Using English Articles (#8), by more English

 

Using English Articles (#8)     Because the English articles (a, an, the) are often very challenging for learners of the language, the next several Hints will provide guidelines on their usage. _____________________________   The Definite Article The     Another use for the definite article the happens when you are writing or talking about part of a group or unit. In this situation, a quantifier with of is used before the and a noun (which may be either a singular or plural countable noun or an uncountable noun). Examples: One of the students in our class is from Qatar. ***** Some of the cheese that we bought smells terrible! ***** Most of the people at the meeting were bored. ***** Many of the questions in the test were really easy. ***** Can you eat more of the pie? ***** Several of the apples in the bowl are rotten. ***** Part of the apple that you gave me has turned brown. ***** Much of the water in that stream comes from melted snow. ***** I was able to watch more of the game than I expected. _______________________________________________ Special Notes: 1.   Use the with of, but do not use the without of: not this:   Most of people were bored. not this:   Most the people were bored. but this:   Most of the people were bored. or this:   Most people were bored. not this:   Some of cheese smells terrible! not this:   Some the cheese smells terrible! but this:   Some of the cheese smells terrible! or this:   Some cheese smells terrible!       2.   Notice another change when one is used, but not of the: One of the students in our class is from Qatar. One student in our class is from Qatar. _____________________________ Next: more on articles

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