inglese - both either neither
both means one and another. It takes a plural verb
both banks of the river were covered in bushes
She has two sons. Both are taller then she is.
neither means not one and not another. it takes an affimative singular verb
neither of them drinks coffe
either means any one of two
Did you like his two songs? No I didn't like either (of them)
neither + affirmative verb = either + negative verb
neither is preferred at the beginning of a sentence
Neither book give the answer
either could not be used here.
neither can also be used alone as a negative answer to a question
which did you buy ? neither
either would not be used.
Pronouns and possessive adjectives with neither either (used of people)
As they take singular verbs the pronouns should be he/him and she /her and the possessive adjectives should be his and her. But in colloquial English there is growing tendency to use they /them and their
Neither of them could make up his mind (formal English)
Niether of them make us their minds (colloquial)
Neither of them knew the way di they ? (colloquial)
martedì 31 ottobre 2017
lunedì 30 ottobre 2017
inglese - distributive adjectives and pronouns
inglese - distributive adjectives and pronouns
each - every - everyone- every body every thing
every compared to all
technically every means a number of people or things considered inidvidually while all means a number of people or things considered as a Group. But in practice every and its compounds are often used when wr are thinking of a Group.
each (adjective and pronoun9 and every (adjective ) .
each means a nuumber of person of things considered individualy. Every can have this meaning but with every there is less emphasis
on the individual. Every man had a weapon = all the men had weapons and implies that the speaker counted the men and the weapons and found that he had the same number of eache. Each man had qa weapon implies that the speaker went to each man in turn and checked tha he had a weapo.
each is a pronoun ad adjective each man knows what to do
every is an adjective only every man knows......
each can be used of two or more persons or things and is normally used of small numbers every is not normally used of very small numbers.
Both take a singular verb. The possessive adjective is his/her/its.
For the reciprocal pronoun each other
everyone / everybody and everything (pronouns)
everyibe everybody + singular verb is normally preferred to all the people + plural verb we say everyone is ready instead of all the people are ready. There is no difference between everyone and everybody.
everything is similarly preferred to all (the) things we say every has been wasted.
The expressions all( the) people all (the) things are possible when followed by a phrase or a clause :
I got all the things you asked for
Pronouns and possessive adjectives with everyone/everybody and everything
As every one / everybody takes a singular verb the pronoun should be he/him she /her with possessive adjectives his and her. But this is only found in formal English. In ordinary conversation the plural forms they /them and their is used instead :
Has everyone got their books ?
Everyone enjoys it, don't they ?
Eveyone likes their own way/ways of doing things
everything however has the pronoun it and possessive adjective.
each - every - everyone- every body every thing
every compared to all
technically every means a number of people or things considered inidvidually while all means a number of people or things considered as a Group. But in practice every and its compounds are often used when wr are thinking of a Group.
each (adjective and pronoun9 and every (adjective ) .
each means a nuumber of person of things considered individualy. Every can have this meaning but with every there is less emphasis
on the individual. Every man had a weapon = all the men had weapons and implies that the speaker counted the men and the weapons and found that he had the same number of eache. Each man had qa weapon implies that the speaker went to each man in turn and checked tha he had a weapo.
each is a pronoun ad adjective each man knows what to do
every is an adjective only every man knows......
each can be used of two or more persons or things and is normally used of small numbers every is not normally used of very small numbers.
Both take a singular verb. The possessive adjective is his/her/its.
For the reciprocal pronoun each other
everyone / everybody and everything (pronouns)
everyibe everybody + singular verb is normally preferred to all the people + plural verb we say everyone is ready instead of all the people are ready. There is no difference between everyone and everybody.
everything is similarly preferred to all (the) things we say every has been wasted.
The expressions all( the) people all (the) things are possible when followed by a phrase or a clause :
I got all the things you asked for
Pronouns and possessive adjectives with everyone/everybody and everything
As every one / everybody takes a singular verb the pronoun should be he/him she /her with possessive adjectives his and her. But this is only found in formal English. In ordinary conversation the plural forms they /them and their is used instead :
Has everyone got their books ?
Everyone enjoys it, don't they ?
