Översikt

  • Use of Articles

    • The use of articles (a, an and the) is sometimes regarded as one of the most challenging aspects in the English language, and their difficulty arises from the subtle changes in the meaning caused by their use or omission. Perhaps no one fully understands their usage, but this does not stop us from trying to understand some their intricacies and develop our skills in using them.

      This classification, or rule system, presented in this online module provides a practical approach to the use of articles. It aims to help you in understanding how, why and when to use a, an and the (and when not to use them). This module is based on the system provided in

      Huckin, T. N., & Olsen, L. A. (1991). Technical writing and professional communication for nonnative speakers of English. 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill.

    • Additional reading materials

      Similar contents presented in the videos can be found in written form at the Academic Writing in English (AWE) website. See links below for main topics

    • URL icon
      Use of articles URL
    • URL icon
      Indefinite vs. Definite Articles URL
    • URL icon
      Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns URL
    • URL icon
      Specific vs. Generic Information URL

    • Study materials: videos and quizzes

      The module consists of eight videos and sixteen exercises (quizzes). To pass this module, you need to watch all the videos and complete all the exercises. Each video and exercise builds on the contents covered earlier. Successful completion each quiz (65%) allows you to continue to the next activity.

      Estimated workload: 3-5 hours


    • Kunskapstest icon
      Use of articles: preliminaries Kunskapstest
    • URL icon
      Video 1: Countable and uncountable nouns URL
      Visa

      This video gives an introduction to the use of articles.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 1: Countability and the indefinite article Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Use of articles: preliminaries
    • URL icon
      Video 2: flowchart for rule 2 URL
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 1: Countability and the indefinite article

      This video explains the rule 2 for using or omitting indefinite articles.

    • URL icon
      Video 3: Countable and uncountable nouns URL
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 2: flowchart for rule 2 markeras fullgjord

      This video explains the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns and how it affects the use of articles.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 2: Countability and the indefinite article Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 3: Countable and uncountable nouns markeras fullgjord
    • URL icon
      Video 4: Uniqueness URL
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 2: Countability and the indefinite article

      This video explains the difference between unique and non-unique referencing, as well as discusses special adjectives and nouns.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 3: Special adjectives and nouns (the) Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 4: Uniqueness markeras fullgjord
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 4: Special adjectives and nouns (the) Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 3: Special adjectives and nouns (the)
    • URL icon
      Video 5: Previous mention and post-modifiers URL
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 4: Special adjectives and nouns (the)

      This video explains the concepts of previous mention and post-modifiers.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 5: Previous mention and modifiers Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 5: Previous mention and post-modifiers markeras fullgjord
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 6: Previous mention and modifiers with review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 5: Previous mention and modifiers
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 7: Previous mention and modifiers with review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 6: Previous mention and modifiers with review
    • URL icon
      Video 6: Pre-modifiers and appositives URL
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 7: Previous mention and modifiers with review

      This video explains the concepts of pre-modifiers and appositives.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 8: Pre-modifiers and appositives (the) Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 6: Pre-modifiers and appositives markeras fullgjord
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 9: Pre-modifiers and appositives (the) Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 8: Pre-modifiers and appositives (the)
    • URL icon
      Video 7: Shared and implied uniqueness URL
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 9: Pre-modifiers and appositives (the)

      This video explain how the writer's shared or implied knowledge affects the use of articles.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 10: Shared knowledge and implied uniqueness Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 7: Shared and implied uniqueness markeras fullgjord
    • URL icon
      Video 8: Generic meaning URL
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 10: Shared knowledge and implied uniqueness

      This video explains how the articles can be used in the context of generic meaning.

    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 11: Identifying generics Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Aktiviteten Video 8: Generic meaning markeras fullgjord
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 12: Review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 11: Identifying generics
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 13: Review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 12: Review
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 14: Review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 13: Review
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 15: Review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 14: Review
    • Kunskapstest icon
      Exercise 16: Review Kunskapstest
      Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 15: Review
    • Tillgänglig om: Du uppnår högre än en viss poäng i Exercise 16: Review

      CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE ONLINE MODULE OF THE USE OF ARTICLES.

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Module 5: Use of Commas