english grammar i unit 5: articles, nouns & quantifiers

English Grammar I

Unit 5: Articles, Nouns & Quantifiers


5.1 Indefinite Articles: A & An “a” is used before all words that begin

with consonants: a cat, a desk, a beautiful girl. But we use “an” when “h” is silent: an honest young man.

“an” is used before all words that begin with vowels: an orange, an egg, an orbit but we use “a” when “u” has the sound ［ j ］ , “o” has the sound ［ w ］ : a unicorn, a one-legged man.


Part 5.1-2 Definite Article– the

1. “the” is used when we know that the listener knows what particular person or thing we are talking about.

　　 Mom is cooking in the kitchen.

　　 I don’t like the book.

　　 Switch off the light near the door.


2. “the” is used when the same thing or person has been mentioned again.

　　 Mr. Wu has a boy and a girl.

　　 The boy’s name is John.

　　 The girl’s name is Mary.


3. “the” is used to talk about rivers, oceans, seas, channels, and mountain.

The Nile is the longest river in the world.

I wish I could swim across the TaiwanStrait one day.

The Alps is located in Europe. The Pacific Ocean is the largest Ocea

n in the world.


4. “the” is used before certain nouns when we know there is only one of a particular thing: the sun, the moon, the sky, the White House.

The sun rises in the east. The White House is going to announc

e an important policy.


5. “the” is used before the names of large public buildings such as hotels, movie theaters, museums, and bridges. It is also used in the large region of the world.

We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel when we went to New York.

The Statue of Liberty is a gift from France.


6. “the” is used with certain adjective to mean plurals: the rich, the poor, the young, the old, the blind.

Our government should help the homeless to find work.

The rich ought to help the poor.


7. “the” is used with newspapers Have you read the China Post today? 8. “the” is often used with a music instru

ment: Tylor can play the piano and the drum

s, Sue is playing the flute while her husb

and is playing the guitar.


9. the” is used with non-countable nouns that are made more specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause:

The coffee in the cup is too hot to drink.

The bread on the table is made by my grandmother.


5.1-3 Exercise : Fill in the blanks with a, an the or nothing

Look at ________ picture. There are _______ boy, _____ dog, ______ cat and _________ mouse in it. ________ cat is chasing _________ mouse. _________dog is running after __________ cat and ________ boy is running after _________ dog.


5.1-4 Zero article

1. We do not use an article before nouns when talking in general terms.

Apples are good for your health. Tigers are animals.


2. We do not use an article before uncountable nouns when talking about them generally.

Sugar is sweet and coffee is bitter. Pepper is hot and honey is sweet.


3. We do not use an article before months, days, seasons.

Jeremy has PE classes on Tuesday and Friday.

We will go to Europe in September. Winter comes after fall.


4. We do not use an article before sports, meals, and subjects.

My father enjoys playing golf. Baseball is my favorite sport. Have you had your breakfast? Math is easier than English.


5. We do not use an article before by with vehicles; however, we use on + a + vehicle.

My father goes to work by car; my mother goes by bus.

I go to school on a scooter; my brother goes on a bicycle.


5.1-5 Exercise : use “a”, “an”, the or zero article (put X for zero article)

1. ______ salt is the most popular spice.

2. Could you pass me ___________ salt?

3. Animals need ________ food to live.

4. I’m not going to ________ work tomorrow.


5. Did you finish _____ work your father asked you to do?

6. _____________ coffee is the most popular drink in the world.

7. Joan made coffee and tea for the guests. ______ tea is good but _____________ coffee is too weak.

8. We are going to _________ Miami and we are going to stay in __________ Hyatt Hotel.


9. _______ Taiwan is in ________ Asia.10. My friend invited me to _________ pa

rty at his house. 11. A ship sank in ______________ Atlan

tic Ocean. 12. We had ________ dinner at seven las

t night.13. ___________ sun is shining.


5.2 Count Nouns Count nouns refer to objects which are

separate and distinct entities. Count nouns have a plural form and th

eir plurals are usually formed by adding -s to the words.

When a countable noun is singular, we must use an article such as “a” “an” and “the” with it:


Mr. Wang has a son and a daughter. Mr. Lee have two sons and two daught

ers. There is only a giraffe in the zoo. There are three giraffes in the zoo.


5.2-2 Nouns that have a different plural:

man→ menwoman→

womentooth→ teeth

child→ children foot→ feet deer→ deer

mouse→ mice fish→ fish sheep→ sheep

goose→ geese ox→ oxen


5.3 Uncountable Nouns “Uncountable nouns" are things that w

e cannot count. Uncountable nouns are used as singul

ar. We use a singular verb. In general statements, articles “a”, “an”, “the” are not used before uncountable nouns.


Milk is very important for a baby. There was a lot of rain last year. Rice is grown in Asia. Honesty is one of the most important q

ualities for politicians.


5.3-1 Uncountable Noun: Uncountable nouns can be divided into

several groups which are listed as the follows.


1. things made up of small pieces

grass dirt dust rice

flour sand pepper salt

sugar hair corn popcorn


2. collective nouns.

mail luggage cash money

food clothing fruit furniture

garbage jewelry machinery merchandise


Collective nouns such as committee, family are usually used as singular.

However, when the individual of the group acts separately, a plural verb is used.

My family is away. His family are eating dinner. Jewels and clothes are countable nou

ns


3. academic subjects

history grammar engineering physics

poetry law biology chemistry

politics mathematics geography fine arts

music economics advertising science


4. liquid

cream wine gas juice

blood coffee glue water

beer soup tea oil


5. abstract nouns

advice crime ignorance news

anger curiosity justice trouble

courage help knowledge wealth

peace equality strength fun

happiness information enjoyment health


6. elements

chicken cotton glass gold

beef wood metal bread

fire plastic wool steel


7. natural phenomena

rain snow wind fog

thunder lightning cold heat


5.4 Quantifiers quantifiers are words that modify noun

s. They tell us how many or how much. Quantifiers used for countable nouns are some, any, several, many, a couple, a few, few, a lot of, plenty of.


Quantifiers used for non-count nouns are some, any, how much, much, a little, little, a lot of, a great deal of.

I saw some girls sitting under the tree. Several employees were absent this m

orning. He bought a few books last week.


I would like some tea, please. How much money do you need? There isn’t much work for you to do. There is little hope for the patient.


5.4-1 Quantifiers used both for count nouns and non-count nouns

Quantifiers used both for count nouns and non-count nouns: some, any enough, a lot of, lots of, plenty of.

Do we bring enough water and enough clothes?

There were a lot of fruit and vegetables.


Any

There are not any vegetables in the refrigerator.

There is not any fruit left.

Some

I saw some children playing in the park.

Could you lend me some money?


A lot of

There are a lot of people in the department store.

There is a lot of traffic in rush hours.

plenty ofThe child has plenty of toys.

There will be plenty of rain this year.


5.4-2 Nouns that are both uncountable and countable

Glass

The door is made of glass (uncountable)

I bought two glasses. (countable)

paper

I need some paper to do my homework. (uncountable)

Did you read the paper today? (countable)


Hair

Her hair is blond. (uncountable)

There is a hair in the soup. (countable)

Room

There are two rooms in the apartment. (countable)

There is no room for the piano. (uncountable)


5.4-3 Exercise: Put “some” or “any” for each sentence

1. Have you got ______ cigarettes?2. I like ______ pop music but not all.3. Mrs. Huang doesn’t drink ______ coff

ee at all.4. Would you like __________ coffee wit

h your cheesecake?


5. Are there __________ messages for me?

6. Could I have ___________ coffee, please?


5.4-4 Exercise: Write “a”, “an”, “some” or “any” for each sentence

1. Andy is reading _________ book and listening to ___________ music.

2. I need ___________ money. I need to buy __________ food.

3. We met ______________ interesting people at the party.

4. Please open the window to get ______________ fresh air.


5. Mrs. Jones always eats _________ apple and ________ bread for lunch.

6. I am going to make ________ table. I have to buy ________ wood first.

7. Listen to me. I will give you ____________ useful advice.

8. I want to write a letter. Give me _______ pen and _________ paper.


5.4-5 Exercise: Put “many” or “much” for each sentence

1. How _____________ homework do you expect to finish in a week?

2. There are _______________ magazines in the library.

3. Mr. Wang has had __________ headaches because of the stress.


4. The yard looks awful. There are too ____________ weeds.

5. There was ________________ rain last year.


5.4-6 Exercise: Complete the sentence with “a little”, “little”, “a few” or “few”.

1. I wish I could help you, but I have __________ money.

2. I have been to Japan __________________ times.


3. I have got __________ time. Do you want to talk?

4. You made _____________ grammar mistakes in your composition, but it was OK.

5. There are _________ people in the library; it is easy to find a seat.


6. Someone is smoking inside. Let’s go outside for _______ fresh air.

7. The patient is seriously ill. There is _________ hope for him.

8. Joan can speak __________ Spanish.

english grammar i unit 5: articles, nouns & quantifiers

Documents

nouns quantifiers

certain nouns

uncountable nouns

indefinite articles

noncountable nouns

particular thing

white house

particular person