Eveyone likes their own way/ways of doing things
everything however has the pronoun it and possessive adjective.
venerdì 27 ottobre 2017
inglese - demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
inglese - demonstrative adjective e pronouns
this thes, that those agree with their noun in number (they are the only adjectives to do this )
this boy, this girl these boys these girls
that actress that actor those actresses those Actors
note the use of this /these and that/ those + noun + of yours /Peter's etc.
that car of yours is Always breaking down (yor car is Always breaking down)
example for use as pronouns
this is my Brother
what is that ?
this and that can represent clauses
Our car broke down on the way to the airport. This made us late for the plane.
this/these that/those used with one/ones
When there is som idea of comparison or selection the pronoun one/ones is often placed after these demonstrative but it is not essential excepti when the demonstrative is followed by an adjective.
this chair is too low: I'll sit in that (one )
which do you like ? I like this (one) best
one is optional
but
I like this blue one
this thes, that those agree with their noun in number (they are the only adjectives to do this )
this boy, this girl these boys these girls
that actress that actor those actresses those Actors
note the use of this /these and that/ those + noun + of yours /Peter's etc.
that car of yours is Always breaking down (yor car is Always breaking down)
example for use as pronouns
this is my Brother
what is that ?
this and that can represent clauses
Our car broke down on the way to the airport. This made us late for the plane.
this/these that/those used with one/ones
When there is som idea of comparison or selection the pronoun one/ones is often placed after these demonstrative but it is not essential excepti when the demonstrative is followed by an adjective.
this chair is too low: I'll sit in that (one )
which do you like ? I like this (one) best
one is optional
but
I like this blue one
giovedì 26 ottobre 2017
inglese - adjectives
inglese -adjective
Kinds and Agreement
Adjectives in English have only one form which is used with singular and plural and feminine nouns
a good boy a good boys
The only exception are the dimostrative adjectives
this cat these cats
Position of adjectives before a noun they are not usually separated by and excetp the last two adjectives of color
a big square box
a black and White cap
Adjectives of quality however can be placed after the verbs be seem appear look and is then placed between the last two adjectives
the house looked large and inconvenient
comparison
There are three degrees of comparison
bright brighter the brightest
adjective of three or more syllables form their comparative and superlative by putting more and the most before the positive
interesting more interesting the most interesting
akjective of two syllables follo one or other of the above rules those endin in ful or re usually take more the most
doubtful more doubtful the most doubtful
those ending in er y o ly usually add er est
pretty prettier the prettiest
irregular comparisons
good better the best
bad worse the worst
little less the least
many more the most
much more the most
far further the furthest
old older oldest elder the eldest
elder e the eldest imply seniority rather than age. They are chefly used for comparisons within a family
my elder Brother
but elder cannot be placed before than so older must be used here
constructions with comparisons
with the positive form of the adjective good tall clever we use as..........as in the affirmative and not as .......as oppure not so ..................as
A boy of sixteen is often as tall as his father
with the comparative we use than
He makes fewer mistakes than you
comparison of three or more people/things is expressed by the superlative with the ........... in /of
this is the oldest theatre in London
Parallel increase is expressed by the + comparative ..... the + comparative
do you want a big house ?
yes the bigger the better
to increase o decrease is expressed by two comparatives joined by and
colder and colder
adjectives of quality used as nouns
good/ bad poor/ rich Young /old
The poor = poor people
use with pronoun one/ones
adjectives of quality can be used without their noun if the pronoun one (singular) or ones (plural )
is placed afterwards
I like those pencil , I take the blue one
Kinds and Agreement
- of quality square good Golden fat heavy dry
- demonstrative this that these those
- distributive each every either neither
- quantitative some any no few many much one
- interrogative which what whose
- possessive my yoour his her its our your their
Adjectives in English have only one form which is used with singular and plural and feminine nouns
a good boy a good boys
The only exception are the dimostrative adjectives
this cat these cats
Position of adjectives before a noun they are not usually separated by and excetp the last two adjectives of color
a big square box
a black and White cap
Adjectives of quality however can be placed after the verbs be seem appear look and is then placed between the last two adjectives
the house looked large and inconvenient
comparison
There are three degrees of comparison
- positiv dark tall useful
- comparative darker taller more useful
- superlative the darkest the tallest the most useful
bright brighter the brightest
adjective of three or more syllables form their comparative and superlative by putting more and the most before the positive
interesting more interesting the most interesting
akjective of two syllables follo one or other of the above rules those endin in ful or re usually take more the most
doubtful more doubtful the most doubtful
those ending in er y o ly usually add er est
pretty prettier the prettiest
irregular comparisons
good better the best
bad worse the worst
little less the least
many more the most
much more the most
far further the furthest
old older oldest elder the eldest
elder e the eldest imply seniority rather than age. They are chefly used for comparisons within a family
my elder Brother
but elder cannot be placed before than so older must be used here
constructions with comparisons
with the positive form of the adjective good tall clever we use as..........as in the affirmative and not as .......as oppure not so ..................as
A boy of sixteen is often as tall as his father
with the comparative we use than
He makes fewer mistakes than you
comparison of three or more people/things is expressed by the superlative with the ........... in /of
this is the oldest theatre in London
Parallel increase is expressed by the + comparative ..... the + comparative
do you want a big house ?
