Articles - Words and Phrase that Identify Nouns

Articles
Words and Phrases that Identify Nouns	Framed \| Unframed

Read & Contrast

When referring to a noun, it remains unidentified, unclear which one it is, until enough information is given to identify it. Then, the article changes from a to the; the noun becomes specific.

Words, Phrases and Concepts that Identify Nouns

Use "the" if a noun is:
Identified by its uniqueness		The earth is the 3rd planet from the sun. There is only one earth.
Identified by name		The planet, Jupiter, is the 5th planet from the sun.
Identified by adjective clause		The planet that is 4th from the sun is uninhabitable.
Identified by prepositional phrase		The rings of Saturn are split into a number of parts.
Identified by viewing		The moon is beautiful tonight. There is more than one moon in the universe. We are referring to the one we both see.
Identified by shared knowledge		The sun is setting. There is more than one sun in the universe. We are referring to the one we both know.

Practice 1

Identification by Being Unique - existing as the only one

UNIDENTIFIED	IDENTIFIED BY UNIQUENESS
A wife of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was visiting the University of Oxford. (He has four.)	The wife of King Gustaf of Sweden was visiting the University of Oxford. (He has one, Silvia.)

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
1.	mother of the boy came to pick him up from school.
2.	brother of the boy came to pick him up . (He may have more than one.)
3.	seed of the avocado was lying in the sink. (It has one.)
4.	seed of the tomato was lying in the sink.

Practice 2

Identification by Name

UNIDENTIFIED	IDENTIFIED BY NAME
A state with a lot of natural resources has great wealth.	The state with a lot of natural resources, California, has great wealth.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
5.	river runs through the city.
6.	river, Sacramento, runs through the city.
7.	highway runs north and south along the coast.
8.	highway, US-101,runs north and south along the coast.

Practice 3

Identification by Adjective Clause

A NON-IDENTIFYING CLAUSE	AN IDENTIFYING CLAUSE
TRUE FOR ANY	TRUE FOR ONE
A moon, which is beautiful to see, is cold and desolate. (Commas are necessary.)	The moon next to Mars looks like an old potato. (No commas are used.)
The clause "which is beautiful to see" is true of any moon on Uranus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, etc.	The clause "next to mars" identifies it as Mar's moon, and potato-shaped identifies it as Phobos.

Select the if the clause clearly identifies the noun.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
9.	planet that is large revolves more slowly.
10.	only planet that has not been visited by a spacecraft is Pluto.
11.	outer planet which has eight moons is being studied.
12.	planet that has "intelligent life" on it is facing environmental problems.
13	planet, named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, is also known as the "morning star".
14.	planet with moons is affected by their gravitational pull.
15.	planet that has two moons is commonly called "The Red Planet".
16.	planet with craters is a beautiful subject for photography.
17.	planet that has rings is surrounded by dust particles.

Practice 4

Indentification by Prepositional Phrase

Select a phrase that clearly identifies the noun. *indicates an incorrect selection.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
18.	The fruit is called mousmoula, a relative of the loquat.	in front to the right of the grapes that is orange
19.	The plants are basil plants.	behind the tomato plants in front of the mandarin oranges in the middle
20.	The onions are shallots.	in a box in the fruit stand in the sack on the ground

Practice 5

Identification by Shared Knowledge

CONTEXT

SHARED KNOWLEDGE

"Honey, would you remember to pick up your shirts at the cleaners."

" OK"

They both understand:

which cleaners
where the cleaners are

Select the phrase that includes the shared knowlege of listener and speaker.

#	ONE PERSON SAYS TO OTHER:	WHAT KNOWLEGE DO THEY SHARE?
21.	Meet me at the café after class.	which cafe where the cafe is who is at the cafe
22.	If you get there first, order me the usual and get the good table.	who will get there first where the "good table" is what "the usual" is
23.	I'll have to take the bus and the traffic can be slow.	which bus which traffic which route

Go Grammar-Quizzes | Previous | Next

Julie Sevastopoulos - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA