Page 44 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

5 Nouns, agreement and articles
2.4 Articles
We use the:
with singular, plural or uncountable nouns when we expect the listener or reader to be able to identify the
thing or person referred to:
its a project run by a European charity. The charity's aim ...
when a following phrase or clause identifies what particular thing we are talking about:
the climate in this region, the impact of climate change, the ecology of mountain environments
when we talk about things that are unique
in one part of the world, the sky, the future the first/next time; the only/main problem; the smallest
improvemen4 the arms trade, the environment
Some 'unique' nouns can be used with a/an when we describe a type or aspect of the thing. Compare
What are your plans for the future? and It's hard to imagine a future without farming in an area like that.
We use a/an:
when a singular countable noun is introduced for the first time into a spoken or written text:
He's the head of a project run by a European charity.
to talk about an unspecified person, thing or event:
I didn't have a shower for days.
to describe someone/something or say what type of thing someone/something is:
It's a beautiful country. It's an international organisation.
to say what a person's job is:
You think that as a politician, you'd be able to do this?
But note that we use the or no article to give a person's title or their unique position:
He's the head of a project there. or He's head of a project there.
in number and quantity expressions:
a month or so, a couple of weeks, half an hour, three times a year, 50 cents a litre, a huge number of, a bit
We use no article
with uncountable and plural nouns when we talk generally about people or things rather than about specific
people or things:
I've always been fascinated by plants and animals. They haven't had rain for months.
with some singular nouns referring to institutions (e.g. school, college, hospital, prison, university, work)
when we talk about them generally. Compare crfter you've left college and the course here at the college
with most countries: Brazil, Switzerland, Norway but the Netherlands, the USA, the UK, the Philippines,
the Gambia
with the names of months and days of the week: in June, on Monday; special times of the year: during
Ramadan, at Easter; (or the) with seasons: like to go skiing in winter or... in the winter. However, we generally
use the to talk about a particular month, day, etc I'm going to Nepal in the summer (= next summer)
with meals when we talk about the next one What's for dinner?; a recent one What did you have for
breakfasa; or a meal in general: I usually have toast for breakfast. However, we generally use articles to talk
about a particular meal or particular meals: We had an early dinner, The breakfast in the hotel is great.
with by to talk about means of communication and transport: by post/email/phone; by car /taxi /bus/plane/
air/sea

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