yes the bigger the better
to increase o decrease is expressed by two comparatives joined by and
colder and colder
adjectives of quality used as nouns
good/ bad poor/ rich Young /old
The poor = poor people
use with pronoun one/ones
adjectives of quality can be used without their noun if the pronoun one (singular) or ones (plural )
is placed afterwards
I like those pencil , I take the blue one
mercoledì 25 ottobre 2017
inglese - nouns
inglese - nouns
There are four kinds of nouns in English
common nouns dog table man
proper nouns Tom France
abstract nouns charity beauty fear
collective nouns swarm team crow flock Group
a noun can function as
The subject of a verb Tom arrived
complement of the verb be become seem : Tom is an actor
The object of a verb : I saw Tom
the object of a preposition I spoke Tom
A noun can also be in the possessive case
Tom's works
Gender
Masculine men boys and male animals (pronoun he/ they )
feminine women girls and female animals ( pronoun she /they)
neuter : inanimate things animals whose sex we don't know and somtimes babies whose sex we don't know
Exceptions
ship are considered feminine and sometimes cars and other vehicles when regarded with affection or respect . Countries when referred to by name are also considered feminine
Most noun have the same form for masculine and feminine :
parent painter driver singer cousin child artist cook judge rider
some have different forms
Brother and sister uncle and aunt nephew and niece
some form feminine from the masculine by adding ness note that words ending in or or er often drop o or e
actor actress conductor conductress manager manageress
note also
salesman saleswoman spokeman spokewoman
recently there has been an attempt to de-sex these words by using person instead of men
salesperson
Plurals
The plural of a noun is usually made by adding s to the singular
dog dogs day days
exception
Nouns ending in o ore ss sh ch or x form their plural by adding es
tomatoes kisses boxes
But words of foreign origin is abbreviated words ending in o add s
piano pianos dynamo dynamos
Nouns ending in y following a consonant form their plural by dropping the y in adding ies
baby babies lady ladies
Nouns ending in y following a consonant form their plural adding s only
donkey donkeys boy boys
Tweve nouns ending in f or fe drop the f ore fe and add ves.
These nouns are wife life knife wolf self calf shelf leaf loaf thief sheaf half
wife wives wolf wolves
Other words ending in f ore fe add s in the plural in the ordinary way
handkerchief handkerchiefs safe safes
A few nouns form their plural by a vowel change
man men
woman women
louse lice
foot feet
mouse mice
goose geese
tooth theeth
ox oxen
the plural of child is children
Name of certain creatures do not change in the plural
the word fish is normally unchanged fishes exist but is uncommon.
Some types of fish do not normally change in the plural salmon trout squid pike mackerel cod turbot plaice but if used in a plural sense they would teke a plural verb. Others however do change.
We talk of herrings sardines lobster crabs and all other shellfish whales Dolphins sharks eels.
sheep and deer don't change one sheep two sheep
spormen who shoot duck pheasant partridge snipe ptarmigan teal wood cock grouse etc. use the same form for singular and plural. But other people normally add s to the plural form of names of birds in common use
The word game used by sporsmen to mean an animal/animals hented is Always in the singular and takes a singular verb
A few other words don't change
Aircraft craft
quid (slang for £1)
counsel (barristers working in court)
certain words are Always singular
advice
knowledge
baggage
furniture
information
news
luggage
rubbish
Certain words are Always plural : police clothes
garments consisting in two parts Pyjamas trousers breeches pants
tools or instruments cosisting of two parts binoculars glasses spectacles pliers shears scissors scales
premieses and quarters (used to mean accomodation)
All above words takes a plural verb.
