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AESS - IFD Batch 20/21
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Contents
- Introduction
- Zero Articles
- Indefinite Articles
- Definite Articles
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AESS - IFD Batch 20/21 1 Contents Introduction Zero Articles - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
AESS - IFD Batch 20/21 1 Contents Introduction Zero Articles - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
AESS - IFD Batch 20/21 1 Contents Introduction Zero Articles Indefinite Articles Definite Articles 2 In Introduction Articles Zero Indefinite Definite When specificity is Used when making When specificity is
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In Introduction
Zero
Used when making generalisations, with plural countable or uncountable nouns
Ex: Sam loves to watch football.
Articles Indefinite
When specificity is not needed, with singular countable nouns
Ex: Sam saw a girl on the road.
Definite
When specificity is needed to distinguish, with both singular/plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns
Ex: Sam saw the girl on the road.
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Zero Articles
- Before supreme divinity
Ex: I believe in God. Exception: I believe in the Goddess Kali.
- Before religious beliefs
Ex: Buddhism is mainly followed in Sri Lanka.
- Before names of academic disciplines
Ex: I plan to complete a BSc in Business Management.
- Before names of sports
Ex: Basketball is for tall sportspersons.
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- Before holidays
Ex: Air travel is expensive during Christmas. Exception: The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is celebrated in Sri Lanka.
- Before abstract nouns
Ex: Wisdom and good intentions are two different entities. Exception: That car is a beauty.
- Before abstract non-count nouns
Ex: Education is the key to success.
- Before dates
Ex: Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Exception: Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December.
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- Before time
Ex: I watched a movie last night. Exception: It took me an entire month to understand the module.
- Before names of diseases
Ex: His aunt has diabetes. Exception: His uncle died from a stroke.
- Before un/non-countable nouns
Ex: He does not prefer coffee with milk. Exception: The water in the well can be measured if needed.
- Before places visited for usual purposes
Ex: Brian goes to university on weekdays. Exception: Brian’s father went to the university for a meeting.
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- Before comparative degrees
Ex: Apples are more expensive than oranges.
- Before directions
Ex: Turn left to go to the park. Exception: The war tank is heading to the North. The cinema hall is on the right.
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If the direction follows a preposition, ‘the’ should be added
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In Indefinite Articles – A/An
The use of indefinite articles:
- 1. When a noun is introduced for the first time (no prior knowledge)
Ex: A man walked into a bar.
- 2. When specificity is not needed.
Ex: She wanted to pick up a bottle of wine on her way home. Exceptions: A student whom I have never seen before spoke to me. The student whom I have never seen before spoke to me.
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(no prior knowledge) (Has prior knowledge; heard before but not seen)
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- Before abstract nouns
Ex: She is a beauty.
- Before expressions of quantity
Ex: A few students were in the corridor. (very few) Few – small quantity
- Before reference to different categories
Ex: Mr Nizam is a CEO, a lawyer and a lecturer. Exception: He likes bread, butter, jam and orange juice for breakfast.
- Before countable abstract nouns
Ex: I have an idea for an assessment.
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(The indefinite article ‘a’ is dropped before uncountable nouns)
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- Before abstract uncountable nouns which depict a concrete instance and become
countable nouns Ex: He lived a long life and died a natural death. Drinking was the death of her. (applicable to the definite articles too)
- Before structures with “neither” “nor”
Ex: He is neither a doctor nor a musician.
- Before the comparative degree
Ex: He has a more expensive bike than her.
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Defi finite Article - The
The use of the definite article:
- 1. When there is prior knowledge/it is already known to the listener
Ex: I stalked the person we were talking about yesterday.
- 2. In order to specify something
Ex: Can you pass me the book (on the table)? Exceptions: ‘the’ could also be a part of a phrase Junior has a bike which he parks by the side of the school.
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(prior knowledge) (part of a phrase)
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- Definite articles precede superlatives
Ex: If you wish to see the most unpredictable animal, look at yourself in the mirror. Exception: Most universities have their own principles. (General statement)
- Definite articles precede “of” phrases
Ex: The stupidity of insulting others should not exist in the 21st century. Exception: Ignorance of the law should not be pardoned.
- When expressing parallel relations
Ex: The faster you drive, the harder you hit.
- Before sequencing/ranking
Ex: The previous, the last, the first, the second
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- Before time expressions
Ex: We will pay the fees in the morning. Exception: We sleep at night.
- Before geographical regions
Ex: To some, the West is the best.
- Before family as a group
Ex: The Silvas are vegetarians.
- Before nationalities
Ex: The French are wine lovers. Exception: Americans love burgers.
- Before countries with attributes such as Republic, State, Union
Ex: The United States of America Exceptions: The Maldives, The Philippines, The Netherlands
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Nationalities ending with ‘ans’. Americans/Mexicans
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