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puzzle piece
the puzzle piece

The - Earlier Mention

Referring to an already known noun

 

 

 

 

1) Known by Earlier Mention
FIRST MENTION – A SECOND MENTION – THE

Use a when first mentioning a noun.

Use the when mentioning the noun again.

This is a piece of a puzzle.
  puzzle piece
Use a piece when you introduce an item.

The piece fits into the top of a puzzle.
 puzzle piece fitting into puzzle
Use the piece when you second mention it a second time.

 

 

2) Mentioned by Another Name (synonym)
FIRST MENTION – A SECOND MENTION – THE

The first time a noun is mentioned, use a.

The next time the noun is mentioned, even if by another name, use the

   This is a piece of a puzzle.
  puzzle piece

  The part fits into the top of the puzzle.
   puzzle piece fitting into puzzle 
 

 

 

Summary for Using The
LINK MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION CONTEXTUAL EXAMPLE

Page focus

The noun is identified by:

The is used as part of a larger context or understanding.

current page this page 

1)  by earlier, second mention

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

current page this page 

2)  by another name (synonym)

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

The-Included Parts   

3)  as an expected part of a larger item

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

The-Later Mention 

4)  by a phrase or clause after it

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

The-Shared Knowl 

5)  by both knowing or seeing it

Hand me the piece.   (We both know / see which one.)

The-Shared Knowl 

6)  by its uniqueness (It is the only one.)
 

Hand me the last piece.

 

 

 

 

sneezePractice 1

The – Second Mention

 

 

 

Find the first and second mention in this paragraph.

 

A new iPhone application has been made called Sneeze on Me.  All you have to do is to sneeze hard on the phone. After sneezing,* a snot will be displayed on the screen. You may spread it, wipe it or you may decide to shake your phone to clean the snot off the screen.

The application has gained a lot of popularity among kids and young adults. The concept is disgusting, but it has its fans!  

Sneeze on Me  http://appshopper.com/entertainment/sneeze-on-me 
*snot (n.) – discharge from the nose

 

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
1. A new iPhone application has been made called Sneeze on Me

 
2. The application has gained a lot of popularity.

3.

 

4.

disgusting (adj.) – awful, unpleasant, in bad taste

 

5.
6.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Mentioned By Another Name

 

 

Find the noun mentioned by synonym in this paragraph.

Man Jailed for Using Cell Phone.

A man was put in jail after causing an accident while texting. The man was texting his son on a mobile phone when his car collided with a van.


His son, whom he was texting at the time, was in the the other car.  A child in the van was hurt.  The youth was taken to the hospital. The mobile phone was taken by the police for evidence.
 

 

 

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
7. The man was texting his son on a mobile phone
8. . . .
9.
10.

collide (v.) – crash into
11.
12.