There are also a number of words ending in ics
mathematics
physics
plitics
hysterics
ethics
athletics
whichi have a plural form and normally take a plural verb
Athletics are his main interest
But names of sciences can be considered singular in such sentences as
Mathematisc is an exacti science
Ethics is one of the subjects of course
Some measuremets and numerals do no change either
Words whicih retain their original Greek or latin forms make their plurals according to the rules of
Greek or latin
erratum errata
radius radii
crisis crises
memorandum memoranda
datum data
phenomenon phenomena
terminus termini
basis bases
oasis oases
axis axes
thesis theses
But there is a tendency particularly with farly common Latin or Greek words to make the plural according to the rule of English
dogma dogmas
gymnasium gymnasiums
formula formulas
Sometimes there are two plural forms with different meanings
index indexes list of contents of books
indices a Mathematical term
appendix appendixes a medical term
appendices used both as a medical term and also for additions to a book
Genius geniuses extraordinarly intelligent persons
genii supernatural beings
compound nouns
normally the last word is made plural
armchair armchairs
bookcase bookcases
where man woman is prefixed both parts are made plural
men students women students
compound nouns formed with prepositions or adverbs make only the first word plural
sister-in-law sisters-in-law looker-on lookers-on
when the compound noun ha an adjective as the last word the fisto word is usually made plural
court martial courts martial
words ending in ful usually make their plural in the ordinary way
handful handfuls
Initials can be made plural
VIPs (Very Important Persons)
OAPs Old Age Pensioners)
The possesive case form
's is used with singular nouns and plural nouns not ending in s
a man's job
a children's voice
A simple apostrophe ' is used with plural nouns ending in s
a girls' school
Classical nams ending in s usulli add only apostrophe
Pythagoras' Theorem
Archimedes' Law
with compounds the last word takes 's
My Brother-in-law's guitar
Use of the possesive case and of + noun used for possession
The possessive case is chiefly used of people contries or animals as show above but can used also
Of ship and boats the ship's bell
of planes trains car and other vehicles though here the of constucion is safer
in time expressions
a week's Holiday
in expressions of money + Worth
£ 1's Worth of stamps
with for + noun + sake
for heaven's sake
in a few expression
a stone's throw journey's end the water's edge
we can say either a winter's day but we cannot make spring or autumn possessive except when they are personified Autumn's return
of+ noun is used for possesion
when the possessor noun is followd by a phrase or clause
the boy ran about obeyng the directions of a man with a whistle
with inanimate possesions except those listed above
the walls of the town
However it is often possible to replace noun 1 of noun 2 by noun 2 noun 1 in order
the town walls
the first become a sort of adjective
There are four kinds of nouns in English
common nouns dog table man
proper nouns Tom France
abstract nouns charity beauty fear
collective nouns swarm team crow flock Group
a noun can function as
The subject of a verb Tom arrived
complement of the verb be become seem : Tom is an actor
The object of a verb : I saw Tom
the object of a preposition I spoke Tom
A noun can also be in the possessive case
Tom's works
Gender
Masculine men boys and male animals (pronoun he/ they )
feminine women girls and female animals ( pronoun she /they)
neuter : inanimate things animals whose sex we don't know and somtimes babies whose sex we don't know
Exceptions
ship are considered feminine and sometimes cars and other vehicles when regarded with affection or respect . Countries when referred to by name are also considered feminine
Most noun have the same form for masculine and feminine :
parent painter driver singer cousin child artist cook judge rider
some have different forms
Brother and sister uncle and aunt nephew and niece
some form feminine from the masculine by adding ness note that words ending in or or er often drop o or e
actor actress conductor conductress manager manageress
note also
salesman saleswoman spokeman spokewoman
recently there has been an attempt to de-sex these words by using person instead of men
salesperson
Plurals
The plural of a noun is usually made by adding s to the singular
dog dogs day days
exception
Nouns ending in o ore ss sh ch or x form their plural by adding es
tomatoes kisses boxes
But words of foreign origin is abbreviated words ending in o add s
piano pianos dynamo dynamos
Nouns ending in y following a consonant form their plural by dropping the y in adding ies
baby babies lady ladies
Nouns ending in y following a consonant form their plural adding s only
donkey donkeys boy boys
Tweve nouns ending in f or fe drop the f ore fe and add ves.
