Noun phrases and modal verbs of probability

Noun phrases

by Mario Medina

​NOUN PHRASES

​Noun phrases are groups of words before and/or after a noun.

​

​book=noun

a book

my book

this book​

some books​

the book that I was reading

my favorite book​

​

​NOUN PHRASES

​Grammatically speaking these words are:

​

​Articles-a, an, the

​Possessives-my, your, mine, 's

​Demonstratives-this, that, these, those

​Determiners-some, any, all, etc.

​Relative pronouns-who, that, which

​Compond nouns-notebook, address book

INDEFINITE ARTICLES

The indefinite articles a/an are used:

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​1. to say what something or somebody is:

​

​This is a book.

​

​Jane's a teacher.

​

​I'm an optimist person.

INDEFINITE ARTICLES

2.To refer to a thing or person for the first time:

​

​She lives in a farmhouse.

​

​I bought a pair of shoes today.

​

​Would you like a cookie?

DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article the is used:

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1. To refer to a person or thing mentioned before or known by the speaker and ​the listener.

​

​Do you have the car keys?

​

​The children are in the yard.

DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article the is used:

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2.To refer to a person or thing for the second time.

​

​I got a book for my birthday.

The book is about modern art.

​

​

DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article the is used:

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3.To refer to the only one there is.

​

The sky is very gray today.

​The Earth is older than we think.

​

​

DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article the is used:

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4.with superlatives.

​

You're the best student.

​

Everest is the highest mountain.​

​

ZERO ARTICLE

No article (-) is used:

​

1. To refer to people or things in general.

​

​I like cheese.

​

Life is hard.

​

English is spoken all over the world.​

​

ZERO ARTICLE

No article (-) is used:

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2.In some common expressions.

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Places- I go to work.

Travel- I travel by bus/airplane/car.

Meals​- We had lunch.

Academic subjects​- I like history.

​Time- I'll do it next week.

​Games- She plays chess.

Multiple Choice

Are you coming to _____ party next Saturday?

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

I bought  _____  new TV set yesterday.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

I think _____ man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

I watched _____ video you had sent me.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

She was wearing _____ ugly dress when she met him.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

I am crazy about reading _____ history books.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

She is _____ nice girl.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

Do you want to go to _____ restaurant where we first met?

• a

• an

• the

• zero article

Multiple Choice

He thinks that _____ love is what will save us all.

• a

• an

• the

• zero article