Definite and Indefinite Articles

Lilithian — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:00:10 +0000

There are two main articles in the English language – a and the. A variant to the first article is an, which is used before words that begin with vowels.

Articles are used before nouns, and just like adjectives (also used before nouns), articles also modify nouns.

Know what modify means? It means ‘to change’ in some way or another.

Let’s look at an example,

I saw a cat. I saw an otter.

I saw the cat.

In the first sentence, I’m referring to a cat that I saw. It may have been any cat. I’m not being specific.

In the second sentence, I’m referring to a particular cat that I saw. I’m being specific.

That’s why a and an are called indefinite articles. And the is called a definite article.

There is a corresponding ESL lesson plan on articles on the blog. Check it out, if you’re an ESL teacher and looking for a nudge of inspiration

Sorta Obscure Grammar Stuff

Lilithian — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:00:08 +0000

So there’s a lot of grammar lessons available online. But if you’re like me, and incessantly correct people’s grammatical errors, sometimes you might be at a loss for the right terms in a sentence.

And worse, there might just be someone smarter than you (or me) out there who really knows what figure of speech might is in this sentence.

It is really disturbing when you’re raising beer mugs Friday night, cheering to another slothful weekend, and after another swig of the almighty Smithwicks, S says, “This beer is greatest.”

“Tch, tch,” you say, “the greatest.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“But why?”

“Because. Period.”

And then the not-so-cute guy at the other table leans in and says, “Because there’s always a definite article before a superlative, and in this case, the predicate nominative – which is the superlative – should have the preceding it.”

“Uhm, thank you. Who are you?”… “Wait, I don’t care. What’s a predicate whatever!?!?!”

Hell, just for those time, I thought it might be useful to have a glossary of complicated grammatical terms, easily explained.

Here’s Predicate Nominative, for starts..And you can find ‘em all HERE.

Go, wow ‘em girl!

Musings of Ms. Volatyle » Super Simple Grammar Girl

Definite and Indefinite Articles

Sorta Obscure Grammar Stuff