UNIT 4 - GRAMMAR COURSE

I. USING A or 0:GENERIC NOUNS

1 r~
SINGULAR (a) A banana is yellow.* A speaker uses generic nouns to make generalizations.
COUNT A generic noun represents a whole class of things; it is
NOUN not a specific, real, concrete thing, but rather a symbol
of a whole group.
(b) 0 Bananas are yellow. In (a) and (b): The speaker is talking about any
banana, all bananas, bananas in general. In (c): The
speaker is talking about any and all fruit, fruit in
general.
NONCOUNT (c) 0 Fruit is good for you. Notice that no article (0)is used to make
generalizations with plural count nouns, as in (b), and
with noncount nouns, as in (c).

I 11. USING A or SOME: INDEFINITE NOUNS

SINGULAR (d) I ate a banana. Indefinite nouns are actual things (not symbols), but
COUNT they are not specifically identified.
NOUN In (d): The speaker is not referring to "this banana" or
"that banana" or "the banana you gave me." The
PLURAL (e) I ate some bananas. speaker is simply saying that slhe ate one banana. T h e
COUNT listener does not know nor need to know which specific
NOUN
I
banana was eaten; it was simply one banana out of that
NONCOUNT (f) I ate some fluit. whole group of things in this world called bananas.
NOUN In (e) and (f): Some is often used with indefinite plural
count nouns and indefinite noncount nouns. In addition
to some, a speaker might use two,a few,several, a lot
of, etc., with plural count nouns, or a little, a lot of,etc.,
with noncount nouns. (See Chart 7-4, p. 107.)
111. USING THE: DEFINITE NOUNS
I I
SINGULAR (g) Thank you for the banana. A noun is definite when both the speaker and the
COUNT listener are thinking about the same specific thing.
NOUN In (g): The speaker uses the because the listener knows
(h) Thank you for the bananas. which specific banana the speaker is talking about, i.e.,
that particular banana which the listener gave to the
speaker.
NOUN
Notice that the is used with both singular and plural
NONCOUNT ( i ) Thank you for thefiuit. count nouns and with noncount nouns.
NOUN

*Usually atan is used with a singular generic count noun. Examples:

A window is made of glass. A doctor heals sick people. Parents must give a child love. A box has six sides. An appk can be
red, green, or yellow.
However, the is sometimes used with a singular generic count noun (not a plural generic count noun, not a generic
noncount noun). "Generic the" is commonly used with, in particular:
(1) species of animals: The blue whak i the largest mammal on earth.
The elephant is the largest h n d mammal.
(2) inventions: Who invenled the telephone? the wheel? the refrigerator? the airplane?
The computer will play an increasingly large role in all of our lives.
(3) musical instruments: I'd like w barn w play the piano.
Do you play the guitar?

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EXERCISE 12. Article usage with generic nouns. (Chart 7-7)

Directions: Add alan if necessary. Write 0 in the blank if the noun is noncount. Capitalize
as appropriate.
1. 1 bird has wings. tennis player has to practice
2. Ah animal needs a regular supply long hours.
of food. tree needs water to survive.
3. $od is a necessity of life. water is composed of oxygen
4. - concert is a musical and hydrogen.
performance. homework is a necessary part of
5. - opera is a musical play. a course of study.
6. - music consists of a series of grammar is interesting and fun.
pleasant sounds. sentence usually contains a
7. - cup is a small container used subject and a verb.
for liquids. Englkh is used in airports
8. - milk is nutritious. throughout much of the world.
9. - island is a piece of land air is free.
surrounded by water. orange is green until it ripens. .
10. - gold is a metal. fiuit is good for you.
1 1. - bridge is a structure that iron is a metal.
spans a river. iron is an instrument used
12. - valley is an area of low land to take wrinkles
between two mountains. out of cloth
13. - health is one of the most fabric.
important things in life.
14. - adjective is a word that
modifies a noun.
1 5. - knowledge is a source of power. basketball is round.
P

16. - tennis is a sport. basketball is a sport.