These nouns are wife life knife wolf self calf shelf leaf loaf thief sheaf half
wife wives wolf wolves
Other words ending in f ore fe add s in the plural in the ordinary way
handkerchief handkerchiefs safe safes
A few nouns form their plural by a vowel change
man men
woman women
louse lice
foot feet
mouse mice
goose geese
tooth theeth
ox oxen
the plural of child is children
Name of certain creatures do not change in the plural
the word fish is normally unchanged fishes exist but is uncommon.
Some types of fish do not normally change in the plural salmon trout squid pike mackerel cod turbot plaice but if used in a plural sense they would teke a plural verb. Others however do change.
We talk of herrings sardines lobster crabs and all other shellfish whales Dolphins sharks eels.
sheep and deer don't change one sheep two sheep
spormen who shoot duck pheasant partridge snipe ptarmigan teal wood cock grouse etc. use the same form for singular and plural. But other people normally add s to the plural form of names of birds in common use
The word game used by sporsmen to mean an animal/animals hented is Always in the singular and takes a singular verb
A few other words don't change
Aircraft craft
quid (slang for £1)
counsel (barristers working in court)
certain words are Always singular
advice
knowledge
baggage
furniture
information
news
luggage
rubbish
Certain words are Always plural : police clothes
garments consisting in two parts Pyjamas trousers breeches pants
tools or instruments cosisting of two parts binoculars glasses spectacles pliers shears scissors scales
premieses and quarters (used to mean accomodation)
All above words takes a plural verb.
There are also a number of words ending in ics
mathematics
physics
plitics
hysterics
ethics
athletics
whichi have a plural form and normally take a plural verb
Athletics are his main interest
But names of sciences can be considered singular in such sentences as
Mathematisc is an exacti science
Ethics is one of the subjects of course
Some measuremets and numerals do no change either
Words whicih retain their original Greek or latin forms make their plurals according to the rules of
Greek or latin
erratum errata
radius radii
crisis crises
memorandum memoranda
datum data
phenomenon phenomena
terminus termini
basis bases
oasis oases
axis axes
thesis theses
But there is a tendency particularly with farly common Latin or Greek words to make the plural according to the rule of English
dogma dogmas
gymnasium gymnasiums
formula formulas
Sometimes there are two plural forms with different meanings
index indexes list of contents of books
indices a Mathematical term
appendix appendixes a medical term
appendices used both as a medical term and also for additions to a book
Genius geniuses extraordinarly intelligent persons
genii supernatural beings
compound nouns
normally the last word is made plural
armchair armchairs
bookcase bookcases
where man woman is prefixed both parts are made plural
men students women students
compound nouns formed with prepositions or adverbs make only the first word plural
sister-in-law sisters-in-law looker-on lookers-on
when the compound noun ha an adjective as the last word the fisto word is usually made plural
court martial courts martial
words ending in ful usually make their plural in the ordinary way
handful handfuls
Initials can be made plural
VIPs (Very Important Persons)
OAPs Old Age Pensioners)
The possesive case form
's is used with singular nouns and plural nouns not ending in s
a man's job
a children's voice
A simple apostrophe ' is used with plural nouns ending in s
a girls' school
Classical nams ending in s usulli add only apostrophe
Pythagoras' Theorem
Archimedes' Law
with compounds the last word takes 's
My Brother-in-law's guitar
Use of the possesive case and of + noun used for possession
The possessive case is chiefly used of people contries or animals as show above but can used also
Of ship and boats the ship's bell
of planes trains car and other vehicles though here the of constucion is safer
in time expressions
a week's Holiday
in expressions of money + Worth
£ 1's Worth of stamps
with for + noun + sake
for heaven's sake
in a few expression
a stone's throw journey's end the water's edge
we can say either a winter's day but we cannot make spring or autumn possessive except when they are personified Autumn's return
of+ noun is used for possesion
when the possessor noun is followd by a phrase or clause
the boy ran about obeyng the directions of a man with a whistle
with inanimate possesions except those listed above
the walls of the town
However it is often possible to replace noun 1 of noun 2 by noun 2 noun 1 in order
the town walls
the first become a sort of adjective
martedì 24 ottobre 2017
inglese - the definite article
inglese - the definite article
The definitive article is the. It is the same for singular and plural and for all genders :
The boy the boys the girl the girls
use of the definite article
The definite article is used
a) before nouns of which there is only one or which is considered as one :
the earth the sky the weather
b) before a noun which ha become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time
HIs car struck a tree you can still see the mark on the tree.
