Articles

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. Consider the following examples:

After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.

By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one specific cup of tea that tasted good.

After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.

By using the article a, we’ve created a general statement, implying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day. 

English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more detail.

The Definite Article

The definite article is the word the. It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular thing. For example, your friend might ask, “Are you going to the party this weekend?” The definite article tells you that your friend is referring to a specific party that both of you know about. The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the definite article the used in context:

Please give me the hammer.

Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small.

Please give me the nail.

Please give me the large nail; it’s the only one strong enough to hold this painting.

Please give me the hammer and the nail.

The Indefinite Article

The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word a when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant. It’s the word an when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing. For example, you might ask your friend, “Should I bring a gift to the party?” Your friend will understand that you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. “I am going to bring an apple pie,” your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend probably doesn’t even have any pie yet. The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns. Consider the following examples of indefinite articles used in context:

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.

Exceptions: Choosing A or An

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels. The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound. Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept.

My mother is a honest woman.

My mother is an honest woman.

Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use a, as in the sample sentence below:

She is an United States senator.

She is a United States senator.

This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD display, a UK-based company, an HR department, a URL.

Article Before an Adjective

Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. The usual word order is article + adjective + noun. If the article is indefinite, choose a or an based on the word that immediately follows it. Consider the following examples for reference:

Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.

I heard an interesting story yesterday.

Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns include intangible things (e.g., information, air), liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too large or numerous to count (e.g., equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be counted, you should never use a or an with them—remember, the indefinite article is only for singular nouns. Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like some, however. Consider the examples below for reference:

Please give me a water.

Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite article.

Please give me some water.

However, if you describe the water in terms of countable units (like bottles), you can use the indefinite article.

Please give me a bottle of water.

Please give me an ice.

Please give me an ice cube.

Please give me some ice .

Note that depending on the context, some nouns can be countable or uncountable (e.g., hair, noise, time):

We need a light in this room.

We need some light in this room.

Using Articles with Pronouns

Possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking about specific or nonspecific items. As we’ve seen, articles also indicate specificity. But if you use both a possessive pronoun and an article at the same time, readers will become confused. Possessive pronouns are words like his, my, our, its, her, and their. Articles should not be used with pronouns. Consider the examples below.

Why are you reading the my book?

The and my should not be used together since they are both meant to modify the same noun. Instead, you should use one or the other, depending on the intended meaning:

Why are you reading the book?

Why are you reading my book?

Omission of Articles

Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain nouns. In these cases, the article is implied but not actually present. This implied article is sometimes called a “zero article.” Often, the article is omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.

Let’s go out for dinner tonight.

The creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an article. Consider the example below:

I studied the French in high school for four years.

I studied French in high school for four years.

Sports and academic subjects do not require articles. See the sentences below for reference:

I like to play the baseball.

I like to play baseball .

My sister was always good at the math .

My sister was always good at math .

10 Tips To Improve Your Writing Skills

 1. Think earlier than you write

Taking time to assume earlier than you write will assist your electronic mail or presentation come collectively effortlessly. Dedicating extra time to the starting stage withinside the writing system will assist you construct a consolidated argument. In return, you may now no longer ought to spend a whole lot of time modifying your paintings. 

 2. Do your research

Work reviews and reliable files require thorough proof and research. Compile all of the vital statistics you want earlier than you write. Taking precautions to make certain your writing sounds correct will provide you with the self assurance to reply questions and stand via way of means of your paintings. Being informed approximately the situation you're writing approximately will mirror undoubtedly on you. 

 3. Create an define

Creating an define allow you to organize your mind and smash down a complicated message. Detailed files consisting of reviews, shows and CVs want to deal with numerous questions from exceptional angles. Brainstorming your factors or developing a linear define will make certain which you have protected all of the essential statistics. Taking time to put together your paintings will prevent from making clarifications and amendments with inside the future. 

 4. Understand your audience

Your writing fashion can tackle exceptional bureaucracy in a enterprise setting, relying on who you're writing to. Your company way of life and enterprise may also decide the sort of language you use. 

 When you write, you want to place your self for your reader`s shoes. Think approximately whether or not they've sufficient context to apprehend what you've got got written. 

5. Keep it easy

Short and concise sentences preserve the eye of your reader. As a writer, you want to scrutinise each phrase and word to look if you may talk your factor extra certainly and naturally. You need to offer them simply sufficient facts with out overwhelming them with trivial details. 

 6. Cut down filler phrases

Creative writing is continually amusing and exciting; however, it isn't always suitable for each occasion. Learning the way to edit your paintings diligently assist you to come to be a higher writer. There are continually a few phrases we use plenty in our writing, however they do little to beautify our factor. Delete phrases or terms that sound repetitive or too wordy. People are much more likely to study your paintings from begin to complete if it flows with ease. 

 7. Improve your phrase choice

Try to be as precise as viable together along with your phrase choice. Adverbs, phrases that quit in "ly", can regularly get replaced with extra concise adjectives. For example, rather of "he labored very carefully", use "he became meticulous." Common descriptive phrases such as "beautiful" also can be substituted for extra correct phrases, including "charming" or "gorgeous." 

 8. Use easy vocabulary

Often, there's an assumption that wealthy vocabulary makes you a higher writer. However, that is a myth. Powerful communicators pick phrases which are suitable for his or her audience. They are adaptable and might cater to special functions and talent levels. Most enterprise writing is set sharing facts with humans in special departments and regions. Simple and direct writing is prime to this process. 

 9. Avoid contractions

Indian English does now no longer use contractions. So at the same time as writing, use "I am" rather of "I`m", "you are" rather of "you're", "can now no longer" rather of "can't", "will now no longer" rather of "won't", "have now no longer" rather of "haven't", "we will" rather of "we'll" and "did now no longer" rather of "didn't" to make you writing clear. 

 10. Read it out loud

Hearing your writing out loud allows you decide whether or not it flows smoothly. If it sounds too wordy, reduce down lengthy sentences into shorter ones. Similarly, in case your writing sounds too curt, blend in some longer sentences to stability out the texture and sound of your writing.

10 Reading Tips

1. Read at a level slightly lower than what you understand. You should not have to look up a lot of words. It's okay to look up a few words
2. Make reading a ritual. Choose a time and place to read every day or week. Commit to this reading time as if it were a job.
3. Read what interests you.
4. Understand what you'll be tested on. If you're working on your reading skills for a particular test, make sure to learn about the test. There may be specific formats such as advertisements that you'll have to read in the test.
5. Find free reading materials. Project Gutenberg is an excellent source, but be careful with public domain books that are written in outdated English. Some words and expressions are no longer in use.
6. Visualize what you are reading. Some people try to imagine they are reading a movie or a how-to video.
7. Listen and read. Find podcasts or videos that have transcripts and read along silently. You can also read out loud with the recording.
8. Relate what you read to your own life. How does the reading apply to you?
9. Think about the author or journalist.  How would the reading differ if you were the author?
10. Check your eyesight. If you haven't had your eyesight checked in the last few years, make an appointment.

Reading Strategies

Here are some strategies for improving your comprehension skills.

• Skim: read for the brief idea or overview.
• Scan: read for specific details or a specific reason.
• KWL: determine what you Know about the topic, what you Want to know, and what you Learned.
• Skip: if you don't understand a word or section, keep reading ahead. Come back to the section or word again and try to figure out the meaning. Use a dictionary if necessary.
• Look for headings, subtitles and keywords.
• Read out loud: children read out loud when they first start reading. You can too. Get comfortable hearing your English voice.
• Create timelines or charts: reorganize what you read in a different format.
• Rewrite in a different tense.
• Rewrite in a different format: for example, rewrite an article in letter or list form.
• Illustrate: if you think you're a visual learner, sketch images or an infographic related to what you read.
• Write the questions: as you read, think about which questions you might find on a test or quiz. Write them down and answer them, or quiz a friend.
• Summarize or retell: you can do this by writing a letter to a friend, writing a blog post, making a web cam video, or just starting a conversation on this topic.
• Learn affixes: knowing prefixes and suffixes will increase your word recognition.
• Keep a vocabulary journal.
• Get a vocabulary partner.
• Use a pen or ruler: some people find it is easier to read with a pacer. A pen, ruler or fingertip can help you keep your place and prevent your eyes from wandering off. This may not be suitable if you are reading on a computer or mobile device. Adjust the screen to a larger size if necessary.