Share Articles a, an, the: Correct the Sentences
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Give it to cat.
WRONG! Give it to the cat. REASON: "Cat" is a singular countable noun and requires a definite article ("the") to specify which cat.
You shouldn't go out without coat.
WRONG! You shouldn't go out without a coat. REASON: "Coat" is a singular countable noun and requires an indefinite article ("a") to refer to any coat.
Annie is engineer.
WRONG! Annie is an engineer. REASON: "Engineer" is a singular countable noun and requires an indefinite article ("an") because it starts with a vowel sound.
The life is complicated.
WRONG! Life is complicated. REASON: "Life" is an uncountable noun used in a general sense, so no article is needed.
They're walking in the Himalayas.
CORRECT: Mountain ranges require the definite article. As do oceans, seas, gulfs, rivers, deserts, groups of islands, peninsulas, valleys, forests, regions...
It's not always easy to fit in with the society.
WRONG! It's not always easy to fit in with society. REASON: "Society" is an uncountable noun used in a general sense, so no article is needed.
She's very interested in the nature.
WRONG! She's very interested in nature. REASON: "Nature" is an uncountable noun used in a general sense, so no article is needed.
I have some of my best ideas when I'm on the bus.
CORRECT! REASON: 'the bus' does not mean 'one bus that you know about'; we use the to suggest that taking a bus is a common experience that we all share.
Granny's lost the her keys again.
WRONG! Granny's lost her keys again. REASON: Possessive pronouns (e.g., "her") replace articles, so "the" is unnecessary.
They appointed him Head Librarian.
CORRECT! REASON: Titles used after verbs like "appointed" do not require an article.
She studied at Oxford University.
CORRECT! Proper nouns like university names typically do not require an article.
We saw an elephant in forest.
WRONG! We saw an elephant in the forest. REASON: "Forest" is specific (the one where the elephant was seen), so it needs "the."
The pollution is a major problem in the cities.
WRONG! Pollution is a major problem in cities. REASON: "Pollution" and "cities" are general concepts and do not require "the."
Sun provides light and heat to Earth.
WRONG! The sun provides light and heat to the Earth. REASON: "Sun" and "Earth" are unique nouns and require "the."
The sustainability is important for future.
WRONG! Sustainability is important for the future. REASON: "Sustainability" is an abstract concept but, "future" is specific.
He's a wrong man for me.
WRONG! He's the wrong man for me. REASON: "Wrong man" is specific (referring to a particular person), so it requires the definite article ("the").
