The English Articles System, Part 2: Indefinite or Definite?

Hello, students!

This week we began to talk about when to use the indefinite articles (a/an, some/0/any). It got a little confusing on Tuesday. We found out that we can use 'a' to make a generalization about a singular count noun.

A child should not be left alone all day.

We can also make a generalization with a non-count noun and with the plural form of a count noun by using no article at all!

Children should not be left alone all day.
Water is necessary for life.

I think that this lack of an article should not be confused with zero article that is interchangeable with "some" when we are talking about indefinite plural count nouns and non-count nouns. Perhaps we should give them different names.

Let's see if Jennifer can simplify things for us. She has a knack for explaining English. Enjoy your long Easter weekend!

The English Articles System - Part 1: Count or Non-count?

Hello, class!

You have requested a series of modules covering the English articles system. I would love to teach you this. It is a very deep and complex subject and will take a few weeks to explore. Even then, we won't have mastered every aspect of this topic. That's okay. We will have some very helpful rules of thumb that will help us out 90% of the time to determine which article to use. Another 5% will come from memorization of exceptions or specialized rules (a cold, the flu, geographic locations). The last 5% even native speakers do not always agree on. I hope you can be happy with less than 100% perfection since familiarization with article use is a lifelong journey.

We will start with the very basics: count nouns, non-count nouns, and nouns that can be both count and non-count, depending upon the intended meaning. Jennifer (English with Jennifer, JenniferESL on YouTube) has some wonderful videos on this topic to which I would like to direct your attention.

7 Things You Should Know about Uncountable Nouns

More Practice with Uncountable Nouns

The worksheets we'll be using during our first week or two can be downloaded from my website, www.kellymorrissey.com, under FREE - GRAMMAR.

Cheers!

The Rights and Responsibilities of a Citizen

Hello, students!

Here are this week's helpful links.

Discover Canada - Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship (with option to listen to chapter)

Settlement.org - What are my rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen?

Enable Flash and explore the virtual Charter in your language.

Here is Discover Canada in LARGE PRINT.

Steps to Justice

Refugee Rights in Ontario

YouTube has many videos about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

For our pronunciation topic, watch Rachel's English.