that is
not specific.
In (p):The speaker is saying, "I
bought an indeiinite amount of
fruit. The exact amount (e.g.,
two pounds of fruit, four
bananas, and two apples) isn't
important. And I'm not talking
about specific fruit (e.g., that
fruit, the fruit in that bowl.)"
(y) Did you feed the dogs?
(2) I had some bananas and
apples. I gave the
bana?zas to Mary.
(aa) The pencib on that desk
are Jim's.
(bb) Please turn off the lights.
(CC) Thefruit in this bowl is
ripe.
(dd) I drank some coffee and
some milk. The c&e was
hot.
(ee) I can't hear you. The
is too loud.
(ff) The air is cold today.
listener arc thinking about the
same specific dog. The listener
knows which dog the speaker is
talking about: the dog that they
own, the dog that they feed every
day. There is only one dog that
the speaker could possibly be
talking about.
In (t): A speaker uses the when
s h e mentions a noun the second
time.
First mention:
I had a banana . .. .
Second mention:
I gave the banana . . . .
In the second mention, the
listener now knows which banana
the speaker is talking about: the
banana the speaker had (not the
banana John had, not the banana
in that bowl).

*Sometimes a speaker uses pn nrprrssion of quantity (e.g., ahnost dl,most, some) when she makes s gcncralhation: *In addition to somr,a speaker might use d , a&, a lot of, ex., with n p l m l count noun, or a El*, a lo: of, a,,
Almm dl dogs ntalrr gwd pnr. Most dog, a n-
. Smne &@ h a w shon hait. with a noncoun; n0.m. (See Chart 11-5, p. 318.)

-
. . L C-.
..
. .I .. . ,

326 CHAPTER 1 l Count/Nonmunt Nouns and AMcles 327

 EXERCISE 18. Count and noncount nouns. (Chart 11-8)
Dkcti012~:Discuss Speaker A's use of articles in the following dialogues. Why does
Speaker A use a, some, the, or O? Discuss what both Speaker A and Speaker B are
thinking about.

DIALOGUE 1: _ch

L A dog makes a good pet. B: I agree. L:I saw a dog in my yard. B: Oh? L: Did you feed the dog? B: Yes.
lIALOGUE 4: lUUK;UE 5:

r: Dogs make good pets. B: I agree. L: I saw some &gs in my yard. B: Oh? L: Did vou feed the d m ? B: Yes.
lIALoGUE 7: IIALOGUE 8:

r: Fruit is good for you. B: I agree. ,: I ate somefruit. B: Oh? h: Zkfrvit in this bowl is ripe. B: Good.

828 CHAPTER 1 1 CountlNoncount Nouns and Artlcles 329

 13. A: Did you lock -door?
EXERCISE 19. THE vs. AIAN. (Chart 11-8)
Directions: Here are some conversations. Try to decide whether the speakers would B: Yes.
probably use the or dun. Are the speakers thinking about the same objects or persons? A: Did you check -stove?
1. A: Did you have a good time at & party last night? B: Yes.
B: Yes. A: Did you close all -windows downstairs?
A: So did I. I'm glad that you decided to go with me. B: Yes.
2. A: What did you do last night? A. Did you set alarm?
B: I went to party. B: Yes.
A: Oh? Where was it? A: Then let's turn out -lights.
B: Goodnight, dear.
3. A: Do you have -car?
A: Goodnight, dear.
B: No. But I have -bicycle.

4. A: Do you need -car today, honey? 14. A: Where's Dennis?

B: Yes. I have a lot of errands to do. Why don't I drive you to work today? B: He's in -kitchen.

A: Okay. But be sure to iil1 -car up with gas sometime today. 15. A: Do you like your new apartment?

5. A: I bought -table yesterday. B: Yes. It has -big kitchen.

B: Oh? I didn't h o w you went shopping for furniture.
EXERCISE 20. Uslng A or 0 for generalizations. (Chart 11-8)
6. A: Have you seen my keys? Directions: Write a or 0 in the blank before each singular noun. Then write the plural
B: Yes. They're on -table next to -front door. form of the noun if possible.
Singular Subjects Plural Subjects
7. A: Is Mr. Jones -graduate student?
B: No. He's -professor.
1. A bird has feathers. Bivds have Featthevs.
2. C #om is nutritious.
8. A: Where's -professor?
3. -milk is white.
B: She's absent today.
4. - flower is beautiful.
: 9. A: Would you like to go to -zoo this afternoon? 5. -water is a clear liquid.
;.:
B: Sure. W h y not? 6. -horse is strong.
10. A: Does San Diego have -zoo? 7. - jewelry is expensive.
B: Yes. It's world famous. 8. - soap produces bubbles.
9. - shirt has sleeves.
11. A: Let's listen to -radio.
B: Okay. I'll turn it on.

-radio?
12. A: Does your car have
B: Yes, and -CD player.

