articles and connecting words

Guidelines for Article Use Every time you use a common noun or noun phrase the noun plus Its modifiers, you must decide between:... Guidelines for Article Use First determine wheth

ESL Short Subject

Articles and Connecting Words

Intensive Course in Research Writing Texas A&M University July 11-15, 2011

Susan E Aiello, DVM, ELS susan@words-world.net

WordsWorld Consulting §=www.words-world.net

Articles

An article is a special type of modifier

called a determiner

ar; arse indefinite articles

= the definite article

- no article indefinite

Guidelines for Article Use

Every time you use a common noun

or noun phrase (the noun plus Its

modifiers), you must decide between:

Guidelines for Article Use

First determine whether the noun is countable

or uncountable

lf classifying a countable noun, use “a’ or “an.”

lf classifying an uncountable or plural noun, do not use an article

To identify a noun, countable or uncountable,

singular or plural, use “the.”

Guidelines for Article Use

a ‘the’ identifies the noun

Example: | ate the apple in my lunch

a “a, “an, or no article does not identify the

Specific noun but shows to what class or

group the noun belongs

Examples: | eat an apple every day

| like police movies.

Guidelines for Article Use

iT! Lb)

a If the noun Is a singular countable noun, use “a

or “an.”

Example: Last week, | bought _—_ chemistry book at

the University Book Store

a lf the noun is uncountable or plural, do not use

an article

Note: The determiner “some’ can be used with uncountable

and plural nouns but only when an amount can be indicated

Example: Many people drink _ bottled water

Example: Before | go to the office, | had better buy —_—

printer paper

Guidelines for Article Use

a To identify a common noun, use “the.”

a After you have classified a noun with “a,”

use ‘the’ when you use the noun again

Example: |found _ used car that | liked )

yesterday and bought it Now | have to

Guidelines for Article Use

* In the following circumstances, use “the.”

The noun can be singular or plural, countable

or uncountable

— The noun is identified by a ranking adjective that identifies

it as one of a kind (the best, the next, the only, etc)

— The noun is identifiable to the reader and the writer `

through shared knowledge

The sun is going to rise at 6:00 am tomorrow

| left my papers in the break room

cont

Guidelines for Article Use

* In the following circumstances, use “the.”

The noun can be singular or plural, countable

— The noun is part of an “of phrase showing quantity

Susan noticed that half of _ chicken had been

eaten already

some of _ horses will be moved to a larger paddock.

Connecting Words

A connector Is a word or phrase

used to link paragraphs, sentences,

clauses, or words.

Types of Connectors

#4 Coordinating conjunctions connect words,

phrases, or independent clauses

— The dog ran out of the house and barked at the car

— Vincent wanted to study philosophy, but his father

convinced him to study veterinary medicine

g Correlative conjunctions connect similar

grammatical structures

— You will have to either get a higher-paying job or cut down on your expenses to pay your bills

Connecting Words

#8 [Transitional words and phrases link

sentences and paragraphs

| dislike working at night; however, | cannot find a day job

® Subordinating conjunctions connect a

dependent (or subordinate) clause with

an independent clause

Whenwe have finished the training course,

we will have a test

Connecting Words

a Used to link items together (eg, two sentences)

or to lead the reader to a new point

a Help make writing clear and easy to follow by

providing smooth links between ideas

a Be certain of the meaning of connectors!

#4 instead

Connecting Words

Connecting words that show a concession:

3# vel

#4 nevertheless

# even sSO

#4 admittedly

a thus

Connecting Words

Connecting words that give a reason or cause:

a for

#4 because

Connecting Words

Connecting words that establish a

time relationship or order:

Connecting Words

Connecting words that show a condition:

= or (or else can also be used)

#4 whether or

Connecting Words

Pets play an important role in societies throughout the

world They are important companions in many

households, contributing to the physical, social, and

emotional development of children and the well-being of their owners, especially senior citizens Although pets

make important contributions, however, pet ownership

may also be associated with potential hazards For

example, more and more exotic animals are being invited into homes as pets Unfortunately, though, pet owners,

and often physicians, do not know as much as they

should about the potential of many of these unusual

animals to transmit Zoonotic diseases

Connecting Words

Remember

«= Transitional words and phrases lead

your reader trom one idea to another

"= Connectors can introduce an

example, indicate the order of ideas,

show a contrast, etc.

Preposition Use

a In aphrase

(eg, during the daytime)

a Witha two- or three-word verb

(eg, turn in, check up on}

a After a noun or an adjective (eg, to be happy about}

Correct use of prepositions is learned mainly through listening and reading.

Prepositions of Time

a in: month, year in February, in 1999

a on: day of the week, date on Monday, on June 1

a in: time of day in the morning,

in the afternoon,

in the evening (out at night}

a at: specific time of day at 3:00 am,

at 3:30 pm sharp

Prepositions of Place

a in: city, country in Dallas, in Mexico

a on: street on First Street

a at: address at 119 Royfield Dr

ag in: inside of aplace _ in the lab, in the library

a at: a specific place at work, at home, at the store, ~

at the airport, at the movies

Prepositions of Position

a on: ontop of — onthe desk, on the chair

a in: inside in my office, in my car, in my desk