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Grammar 103: ARTICLES

Articles are used to identify or specify nouns. “A” and “An”  are used if you are not talking about a specific noun while. "The” is used if you are talking about a specific noun.

A. Specified Noun 
A specified noun is a noun that is particularly referred to in a sentence. “The” can be used with specified singular and plural count nouns, and non-count nouns.


B. Unspecified Noun 
Unspecified noun refers to any noun that means one of many. It also refers to nouns without detailed descriptions. “A” and “an”, are used only for singular unspecified
count nouns.

“A” is used for unspecified count nouns starting with a consonant letter: (b, c, d, f, g, etc.). Example: . a project, a report, a problem

“An” is used with nouns starting with vowel letters: a, e, i, o, u.
Example: an envelope, an agenda, an assignment .

Remember: A and an can’t be used with plural count nouns and non-count nouns. In this case,
“some” (many, a lot of, etc.) is used.

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A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, complement, or object of a sentence. In this material, the use of gerund as the subject and as a noun complement will be discussed.

A noun complement, also called predicate nominative, is a noun or phrase that follows a linking verb. As a complement, it completes the meaning of the noun. It is considered as a subject complement if it identifies the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it.

Example 1:
Reading helps you learn English. (subject of the sentence)

Example 2:
Her favorite hobby is reading. (noun complement of the sentence)

In this example, notice that reading is the noun complement. Reading renames
the subject, hobby.

For more exercises, feel free to send me a message.

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Uses of ought to, should and would:

1. “Ought to” is often used to give positive/negative recommendation, advice against something and probability and expected outcome.
Note: “To” is omitted in negative statements.

Example 1
You ought not drink too much alcohol. (advice against something)
He ought to get the promotion. (expected outcome)
The price of oil ought to increase this year. (probability)
You ought to be there, it will be fun! (recommendation)


2. “Should” is often used to give advice, recommendation, expectation and
obligation.

Example 2: 
You should focus on your studies. (advice)
She should try doing Yoga. (recommendation)
He should be in the office now. (expectation)
You should return the books to the library. (obligation)

3. “Would” is often used as the past of “will”, for conditional sentences and
repetition.

Example 3: 
I knew she would pass the exam. (past)
If I were you, I would ask him to call me. (conditional)
When I was in New York, I would always drop by Times Square. (repetition)

-Hope this helps.
For more exercises, feel free to send me a message.

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