330 CHAPTER 1 1 Count/Noncount Nouns and Articles 331

EXERCISE 21. Using THE for specific statements. (Chart 11-8) EXERCISE 22. Using THE for specliic statements. (Chart 11-8)
Directions: Complete the sentences with the given nouns. Use the for specific statements. DirectMns: Add the if necessary. Otherwise, use 0 to show that no article is necessary.
Do not use the for general statements.
1. Please pass me tkpbutter.
1 . flowers a. The Flowevs in that vase are beautiful. 2. Bvutter is a dairy product.
b. flowrvs are beautiful. 3. air is free.
2 . mountains a. are beautiful. 4. air is humid today.
b. in Colorado are beautiful. 5. A: windows are closed. Please open them.
B: Okay.
3. water a. consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
6. windows are made of glass.
b. I don't want to go swimming today. is
7. As every parent knows, children require a lot of time and attention.
too cold.
8. A: Frank, where are children?
4. information a. in today's newspaper is B: Next door at the Jacksons'.
alarming. 9. paper is made from trees or other plants.
b. The Internet is a widely used source of 10. paper in my notebook is lined.
5 . health a. is more important than money. 11. nurses are trained to care for sick and injured people.
b. Doctors are concerned with of their 12. When I was in Memorial Hospital, nurses were wonderful.
patients. 13. I'm studying English. I'm studying grammar.
14. grammar in this chapter isn't easy.
6 . men a. generally have stronger muscles
15. All of our food comes from plants. Some food, such as
women than
fruit and vegetables, comes directly from plants.
3 ):. b. At the party last night, sat on one side .. . . (
~
( ,:,..
Other food, such as meat, comes indirectly from
., .;-,;.*.
-!4,. ,~ ;. . of the room, and sat on the other. . I I . , ! / ;'
plants.
7. problnns a. Everyone has 16. I'm not very good at keeping houseplants alive. plants in my
b. Irene told me about she had with her , -: apartment have to be tough. They survive in spite of me.
car yesterday.

8 . happiness a. I can't express I felt when I

EXERCISE 23. Using THE for second mention. (Chart 11-8)
Direcrions: Write alan, some, or the in the blanks.
heard the good news.
, I
1. I had A banana and A apple. I gave the
b. Everyone seeks
banana to Mary. I ate theapple.
9 . vegetables a. are good for you.
b. we had for d i i e r last 2. I had bananas and apples. I gave tkp
night were overcooked. bananas to Mary. I ate theapples.
10. gold a. is a precious metal. 3. I have desk and bed in my room.
b. in Mary's ring is 24 karats. desk is hard. bed is hard, too, even though it's supposed to be soft.

CountlNoncount Nouns and Articles 333

 0 EXERCISE 24. Summary: AIAN vs. 0 vs. THE. (Charts 1 1-1 + 11-8)
4.. I forgot to bring my things with me to class yesterday, so I borrowed Directionc Write alan, 0, or the in the blanks.
A '11

pen and paper from Joe. I returned pen, but I used

1. Ihave A window in my bedroom. I keep it open at night because I like
paper for my homework.
3 k L window is above my bed.
fresh air.
5. A: What did you do last weekend? 2. Kathy bought -radio. She likes to listen to -music when she studies.
B: I went on picnic Saturday and saw movie
3. A: Would you please turn -radio down? -music is too loud.
Sunday.
B: No problem.
A: Did you have fun?
B: picnic was fun,but movie was boring. 4. -good book is -friend for -life.
5. Last week I read -book about -life of Gandhi.
6. Yesterday I saw dog and cat. dog
was chasing cat. cat was chasing 6. A: Let's go swimming in -lake today.
mouse. mouse ran into hole, but B: That sounds like -good idea.
hole was very small. cat couldn't get into hole, so it 7. -sea but larger
-lake is a body of -water that is smaller than
ran up tree. dog med to climb tree
/A
than -pond. -ocean is larger than -sea.
,too, but it couldn't. ' .I .L.
8. During our vacation in Brazil, we walked along -beach in front of our hotel
7: I bought bag of flour and sugar to make
8 8

- -=.rand
,.
looked at -ocean.
cookies. sugar was okay, but I had to return flour. 9. -water is essential to human life, but don't drink -water in the Flat
When1 opened flour, I found little bugs in it. I took River. It'll W you! -pollution in that river is terrible.
_ I t
it back to the people at the store and showed them little bugs. They
10. People can drink -fresh water. They can't drink -seawater because it
gave me new bag of flour. new bag didn't have any
contains -salt.
bugs in it.
- - 11. Ted, pass -salt, please. And -pepper. Thanks.
8. Once upon a time, princess fell in love with prince.
princess wanted to marry prince, who lived in
12. -different geography.
different countries have Italy is located on

distant land. She summoned messenger to take

-peninsula. Japan is -island nation.

things to prince to show him her love. 13. A: How did you get here? Did you walk?
"3
messenger took jewels and robe made of yellow and red B: No, I took -taxi.
silk to prince. princess anxiously awaited
14. There are some wonderful small markets in my neighborhood. You can always get
messenger's return. She hoped that prince would send her > , . . ... .... - . , . . .
-fresh fish at Mr. Rico's fish market. , # ~,
tokens of his love. But when messenger returned, he brought back tn!,',. ,; ,! i

jewels and beautiful silk robe that

15. -good food keeps us healthy and adds -pleasure to our lives.
princess had sent. Why? Why? she wondered. Then messenger told
x C t , her: prince already had wife.

334 CHAPTER 1 l CountINoncount Nouns and Artlcles 835

 16. A: Well, are you ready to leave?
B: Anytime you are.
A: Let me take just one last sip of coffee. I've really enjoyed this meal.
B: I agree. -food was excellent-especially -fish. And -
service was exceptionally good. Let's leave -waiaess -good tip.
A: Yes, let's do that. I usually tip around fifteen percent, sometimes eighteen percent.
Does that sound about right to you?

17. A: We're ready to go, kids. Get in -car.

B: Just a minute! We forgot something.
',
A: Marge, can you get -kids in -car, please?
B: Just a minute, Harry. They're coming.
4 1

il. !i

18. In ancient times, people did not use -coins for money. Instead they used
-shells, -beads, or -salt. The first coins were made around
2600 years ago. Today, most money is made e o m -paper. In the future,
maybe we'll use only -plastic cards and there will be no paper money.