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!

More Linking C + V

Hello!

Today we finished Thursday's worksheet on linking final consonant sounds to initial vowel sounds. First we did a quick review of Thursday's work.

Next we worked on the dialogue, which I had put up on the whiteboard before class. You all took turns telling me where the links were, and I drew them on the board in red ink.

Next we practiced the dialogue together and then in pairs.

Then I passed out a little quiz on partitive and collective nouns. Partitives are the words that we use to count things, like a grain of rice or a drop of water. Collective nouns describe groups of things or animals. For example, we say a flock of sheep but a herd of cattle. The worksheet was divided into three sections: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

I gave you a couple of minutes to try the beginner's section, then we took it up. As you gave me the answers, I asked you also, "where is the linking?"

For example, we say, "a glass of orange juice." There are two C + V links there: glass-of and of-orange.

Great job! We didn't have time to go over the next two sections, but you have the answers on the back. Tuesday we will finish up that worksheet and start talking about V + V linking.

Don't forget: this week's computer lab day has been changed to WEDNESDAY. Another teacher needs the lab tomorrow. Thank you for understanding.

See you!