Identifying Nouns: Ways that Nouns Become Identified

skip navigation

On this page:
Ways Noun is Identified
Practice

Identifying Nouns

Ways that nouns become known

Ways a noun can be identified (known)

MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION	CONTEXT EXAMPLE
The noun is identified by:	A is used the first time we mention a noun. The is used when both the speaker and listener know "which one". The following are examples of nouns that use the and ways the noun becomes identified in the context of conversation or writing.
1) earlier, second mention	This is a puzzle piece. The piece fits into a puzzle.
2) another name (synonym)	This is a puzzle piece. The parts are rather small. (a piece = a part)
3) as an expected part of a larger item	This is a puzzle. The pieces are inside the box.
4) in a phrase or clause after it	The part on top is here. / The part that I am holding is a corner. / The part you see is a corner.
5) by both knowing or seeing it	Hand me the piece. (We both know / see which one.)
6) its uniqueness (It is the only one.)	Hand me the last piece.

Practice

Cultural Knowledge - Kids Born After 1993

Select the article which best completes the sentence.
An asterisk * indicates an incorrect choice. Use your arrow keys to scroll text in the box.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	FEEDBACK
1.	kids who are starting college this fall across nation were born in 1993. The -- (nothing)	Feedback 1:
2.	They do not remember the Reagan Era, or assassination attempt. the -- (nothing)	Feedback 2:
3.	They were very young when the Persian Gulf War flashed on screens of their TVs. the -- (nothing)	Feedback 3:
4.	They weren't even born when Soviet Union broke apart. the -- (nothing)	Feedback 4:
5.	For them, Germany has always been one country . the -- (nothing)	Feedback 5:
6.	They are too young to remember space shuttle blowing up. the a	Feedback 6:
7.	To them, 'Tienamin Square' is just picture of a man waving to a tank. -- (nothing) a	Feedback 7:
8.	Many could not tell you who leader of Libya is. -- (nothing) the	Feedback 8:
9.	AIDS has been a threat to them since day of their birth. the a	Feedback 9:
10.	disease, polio, is unknown to them . A The	Feedback 10:
11.	caps on their soft drink bottles have always been plastic. -- (nothing) The	Feedback 11:
12.	pull-top cans are before their time. -- (nothing) The	Feedback 12:
13.	They have never heard vinyl record album. -- (nothing) a	Feedback 13:
14.	cassette player of the 1980s has been replaced by iPods. -- (nothing) The	Feedback 14:
15.	In fact, expression "You sound like a broken record!" means nothing to them. the a	Feedback 15:
16.	'Star Wars' looks fake and special effects look unsophisticated to them. the -- (nothing)	Feedback 16:
17.	There have always been red M & Ms, and blue ones are not so new. the -- (nothing)	Feedback 17:
18.	They have never seen television with only 13 channels. the a	Feedback 18:
19.	popcorn has always been cooked in a microwave. -- (nothing) The	Feedback 19:
20.	history books that they will read in college, will be much thicker than ours were! -- (nothing) The	Feedback 20: