The Basic Noun Phrase

Noun Phrase, Part 2Noun PhraseArticles: a, an, the, OWith all countable and uncountable nounsNounsProper NounsPronounsCountable NounsUncountable Nounsthink about determiners.Noun Phrases, Part 2determinersa, an, themy, his, theirs, etcthis, that, these, thosesome, anyother, anothersuchNoun(headword)= a noun phrase+Noun phrasesNoun (head word)dogsisterfrienddictionaries

noun phrasemy doga sisterthis friendsome dictionaries

Longer noun phrasesmy sweet little dogan older sisterthis really, old friend of minesome very old, electronic dictionaries

Whats a noun phrase?Tell your partner now!A noun phrase is a group of words with a noun as the head-word.The most common determiners are

articlesWhat are articles?aanthe (= Nothing at all!)So which article should I use?Ask yourself these three questions:a. Is my noun countable or uncountable?b. Is my noun singular or plural?c. Does the listener know this noun?

Use a or an whenQ1: countable

Q2: singular Q3: The listener DOESNT KNOW.

Ex: I bought a new CD yesterday.Are we going to a movie or a restaurant? You didnt know thisUse a or an whenHeres a tip

A singular, countable nounmust always, always, always have a determiner in front of it

determiner + singular countable nounFind the singular, countable noun and put a determiner in front of it.

She has dog. I told joke. Friend lives in Seattle. There is coffee shop on corner.

determiner + singular, countable nounFind the singular, countable noun and put a determiner in front of it.

She has a dog. I told a joke. My friend lives in Seattle. There is a coffee shop on the corner.

Use the when the noun is Q1: countable or uncountable

Q2: singular or plural

Q3: The listener KNOWS.

How do you know if the listener knows?The sun is bright today.The prime minister of Japan is speaking.He is the cutest guy in the class.Theres only one, so the listener knows which one.

I have to go to the grocery store.Theres only one that we go to, so we both know which one.The doctor called.Lets go to the park.How do you know if the listener knows?Theres only one guy I met last night, so they know which one.Theres only one pen on the table, so they know which one.The guy I met last night is going to call me.The pen on the table is purple.How do you know if the listener knows?How do they know?

The dog is called Guapo.I have a dog.Now they know which one.They dont know which one.After I tell them, they know

How do you know?After I tell you, you knowNow you know which one.You dont know which one.Theres a new movie I want to see.The movie is supposed to be really good.This is the first timeThis is the second timeWhy should we use the?

The Eiffel Tower

Theres only one in the world.

the zoo

Theres only one in the area that we go to.Why should we use the?

the beachthe yellow hatthe towelthe umbrella

Theres only one that we can see right now.Why should we use the?

the dog

There is only one dog (that I told you about before).Why should we use the?

What three questions should you ask when choosing an article?Tell your partner now!1. countable or uncountable?2. singular or plural?3. Does the listener know this noun?

Three questionsa/anCountable =singular

I ate a banana.

THE LISTENER DOESNT KNOW.countable = singular or plural

uncountable

I ate the banana.I ate the bananas.I ate the fruit.

THE LISTENER KNOWS. the?Use when Q1: countable plural

Q2: uncountable

Q3: The speaker means in general.

+ plural, countable noun + uncountable nounFind the plural, countable noun or uncountable noun. Underline it then change the sentence to make it correct.

Banana is delicious. His father and grandfather were a lawyer. I like a fresh airs. The pop music is my favorite.

+ plural, countable noun + uncountable nounFind the plural, countable noun or uncountable noun. Underline it then change the sentence to make it correct.

Bananas are delicious. His father and grandfather were a lawyers. I like a fresh airs. The pop music is my favorite.

a/ancountablesingular

I ate a banana.

THE LISTENER DOESNT KNOW.countable = singular / pluraluncountable

I ate the banana.I ate the bananas.I ate the fruit.

THE LISTENER KNOWS. thecountable plural uncountable

Bananas are yellow.Fruit is good for you.

IN GENERALNow you tryUse a/an or _____ bird has wings._____ birds have wings._____ student is a person who studies._____ basketball is round._____ basketball is a sport._____ homework is important._____ dog is a good pet._____ my dogs name is Guapo.

Answers A bird has wings.Birds have wings. ()A student is a person who studies.A basketball is round.Basketball is a sport. ()Homework is important. ()A dog is a good pet.My dogs name is Guapo. ()

Now you tryUse a/an or theI have _____ idea! Lets go on _____ picnic tomorrow.Did you have fun at _____ picnic yesterday?_____ front wheel of my bicycle is flat.Your blue shirt is in _____ washing machine.We need to get _____ new phone.Yuki, could you answer _____ phone, please?Chieko wants to be _____ flight attendant.Keiko was _____ flight attendant who helped me.

Now you tryUse a/an or theI have an idea! Lets go on a picnic tomorrow.Did you have fun at the picnic yesterday?The front wheel of my bicycle is flat.Your blue shirt is in the washing machine.We need to get a new phone.Yuki, could you answer the phone, please?Chieko wants to be a flight attendant.Keiko was the flight attendant who helped me.

How are you doing so far?ARTICLESGREAT!Okay, that was Determiners 101. Now for Determiners 201DeterminersThe SequelAGAINHow do you know which article to use?

Have a look.Lets think aboutcountable nounsAND

singular, countable nouns use a or an

When you mean dogs in general39

plural, countable nouns can use When you mean dogs in general40But wait.A dog makes a good pet.Dogs make good pets.

Whats the difference?Nothing.

singular, countable nouns use a or anWhen the listener doesnt know42

singular, countable nouns use theWhen the listener knows43

plural, countable nouns use theWhen the listener knows44Now lets think aboutuncountable nounsAND

uncountable nouns use

When you mean fruit in general46

uncountable nouns use theWhen the listener knows47What about

quantifiers?Quantifiersallnonecountableeveryall mosta lot of manysomeHow many?uncountableeveryall most a lot of much some How much?several not many a few few(not) anyno; nonenot much a little little(not) anyno; noneTricky QuantifiersHow many? How much?

much / many are used with questions and negatives.

Question: How many books do you have? How much money do you have?Negative: I dont have many.I dont have much.There arent many books.There isnt much water.

For everything else, use a lot of or lots of.

I have a lot of books. I have lots of money.BUTMany can also be used in positive sentences and much ______.

Example: Many people came to the party. (correct)

Example: Much snow fell last night. (NOT correct.)GUESS WHAT?Were Finished!

YAHOOHomeworkIts the same as usual . . .

Grammar Card(s): KEY WORDS ~ Noun Phrases, Determiners, Quantifiers

Homework Pages . . .

Dont wait until the last minute to check your homework!

If you have homework mistakes, ask yourself, What is my mistake? Do I understand how to fix it?