Articles in English
Who Knows? Definite or Indefinite Count / Noncount
Who Knows?
My love is a rose.
A rose
A rose
The rose A rose in the park
A rose
Definite or Indefinite
Definite – the sign
Indefinite – a sign
General or Specific? Do you know which book? • I put a book in your room. • The book is on your desk. We know which book.
Definite / Indefinite Example Writer knows Reader knows Definite / Indefinite Can I see the book? yes definite I saw a oneeared cat. Yes No indefinite I heard you wrote a book. No Yes indefinite I need to buy a No new computer No indefinite
5 sources of definiteness 1. Previously mentioned. – I saw a one-eared cat outside my house. The cat seemed to be very suspicious when I approached it.
5 sources of definiteness 2. Superlatives or ranking adjectives make a noun definite. – The best team in the league is the Gators.
5 sources of definiteness 2. Superlatives or ranking adjectives make a noun definite. – The third paragraph contains the right answer.
5 sources of definiteness 3. The noun is a unique person, place, or thing. – The sun rotates around the earth. – I find many useful sites on the internet.
5 sources of definiteness 4. A modifying phrase or clause makes the noun more definite. – The student in the back row seems to know all the answers.
5 sources of definiteness 4. A modifying phrase or clause makes the noun more definite. – The girl who made the winning shot lives next door to me.
5 sources of definiteness 5. The context of situation makes the identity clear. – I am going to the library. • Both students at SFCC know which library.
Who Knows? Definite or Indefinite Count / Noncount
Source: http: //www. rpi. edu/web/writingcenter/esl. html
the milk
a drop of milk
Did you leave the milk on the table?
What does it mean? • I got the A on the exam. • I got an A on the exam. • The good teachers are at SFC.
Who Knows? Definite or Indefinite Count / Noncount
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