c) before a noun made definite by addition of a phrase or clause
the girl in blue
The boy that I met
d) before noun which by reason of locality can represent only particular thing
Ann is in the garden (the garden of this house )
e) befor superlatives and first second and only used as adjectives o pronouns
Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe.
1) the + singular noun can represent a class of animals or things :
The whale is in danger of becoming extinct.
the can however be used before a member of a certain Group of people
the small shopkeepers are finding life difficult
the + singolar noun as used above takes a singular verb the pronoun is he she it
the firsr-class traveller pays more so he expects some comfort
2) the + adjective represent a class of persons
the old = old people in general
The verb is plural the pronoun is they
the Young are impatient
3) the is used before certain proper name of sea river groups of islands chains of mountains plural names of countries desert
The arctic
the Alps
the sahara
the is also used before names consisting of noun + of + noun
The cape of Good Hope
The Gulf of Mexico
the is used before name consisting of adjective + noun
The giold Coast
The New Forest
the is not used before west east erc + noun
Yucatan is in North America
but
I go to the South (noun)
the is used before musical instrument
play the flute
the is used before the names of meals if these are qualified by clause
The dinners Peter used to give were really memorable
OMISSION
the definite article is not used
1) before name of places except as sgown above o before names of people
the + plural surname can be used to mean family
the Smiths = mr and mrs Smith (and children)
the + singular name can be used to distinguish one person from another of the same name
The mr Smith who works in the Post Office.
Note also that althouth the is not used before title + noun
Capitain Jones was talking
but it is used before title alone
the captain seemed angry
we also use the before title containing of
The Duke of York
Finally it is possible to adress two unmarried sister as The Misses + surname
The misses Jones
2) before abstract nouns except when thy are used in a particular sense
men fear Death
but
the Death of the Prime Minister
3) After noun in the possessive case o possesive adjective :
The boy's uncle
it is my blue book = The blue book is mine
4) Before name of meals
they have porridge for breakfast
but the wedding breakfast
5) Before parts of the body and articles clothing at these normally prefer a possessive adjective
Raise your right hand
he took off his coat
but
the john's face
Note that in some languages the definite article is used before indefinitre plural noun but that in English the is never used in this way
women ar expected to like housework (women in general)
if we use the before women it would mean that we were referring to a particular Group of women
nature where it means the spirit creating an motivating the world of plants and animals is used without the
if you interfere with nature you will suffer for it
6) omission of the before home Church market school hospital etc.
home
When it is used alone is not preceded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase the is omitted
he went home
but when hom is preceded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase it is treated like any other noun as regards articles and prepositions
we went to the bride's home
chapel Church market college school hospital court prison work sea bed
these nouns are used without the when they are visited or used for their primary purpose
to school
to college
to market
to work
when these places are visited for other reasos the article is used
I went to the Church to see the carvings
He comes to the school sometimes to speak to the headmaster
in contrast these nouns take the
cathedral office cinema theatre
The definitive article is the. It is the same for singular and plural and for all genders :
The boy the boys the girl the girls
use of the definite article
The definite article is used
a) before nouns of which there is only one or which is considered as one :
the earth the sky the weather
b) before a noun which ha become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time
HIs car struck a tree you can still see the mark on the tree.
c) before a noun made definite by addition of a phrase or clause
the girl in blue
The boy that I met
d) before noun which by reason of locality can represent only particular thing
Ann is in the garden (the garden of this house )
e) befor superlatives and first second and only used as adjectives o pronouns
Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe.
