Grammar-Quizzes.com

Art-Diagnostic

Article Diagnostic Quiz: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review

• Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
• Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced 

A-unspecific

A - Unspecific: referring to one as an example of all

• a – one item (unspecific)
  • one as an example of all
  • any one
• a – one item (specific)
  • introduction / first mention
  • a specific one

Making a violin requires more than technical knowledge. (unspecific – any one)
We gave a violin to the music school. (specific)

A-specific

A – Specific: referring to one in particular

• a – one item (specific)
  • introduction / first mention
  • a specific one
• a – one item (unspecific)
  • one as an example of all
  • any one

A comet appears to have a tail as it streaks through the sky.(unspecific)
A comet was seen in the western sky last night. (specific)

All / The-class

All / The – class: Making generalizations about the group

• the – all (unspecific)
  • the class describes all (scientific contexts)
  • the members share characteristics
• plural noun – all (unspecific)
  • generally speaking
  • characteristic of all

The wolf is a nocturnal animal. (unspecific – the class)
Wolves are nocturnal animals. (unspecific – all in general)

The-class/ A-unspec

The – class / A – unspecific: stating quality, characteristics and behavio

• THE – all (unspecific)
  • the class describes all
  • the members share characteristics
• A  – one item
  • as an example of all
  • has the characteristics of all

The lion sleeps much of the day. (unspecific – the class)

A lion sleeps much of the day.  (unspecific – any one)

All / The-specfic

All / The – specific: referring to all vs. a specific, identified one

• No marker – all (unspecific)
  • the class describes all
  • the members share characteristics
• The  – one item
  • a specific unique item

Salami is very salty. (unspecific – all in general)

The salami I just cut is very salty. (specific)

The-Earlier Mention

The - Earlier Mention:  referring to an already known noun

• first mention
• second mention

Also see:  art prac1

This is a puzzle piece. The piece fits into a puzzle.
(first mention) (second mention)

The-Included Parts

The – Included Parts: referring to expected parts within a mentioned noun

• expected part of an already mentioned item
• expected parts of "a town"
• expected parts of "a car"

This is a puzzle.  The pieces are inside the box. 
(first mention) — (an expected part of an already mentioned item)

The-Later Mention

The - Later Mention:  identified by information after the noun

• a modifier
• a phrase
• a clause

The part on top is here.  (ident. by modifier)
The part that I am holding is a corner.  (ident. by clause)
The part you see is a corner. (ident. by clause)
 

The-Shared Knowledge

The - Shared Knowledge: knowing "which one"

• both see
• both know
• the item is unique

Hand me the piece.   (ident. by both see or know it)

Hand me the last piece. (ident. by being unique, the only one)

A-Nationality

A – Nationality Names (Demonyms): referring to a person from a country

• the English, the Greeks, the Iraqis
• an Englishman, a Spaniard, a Serb
• he's French, Italian, Argentine

He is an Englishman. (unspecific)

He is English.  (adjective of nationality)

The English are northern people. (specific nationality)

Landmarks

The - Landmarks: referring to buildings and landmarks

• buildings
• bridges
• towers
• statues
• exceptions

The Golden Gate Bridge is a beautiful landmark.  (specific)

Geography

The – Geography:  referring to bodies of water, land and regions

• water
• land features
• land
• regions

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I live on the Peninsula.

I live in the coastal hills.

Countries

The – Countries: referring to country names

• single-name countries
• The ___ of ___  (republic, union)
• Island countries

She lives in France.
I live in the United States of America.
He lives in the Netherlands.

Another/ The other

Another/ The other: referring to one more or the rest

• count vs. noncount
• three or more nouns
• two nouns

She ate one.  (a cookie)

Then, she ate another.  (one more)

Then, she ate the others.  (the rest)

Most / Most of the

Most vs. Most of the: referring to a quantity of an uspecific or specific group

• most of the students / most students
• some of the students / some students

Most students ask questions.
Most of the students in my English class ask questions.

A number of the students ask questions.
The number of the students who ask questions is low.
 

2nd Mention Prac

The – Second Mention Practice: referring to already identified nouns

• A – first mention
• The - second mention

I have a dog. 
The dog  is very playful.

The dog has a ball.
The ball is red.

Identifying Nouns

Identifying Nouns: ways that nouns become known

• shared knowledge
• earlier mention
• later mention (clauses)

The kids who are starting college this fall across nation were born in 1990.

They do not remember .....

Article Expressions

Article Expressions: Time, place, landmarks, geography, events, countries

• time & place phrases
• landmarks
• geographical features
• world events
• countries
• holidays

The Mississippi
The Mojave Desert

The Vietnam War (but not WWII)

The 4th of July (but May Day)
The Renaissance  
The MOMA

The-Superlatives

The with Superlative modifiers: stating a unique degree

• the most / the best
• the -est
• the least

audio practice superlatives audio

She is the most convincing actress.
She is the least likeable character.
It was the saddest movie ever.

Known or New?

Known or New? Identified vs. unidentified article use

Sentence practice:

• the 
• a
• no marker

Editing practice

Speaking in General

Speaking in General: Sentence rephrasing 

"The History of Furniture"

• the class
• all

 The history of furniture reflects the history of the culture...

History of furniture reflects history of culture.

Art Paragr Edit

Paragraph Edit: A restaurant review

Edit a paragraph "Review of Chez Panisse Cafe"

"Chez Panisse Café " is a less-expensive alternative to Alice Waters' restaurant "Chez Panisse".

Article Context

In Context: Identifying article use

• count  or noncount
• singular or plural

Each survivor was permitted to take along one luxury item.

Select an article for each of the survivor items.

Preps for Time

Prepositions for Time: telling when an action happens

• in – for larger periods of time
• on – for exact day
• at – for precise periods of time

We went in the morning.
We went at noon on the dot.
We went at the end of the day.

Preps for Place

Prepositions for place: indicating locations in which events or activities take place

• location – in, on, at 
• phrases for expressing relationship to objects
  (aboard, about, above across, after, against, along, amid..)

We stood in the street.
We stood on the sidewalk.
We stood at the corner.