EXERCISE 13. Article usage with indefinite nouns. (Chart 7-7)

Directions: Add alan or some to these sentences.
1 . The teacher made ah announcement.

2. Isaw a bird.

3. I saw sowe birds.

4. Rosa borrowed sowe money from her uncle.

5. I had accident.

6. I have homework to do tonight.

7. There is table in the room.

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8. There is furniture in the room.

9. There are chairs in the room.

10. My father gave me advice.

11. Sonya is carrying suitcase.

12. Sonya is carrying luggage.

13. There was earthquake in California.

14. I got letters in the mail.

15. Helen got letter from her mother.

16. Jerry got mail yesterday.

17. A computer is machine that can solve problems.

18. The factory bought new machinery.

19. machines are powered by electricity. Some use other sources of energy.

20. I threw away junk.

2 1. I threw away old basket that was falling apart.

22. I threw away old boots that had holes in them.

EXERCISE 14. Count and noncount nouns. (Charts 7-4 + 7-7)

Directions: A favorite game for adults and children alike is called "My Grandfather's Store."
It is played with a group of people. Each person begins hisher turn by saying "I went to
my grandfather's store and bought . . . . " The first person names something that begins
with the letter "A? The second person repeats what the first person said, and then names
something that begins with the letter "B." The game continues to the letter "Z," the end of
the alphabet. The people in the group have to listen carefully and remember all the items
previously named.
Example:
1st person: I went to my grandfather's store and bought an apph.
2nd person: I went w my grandfather's store and bought an apple and some bread.
3rd person: I went to my grandfather's sme and bought an apple, some bread, and a camel.
4th person: I went to my grandfather's store and bought an apple, sorne bread, a camel,
and some dark socks.
5th person: Etc.

Assume that "grandfather's store" sells just about anything anyone would ever think of.
Pay special attention to the use of a, an, and some.
Alternative beginnings:
Tomorrow I'm going to (name of a place). In my suitcase, I will pack . . ..
If I lived on a deserted island, I would need . . . .

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(a) The sun is bright today. GUIDELINE: Use the when you know or assume
Please hand this book to the teacher. that your listener is familiar with and thinking about
Please open the door. the same specific thing or person you are talking about.
Omar is in the kitchen.

(b) Yesterday I saw sonze dogs. The dogs were chasing GUIDELINE: Use the for the second mention of an
a cat. The cat was chasing a mouse. The mouse indefinite noun.* In (b): first mention = some dogs, a
ran into a hole. The hole was very small. cat, a mouse, a hole; second mention = the dogs, the
cat, the mouse, the hole.

(c) CORRECT: Apples are my favorite fruit. GUIDELINE: Do NOT use the with a plural count
INCORRECT: T h e apples are my favorite fruit. noun (e.g., apples) or a noncount noun (e.g., gold)
(d) CORRECT: Gold is a metal. when you are making a generalization.
INCORRECT: 7'he gold is a metal.

(e) CORRECT: (1) I drove a car. GUIDELINE: A singular count noun (e.g., car) is
(2) I drove the car. preceded by a marker:
( 3 ) I drove that car. ( 1 ) a or an (or another singular marker such as
(4) I drove Jim's car. one, each, or every);(2) the; (3) this or that;
INCORRECT: I drove car. ( 4 ) a possessive (e.g., m y ,Jim's)

*The is not used for the second mention of a generic noun. COMPARE:
( 1 ) Whar color is a banana (generic noun)? A banana (generic noun) is yellow.
(2) Joe offmeed me a banana (indefinite noun) or an apple. I chose the banana (definite noun).

EXERCISE 15. Article usage. (Charts 7-7 and 7-8)

Directiuns:In these dialogues, decide whether the speakers would probably use alan or the.

1. A: I have ah idea. Let's go on A picnic Saturday.

B: Okay.
2. A: Did you have fun at picnic yesterday?
B: Sure did. And you?
3. A: You'd better have good reason for being late!
B: I do.
4. A: Did you think reason Mike gave for being late was believable?
B: Not really.
5. A: Where's my blue shirt?
B: It's in washing machine.
A: That's okay. I can wear different shirt.
6. A: I wish we had washing machine.
B: So do I. It would make it a lot easier to do our laundry.
7. A: Can you repair my car for me?
B: What's wrong with it?
A: radiator has leak, and one of windshield wipers
doesn't work.
B: Can you show me where leak is?
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8. A: What happened to your bicycle? front wheel is bent.

B: I ran into parked car when I swerved to avoid big pothole
in the street.
A: Did you damage car?
B: A little.
A: What did you do?
B: I left -note for owner of -car.
A: What did you write on note?
B: My name and address. I also wrote apology.

9. A: Have you seen my boots?

B: They're in closet in front hallway.

EXERCISE 16. Article usage. (Charts 7-7 and 7-8)

Directions: Complete the sentences with alan,the, or 0. Capitalize as appropriate.
B
1. ,% Meef is a kind of ,% meat.
2. The beef we had for dinner last night was excellent.

3. Jim is wearing A straw hat today.

4. Jim likes to wear hats.

5. hat is -article of clothing.

6. hats are articles of clothing.

7. brown hat on that hook over there belongs to Mark.

8. Everyone has problems in life.

9. My grandfather had long life.

10. That book is about life of Helen Keller.

11. Tommy wants to be engineer when he grows up.

12. The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by -engineer.

13. John Roebling is name of -engineer who designed the Brooklyn

Bridge. He died in 1869 from infection before bridge was
completed.

14. people wear jewelry to make themselves more attractive.

15. jewelry Diana is wearing today is beautiful.

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EXERCISE 17. Article usage. (Charts 7-7 and 7-8)

Directions: Complete the sentences with alan, the, or 0 .
1. We need to get new phone.

2. Alex, would you please answer phone?

3. -people use plants in many different ways. Plants supply us

with oxygen. They are a source of lifesaving medicines. We use plant
products to build houses and to make paper and textiles.

4. When you look at sandy shore, it might seem practically empty of

animals. This appearance is deceptive, however. Beneath surface, the sand
is full of life. It is teeming with crabs, shrimp,
worms, snails, and -other kinds of marine animals.

5. Our children enjoyed going to the beach yesterday. When they dug in sand,
they found various kinds of -animals. Susie found crab, and so did
Johnny. crab Johnny found pinched him, which made him cry. But he had
-good time at beach anyway.

6. The biggest bird in the world is the ostrich. It eats just about anything it can reach,
including stones, -glass, and keys. It can kill
person with one kick.

7. Do you ever gaze into space and wonder if other life forms exist in
universe?

8. most mirrors are made from glass to which thin layer of

silver or aluminum has been applied.

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9. In recent newspaper article, I read about Australian swimmer who

was saved from shark by -group of dolphins. When shark
attacked swimmer, dolphins chased it away. They saved
swimmer's life.

10. I heard on the radio that there is evidence that dolphins suffer in
captivity. Dolphins that are free in nature live around 40 years. Captive
dolphins live average of 12 years. It is believed that some captive dolphins
commit suicide.

11. phonograph records have become old-fashioned. They have been supplanted
by compact discs, which are commonly referred to as CDs.

12. Look. There's fly walking on ceiling. It's upside down. Do you
suppose fly was flying rightside up and flipped over at the last second, or was
it flying upside down when it landed on ceiling?

EXERCISE 18. Preview: expressions of quantity. (Chart 7-9)

Directions: Before you look at the next chart, try this exercise. Draw a line through the
expressions that CANNOT be used to complete the sentence correctly.
Example: I bought furniture.
a. some
b. ==@--.f
C. d
d. too much
e. v
1. I received letters. 2. I received mail.
a. two a. two
b. a couple of b. a couple of
c. both c. both
d. several d. several
e. some e. some
f. a lot of f. a lot of
g. plenty of g. plenty of
h. too many h. too many
i. too much i. too much
j. a few j. a few
k. a little k. a little
1. a number of 1. a number of
m. a great deal of m. a great deal of
n. hardly any n. hardly any
O. no O. no

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UNIT 4 - GRAMMAR COURSE