Rules and Forms
What is the basic structure for using an article with a noun?
Article + (adjective) + singular countable noun
Why do we say “a university” but “an umbrella”?
Because “university” begins with a /juː/ sound → consonant sound
Why do we say “the Netherlands” but just “France”?
The Netherlands” is a plural country name; “France” is singular
Fix: “He is the honest man.”
The honest man” → “He is an honest man.”
Is “the” needed in: “She goes to school”? Why?
No article – “school” refers to general function (student)
What article do you use before singular, countable, unspecified nouns?
Use “a” or “an” before singular, countable, non-specific nouns
Why is it “an hour” and not “a hour”?
An hour” – “hour” begins with a silent h, so it starts with a vowel sound
Why do we use “the” before oceans and rivers?
Oceans/rivers are unique and specific: “the Nile,” “the Pacific Ocean”
Fix: “She is a best dancer in the class.”
“She is the best dancer in the class.”
Correct: “Climate change is the major issue.”
Remove “the” – “Climate change” is a general concept
When do we use “the” with adjectives (e.g., “the rich”)?
When referring to a group as a whole: “the poor,” “the elderly,” etc.
Choose the correct: “A heir” or “An heir”? Explain.
An heir” – “heir” starts with a silent h → vowel sound
Why do we say “the UK” but not “the Germany”?
The UK” = The United Kingdom (grouped political entity); “Germany” is just a name
Correct: “They adopted a unique approach to the education.”
“To the education” → “To education” (uncountable, general)
Explain why “Love is important” uses no article.
“Love” is uncountable and general → no article needed
What’s the rule for using no article with plural countable nouns in general statements?
No article is used when talking about general plural nouns: “Dogs are loyal.”
Which is correct: “an FBI agent” or “a FBI agent”? Why?
An FBI agent” – F is pronounced “eff,” a vowel sound
Why is “the” used in “the Alps” but not in “Mount Everest”?
Mountain ranges get “the” (the Alps); individual mountains don’t: Mount Everest
Correct: “He is the doctor who works at the hospital.”
Sentence is correct — but test if students can explain why: “the doctor” = specific
Why do we omit articles in headlines? Give an example.
Articles are dropped in headlines for brevity: e.g., “President Visits Japan”
When can we omit articles before professions, meals, and modes of transport?
We often omit articles before: “He is teacher.” (Incorrect) → “He is a teacher.” BUT: no article in phrases like “go by bus,” “have lunch”
Explain: Why do we say “an MBA” but “a master’s degree”?
“An MBA” – pronounced “em-bee-ay” = vowel sound; “master’s” starts with m, a consonant sound
What’s the difference between “at university” and “at the university”?
“At university” = student role; “at the university” = physical location
Fix: “I want to be an engineer in the future.”
Correct as is, Trick Question
Why is “the” used in “the more you read, the more you learn”?
The more... the more...” is a fixed comparative structure