Articles

Grammar-Quizzes
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 earth The earth is the 3rd planet from the sun.

There is only one earth.

Identified by name jupiter The planet,  Jupiter, is the 5th planet from the sun.
Identified by adjective clause mars The planet that is 4th from the sun is uninhabitable.
Identified by prepositional phrase saturn The rings of Saturn are split into a number of parts.  
Identified by viewing

We both see moon

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 Both know sun 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.
2.
3.
4.
   

 

 

  

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.
6.
7.
8. , US-101,runs north and south along the coast.
   

 

  

Practice 3

 

the planets in the solar system

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. revolves more slowly.
 
10.
 
11.
 
12.
 
13
 
14.
 
15.
 
16.
 
17.
 
   

 

 

  

Practice 4

Fruit Stand


 Indentification by Prepositional Phrase

Select a phrase that clearly identifies the noun.  *indicates an incorrect selection.
 
# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
18.

19.

20.

   

 

 

  

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.



 

22.

 



23.

 



   

 

 

 

Go Grammar-Quizzes | Previous   |  Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

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