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Identifying Nouns

Ways that nouns become known

 

 

 

Ways a noun can be identified (known)
MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION CONTEXT EXAMPLE

Known 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 ways in which a noun becomes identified in the context of conversation or writing.

1)  Second mention

This is a puzzle piece. The piece fits into a puzzle. 

2)  Already being mentioned by another name (synonym)

This is a puzzle piece. The parts are rather small.  (a piece = a part)

3)  Understood to exist as an expected part of a larger item

This is a puzzle.  The pieces are inside the puzzle box. 

4)  Identified in a phrase or clause after it

The part on top goes here.  The part that I am holding is a corner.

5)  Both know of it or see 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 1

Selling cookies door-to-door

selling cookies at the door
 

 

 

Read for errors

A girl rang my door bell this afternoon. Girl introduced herself and her sister.  Her sister was pulling a red wagon. Red wagon held box. The box had an assortment of cookies. Assortment included peanut butter, chocolate and lemon cookies.  I told her I would buy a box of assorted cookies.

I asked her price for the box. She told me five dollars.  I told her that was high price for little box of cookies. She told me money was for the Girl Scouts. So I agreed to pay high price for little box of assorted cookies.  Little girls left, and I opened box to eat cookies.

assortment (n.) – having one of each kind; variation, mixture

 

 

 

Is is correct or incorrect?
  1. Select the option that best describes the sentence.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
1.
A girl rang my door bell this afternoon. Girl introduced herself and her sister.
   

2.
wagonHer sister was pulling a red wagon. Red wagon held box.
   

3.
The box had an assortment of cookies. 
   

4.
Assortment included peanut butter, chocolate and lemon cookies.cookie
   

5.
I told her I would buy a box of assorted cookies.
   

6.
I asked her price for the box. She told me five dollars. 
   

7.
I told her that was high price for little box of cookies.
   

8.
She told me money was for the Girl Scouts.
   

9.
So I agreed to pay high price for little box of assorted cookies.
   

10.
Little girls left, and I opened the box to eat cookies.
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

College GradPractice 2

Cultural Knowledge -  Kids Born After 1994

 

 

 

  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

11.


class of 20116 – a graduating class that begins study in 20112

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

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20.

 

"2016 List. " The Mindset List. Beloit College.  2012 < http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2016/> Nov 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Mouse CookieOne Thing Leads to Another

 

 

 

Read for errors

If you give mouse cookie, he'll probably ask for glass of milk. Then, he will probably need straw for milk. His whiskers will be dirty, so he will ask for napkin.  Napkin will be dirty, so he'll need to throw it away. He'll see that garbage is full, so he'll offer to take it out. His hands will be dirty, so he'll want to wash them in sink.

straw  He'll probably ask for towel. Towel will remind him of his blanket and his bed. Then, he'll ask for blanket to take nap.  While he takes nap, you'll probably want to remove mouse from your house. Otherwise, he will ask for cookie all over again.

whiskers (n.) – coarse long hair around the mouth of a mouse

Adapted from"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Numeroff, Laura Joffe.  Link
Also see "If You Give a Moose a Muffin", "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" and so on.

 

 

 

 

Edit for errors
  1. Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button. 
    Corrections are marked with asterisks: *a* or *the*.

 

21.
If you give mouse cookie, he'll probably ask for glass of milk.


22.
Then, he will probably need straw for milk.


23.
His whiskers will be dirty, so he will ask for napkin.  Napkin will be dirty, so he'll need to throw it away.


24.
He'll see that garbage is full, so he'll offer to take it out. His hands will be dirty, so he'll want to wash them in sink.


25.
He'll probably ask for towel. Towel will remind him of his blanket and his bed.


26.
Then, he'll ask for blanket to take nap.


27.
While he takes nap, you'll probably want to remove mouse from your house.


28.
Otherwise, he will ask for cookie all over again.