1) the + singular noun can represent a class of animals or things :
The whale is in danger of becoming extinct.
the can however be used before a member of a certain Group of people
the small shopkeepers are finding life difficult
the + singolar noun as used above takes a singular verb the pronoun is he she it
the firsr-class traveller pays more so he expects some comfort
2) the + adjective represent a class of persons
the old = old people in general
The verb is plural the pronoun is they
the Young are impatient
3) the is used before certain proper name of sea river groups of islands chains of mountains plural names of countries desert
The arctic
the Alps
the sahara
the is also used before names consisting of noun + of + noun
The cape of Good Hope
The Gulf of Mexico
the is used before name consisting of adjective + noun
The giold Coast
The New Forest
the is not used before west east erc + noun
Yucatan is in North America
but
I go to the South (noun)
the is used before musical instrument
play the flute
the is used before the names of meals if these are qualified by clause
The dinners Peter used to give were really memorable
OMISSION
the definite article is not used
1) before name of places except as sgown above o before names of people
the + plural surname can be used to mean family
the Smiths = mr and mrs Smith (and children)
the + singular name can be used to distinguish one person from another of the same name
The mr Smith who works in the Post Office.
Note also that althouth the is not used before title + noun
Capitain Jones was talking
but it is used before title alone
the captain seemed angry
we also use the before title containing of
The Duke of York
Finally it is possible to adress two unmarried sister as The Misses + surname
The misses Jones
2) before abstract nouns except when thy are used in a particular sense
men fear Death
but
the Death of the Prime Minister
3) After noun in the possessive case o possesive adjective :
The boy's uncle
it is my blue book = The blue book is mine
4) Before name of meals
they have porridge for breakfast
but the wedding breakfast
5) Before parts of the body and articles clothing at these normally prefer a possessive adjective
Raise your right hand
he took off his coat
but
the john's face
Note that in some languages the definite article is used before indefinitre plural noun but that in English the is never used in this way
women ar expected to like housework (women in general)
if we use the before women it would mean that we were referring to a particular Group of women
nature where it means the spirit creating an motivating the world of plants and animals is used without the
if you interfere with nature you will suffer for it
6) omission of the before home Church market school hospital etc.
home
When it is used alone is not preceded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase the is omitted
he went home
but when hom is preceded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase it is treated like any other noun as regards articles and prepositions
we went to the bride's home
chapel Church market college school hospital court prison work sea bed
these nouns are used without the when they are visited or used for their primary purpose
to school
to college
to market
to work
when these places are visited for other reasos the article is used
I went to the Church to see the carvings
He comes to the school sometimes to speak to the headmaster
in contrast these nouns take the
cathedral office cinema theatre
lunedì 23 ottobre 2017
inglese - the indefinite aritcle
inglese - the indefinite article
form
The indefinite article ia A oppure AN
The form A is used before a word beginning with a consonant ore a vowel sounded like a consonant :
a man a table a university a useful thing
The forma an is used before wod beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or words beginning with a mute h
an hour an honourable man an elephant an apple
It is the same for all genders.
The indefinite article A oppure AN is used :
a) Before a singular countable noun which is used as en example of a class of things :
a car must be insured = all cars /any car must be insured
a child needs love = all child need/ any child needs love
b) Before a singular noun which is contable when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing :
I need a Holiday
They live in a bungalow
there is a policeman at the door
c) with a noun complement. This includes names of professions
He is a doctor
He become an actor
d) In certain numerical expressions
a couple
a dozen
half a dozen
an eighth
a quarter
a score
a hundred
a thousand
a million
a lot of
a great many
a great deal of
e) In expressions of price speed ratio ecc.
5 p a kilo
£ 1 a metre
sixty kilometres an hour
10 p a dozen
four time a day
f) With few and little
a few = a small number or what the speaker considers a small number
a little = a small amount or what the speaker considers a small amount
few and little can also be used without article but then have an almosto negative meaning and can usually be replaced by hardly any
We had little time for amusement implies that we were Always busy.
g) In exclamations before singular countable nouns
what a hot day
what a pretty girl
such a pity
h) A can be placed before mr mrs and miss + surname
a mr Smith = a man called Smith
The indefinite article is not used :
a) Before plural nouns
The indefinite article has no plural form. Therefore the plural of a dog is dogs.
b) before uncontable nouns
The following nouns are singular and and uncountable in English :
advice information news baggage luggage furniture
They are often preceded by some any a little a lot of a piece of etc.
I'll give you a piece of advice
you need some more forniture
knowledge is also considered uncontable but when used in particulare sense take the article
a knowledge of languages is Always useful
hair (all the hair on one's head ) is considered uncountable but if we consider each hair separately we say one hair two hairs
experience meaning practice in doing somthing is uncountable.
But an experience meaning something which happens to someone is countable :
He had an exciting esperience (an adventure) last night.
Materials glass, wood, iron, stone, paper, cloth, wine, coffee, tea, etc., are considered uncountable. But many of these nouns can also denote one particular thing,and then take an article :
window are made of glass
but I've got a paper (newspaper).
c) Before abstract nouns : beauty happiness fear hope Death etc.
except when they are used in particular sense
he was pale with fear
Some children suffer from a fear of the dark
d) Before names of meals except when preceded by an adjective :
we have breakfast at eight
he gave us a good breakfast
The article is also used when it is a special meal given to celebrate something or in someone's honour :
I was invited to dinner (at their house in the ordinary way)
I was invited to a dinner given to welcome the new Ambassador.
form
The indefinite article ia A oppure AN
The form A is used before a word beginning with a consonant ore a vowel sounded like a consonant :
a man a table a university a useful thing
The forma an is used before wod beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or words beginning with a mute h
an hour an honourable man an elephant an apple
It is the same for all genders.
The indefinite article A oppure AN is used :
a) Before a singular countable noun which is used as en example of a class of things :
a car must be insured = all cars /any car must be insured
a child needs love = all child need/ any child needs love
b) Before a singular noun which is contable when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing :
I need a Holiday
They live in a bungalow
there is a policeman at the door
c) with a noun complement. This includes names of professions
He is a doctor
He become an actor
d) In certain numerical expressions
a couple
a dozen
half a dozen
an eighth
a quarter
a score
a hundred
a thousand
a million
a lot of
a great many
a great deal of
e) In expressions of price speed ratio ecc.
5 p a kilo
£ 1 a metre
sixty kilometres an hour
10 p a dozen
four time a day
f) With few and little
a few = a small number or what the speaker considers a small number
a little = a small amount or what the speaker considers a small amount
few and little can also be used without article but then have an almosto negative meaning and can usually be replaced by hardly any
We had little time for amusement implies that we were Always busy.
g) In exclamations before singular countable nouns
what a hot day
what a pretty girl
such a pity
h) A can be placed before mr mrs and miss + surname
a mr Smith = a man called Smith
The indefinite article is not used :
a) Before plural nouns
The indefinite article has no plural form. Therefore the plural of a dog is dogs.
b) before uncontable nouns
The following nouns are singular and and uncountable in English :
advice information news baggage luggage furniture
They are often preceded by some any a little a lot of a piece of etc.
I'll give you a piece of advice
you need some more forniture
knowledge is also considered uncontable but when used in particulare sense take the article
a knowledge of languages is Always useful
hair (all the hair on one's head ) is considered uncountable but if we consider each hair separately we say one hair two hairs
experience meaning practice in doing somthing is uncountable.
But an experience meaning something which happens to someone is countable :
He had an exciting esperience (an adventure) last night.
Materials glass, wood, iron, stone, paper, cloth, wine, coffee, tea, etc., are considered uncountable. But many of these nouns can also denote one particular thing,and then take an article :
window are made of glass
but I've got a paper (newspaper).
c) Before abstract nouns : beauty happiness fear hope Death etc.
except when they are used in particular sense
he was pale with fear
Some children suffer from a fear of the dark
d) Before names of meals except when preceded by an adjective :
we have breakfast at eight
he gave us a good breakfast
The article is also used when it is a special meal given to celebrate something or in someone's honour :
I was invited to dinner (at their house in the ordinary way)
I was invited to a dinner given to welcome the new Ambassador.
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