Nouns

 

1. Noun Phrases

 What is a Noun Phrase?

A noun phrase is a group of words that work together as a noun. The main word is always a noun, but it can include modifiers like articles, adjectives, or prepositional phrases.

 Structure:

(Article/Determiner) + (Adjective) + Noun + (Prepositional Phrase)

 Examples:

  • The big dog barked.

  • A red apple fell from the tree.

  • My brother’s old guitar is broken.

  • Some interesting books on history are on the shelf.

In each example, the bold part is a noun phrase. It acts as the subject or object in the sentence.


 2. Articles

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or general. There are 3 articles in English:

 Definite Article: "the"

  • Refers to a specific noun.

  • Example: The dog in the yard is mine. (a specific dog)

 Indefinite Articles: "a" / "an"

  • Refer to any one thing (not specific).

  • Use "a" before consonant sounds: a car, a book

  • Use "an" before vowel sounds: an apple, an hour

Examples:

  • She has a cat. (any cat, not specific)

  • I saw an elephant at the zoo.

  • Please close the window. (a specific window we both know about)


 3. Zero Article

The zero article means we don’t use any article before a noun. It’s not a mistake—it’s a rule!

 When Do We Use the Zero Article?

🔸 a) With uncountable or plural nouns when speaking generally

  • I like music.

  • Books are useful.

🔸 b) With proper nouns

  • John is my friend.

  • She lives in Brazil.

🔸 c) With meals, days, months

  • We have dinner at 7.

  • She was born in March.

🔸 d) With transport (using “by”)

  • He went by bus.

  • We traveled by car.

🔸 e) In fixed expressions

  • at home, go to bed, in prison, at school

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