Let’s continue with more basic English lessons that provide the most important learning points for beginning level English learners.
Lesson 3: Using Definite and Indefinite Articles The / A / An
a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants
- She has a dog.
- I work in a factory.
an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
- Can I have an apple?
- She is an English teacher.
the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know)
- The car over there is fast.
- The teacher is very good, isn’t he?
The first time you speak of something use “a or an”, the next time you repeat that object use “the”.
- I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
- I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as “The United States”.
- He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
- They live in northern British Columbia.
Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas.
- My country borders on the Pacific Ocean.
DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
- I like Russian tea.
- She likes reading books.
DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
- He has breakfast at home.
- I go to university.
- He comes to work by taxi.
Lesson 4: How to Use the Word ‘Like’
‘Like’ can be used as a verb or as a preposition. There are a number of common questions with ‘like’ that are easy to confuse.
- What’s he like? – ‘What … like?’ is used to ask about a person’s or object’s character and is general in nature.
- What does he like? – This use of the verb ‘like’ is for general preferences. ‘Like’ as a verb is generally followed by the ‘ing’ form of the verb (I like playing tennis).
- What does she look like? – ‘Like’ is used as a preposition to express physical appearance. In this case, ‘like’ can also mean ‘similar to’ if you are making a comparison to other people.
- What would you like to drink? – Another common use of ‘like’ is in ‘would like’ to express wishes. Note that ‘would like’ is followed by the infinite form of the verb NOT the ‘-ing’ form.
Source: thoughtco.com©
Pt 3 Basic English – Essential Lessons for Beginning English Learners – TUTORING YOU
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