Skill 52 : USE ARTICLES WITH SINGULAR NOUNS

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about articles with
singular nouns:

ARTICLES WITH SINGULAR NOUNS

A singular noun must have an article (a, an, the) or some other determiner
such as my or each. (A plural noun or an uncountable noun may or may not
have an article.

I have money. (uncountable --- no article needed)

I have books. (countable plural --- no article needed)

I have a book. (countable singular --- article needed)

Skill 53 : DISTINGUISH A AND AN

The following chart outlines the key information about the use of a and an:

A AND AN
A A is used in front of a singular noun with a consonant sound.
AND An is used in front of a singular noun with a vowel sound.
Be careful of nouns beginning with H or U. They may have a vowel or a consonant sound.
Jika “u” diucapkan seperti konsonan “y” maka menggunakan “A”. Sedangkan jika “h” tidak
diucapkan ketika dibaca maka menggunakan “An”.

a book an orange

a hospitalan unhappy man

a university an hour

Skill 54 : MAKE ARTICLES AGREE WITH NOUN

The following chart states the key point for you to remember about the agreement of articles with
nouns:

AGREEMENT OF ARTICLES WITH NOUNS

You should never use a or an with a plural noun.
Skill 55 : DISTINGUISH SPECIFIC AND GENERAL IDEAS
The following chart outlines the key information that you should understand about specific and
general ideas:

SPECIFIC AND GENERAL IDEAS

ARTICLE MEANING USES
A or AN General Use when there are many, and you do not know which on it is.
idea Use when there are many, and you do not care which one it is.
THE Specific Use when it is the only one.
idea Use when there are many, and you know which one it is.

Skill 56 : RECOGNIZE INCORRECT PREPOSITIONS

Sometimes an incorrect preposition is given in a sentence in written expression questions on the
TOEFL test. The key is: Check if the meaning makes sense in the sentence.

For example:
"The game was called on because of rain"

In this example, "on" is an incorrect preposition. The preposition must be "off" (Called off means
canceled) to make sense of the sentence. 
Skill 57 : RECOGNIZE WHEN PREPOSITION HAVE BEEN OMMITED
In the idiomatic use, which is what appears most often on the TOEFL test, the preposition
appears in an idiomatic expression; that is, its meaning in this expression has nothing to do with
the literal meaning.

For example :

Can you wait me after the game?

This example is incorrect because it’s necessary to say wait for me

Skill 58 : DISTINGUISH MAKE AND DO

“MAKE” often has the idea of creating or constructing. Example:

 She likes to make her own clothes.

 Would you like to make a cake for dessert?

“DO” often has the idea of completing or performing. Example:

  This morning she did all the dishes.
 The students are doing the assignments.

Skill 59 : DISTINGUISH LIKE, ALIKE AND UNLIKE

- Alike” is a predicate adjective describing John and Tom. Because “alike” is a predicate
adjective, it can only be used after a linking verb such as “are”.

- Like is the adjective form that is used immediately before the noun manner.

- Unlike the opposite of like.

example:

• John and Tom are alike.

• John and Tom worked in a like manner.