Grammar file

File 1: Articles (a/the/zero)

1 Indefinite article: a/an + singular, countable nouns

*speaking in general

1 want a pizza.

*first mention of someone/something

I've got a new bike!

*jobs

She's a model. He's an actor.

! I am student. > I am a student.

2 Definite article: the

*only one of something

The sun is shining.

*somebody/something mentioned before

The magician showed us a card. Then he hid the card.

*names of cinemas, theatres, etc.

The National Theatre, The Times

*rivers, oceans, deserts, etc.

The Mediterranean, The Sahara, The Himalayas

*areas

the north/the west

*some countries and nationalities

the USA, the British

*musical instruments

I can play the guitar.

No article

*plural, countable nouns

I love rock bands.

*uncountable nouns in a general sense

I hate homework,

*most streets, roads, cities, etc.

Smith Street, Athens, America

*institutions, e.g. school, university, college, hospital etc.

I go to school every day. My sister's ill in hospital.

*certain expressions

My Dad's at work/home.

Paul's not in class. He's ill in bed.

Do you want to go home now?

We went by car/bus/plane/boat, etc.

We went home on foot.

What's for dinner/breakfast/lunch?

! Use the article when referring to an actual building:

I went to the hospital to see a patient.

File 2:

File 2: Countable/uncountable nouns and determiners

Countable nouns

*can be singular or plural one student/two students one child/four children

Uncountable nouns

*no plural form *common uncountable nouns accommodation, advice, equipment, furniture, health, homework, information, knowledge, luck, luggage, money, music, news, progress, rubbish, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work

! Never use a/an with uncountable nouns: I need an some advice, please.

Countable or uncountable

Some nouns can be countable or uncountable, depending on the meaning.