23.

USING ARTICLES

GENERAL STATEMENTS
a/an
A bill doesnt become law
until the president approves it.
An appeal is a request made
SINGULAR COUNT to a higher court to review the
NOUNS
decision of a lower court.
the
Who invented the telephone?
PARTICULAR STATEMENTS
Not specific Specific
a/an the
The representatives drafted a bill. The bill to raise federal income
The guests visited a memorial. taxes was signed into law.
The trouble maker was escorted out The memorial visited by the
of the hall by an officer. guests was built in 1945.
The officer who escorted the
troublemaker had to use force.

0 (no article) 0/some the

Bills dont become law until Congress proposes some bills The Senate approved the bills
the president approves them. whenever it is in session. to ban school prayers and to
Appeals are heard by higher Congress proposes bills whenever it raise the federal income tax.
PLURAL COUNT courts.
NOUNS is in session. The memorials that the guests
Some bills become law, but others visited were built to honor war
are rejected. heroes.

0 (no article) 0/some the

Water is made up of two Scientists believe that there is some Most of the pollution in big
atoms of hydrogen and one water trapped beneath the arid cities is caused by automobiles.
atom of oxygen. surface of Mars. The water in the Dead Sea has
NONCOUNT NOUNS
Pollution is a major Explorers have found oil in Alaska. extremely high salt content.
contributing factor to climate .
change.

Adapted from Azar, Fundamentals of English Grammar, 2nd ed. (Prentice-Hall, 1992).
Created in 2007 at the Center for English Language Support, John Jay College, on a U.S. Department of Education Page 1 of 1
(Title V Collaborative) Grant awarded to John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Queensborough Community College.