Grammar: 8 rules for using 'THE' in English
United States or The United States? U.K. or The U.K.? Unsure of when to use a definite or an indefinite article? Watch this lesson and stop making these common mistakes in English!
For many non-native speakers of English who don't have articles in their own language, it can be really difficult to use articles correctly. Even for speakers of languages that have articles, it is difficult to get your use of articles right 100% of the time. This is because there are many exceptions and irregular grammar rules.
In this lesson, I'll teach you what these exceptions are, so you can be sure to remove these common mistakes from your English. Even if you are an advanced speaker of English, I'm sure you will discover one or two rules that you didn't know about. Watch the lesson, then take the quiz at www.engvid.com/grammar-8-rules...
TRANSCRIPT
www.engvid.com United States or The United States? U.K. or The U.K.? Unsure of when to use a definite or an indefinite article? Watch this lesson and stop making these common mistakes in English!
For many non-native speakers of English who don't have articles in their own language, it can be really difficult to use articles correctly. Even for speakers of languages that have articles, it is difficult to get your use of articles right 100% of the time. This is because there are many exceptions and irregular grammar rules.
In this lesson, I'll teach you what these exceptions are, so you can be sure to remove these common mistakes from your English. Even if you are an advanced speaker of English, I'm sure you will discover one or two rules that you didn't know about. Watch the lesson, then take the quiz at www.engvid.com/grammar-8-rules...
TRANSCRIPT
Hi, everyone. I'm Jade. In this lesson today, we're looking at the rules for articles, but more specifically, the rules where we have exceptions in using articles. So when I'm observing people's English, all the time I'm hearing the same mistakes with articles. So what you will learn to do in this lesson is how to avoid those really, really common mistakes I hear all the time.
If you're somebody who just doesn't use articles at all because in your native language, you don't have articles, I understand it can be really, really hard to start using them. But they are an important aspect of grammar, and you should be using them. So if you watch this lesson, you'll get some tips for using articles, where you need them, and where you shouldn't use them. And also, if you're someone who's getting articles right nearly all the time, I'm quite sure that you will pick up one or two rules here that you didn't know before. So let's get started.
There are eight different rules. Rule No. 1: When we're talking about countries, most countries we don't use an article. So here some sentences. "She lives in England. They live in America." We don't use articles. But if the country's considered to be a nation state, a collection of different states, or a collection of different countries in one bigger state, then we use articles. Here are examples. So "the U.S.A., the U.K., the U.A.E." -- where I spend a lot of my time -- and here are -- also, we need to mention islands. When a country is a group of islands, we always use articles. So we would say "the Virgin Islands", and we'd say "the Philippines" as well.
It's interesting that we can say, "She lives in England" because England is one country, but when talking about the same -- okay, it's not exactly the same place, the U.K., because it's -- the U.K. is more than one country. It's more than just England. But sometimes people think of it as being the same place. It's not. When we're talking about the U.K., we need an article, but just for "England", it's okay not to use an article.
Let's take a look at rule No. 2. Rule No. 2 -- this is a really subtle rule, here. And this one I always correct in sentences. When people talk about meals -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, also brunch is a meal you might not know. It's in between breakfast and lunch. -- we don't use articles. So here's a correct sentence. "I don't eat breakfast." I'm talking in general there. "I don't eat breakfast." That's okay to say. However, if I'm being specific, "We didn't like the dinner", it's okay to use an article here. You need to. So what does the sentence actually mean? Imagine that we were out last night, and we had a meal. And now, we're talking about it. "Well, the place was nice, but I didn't like the dinner." Being specific about that experience we had. If I'm talking in general, "I don't like dinner", that would just mean all the time, okay? So it's a very big difference in meaning.
Now, we'll look at rule No. 3 for jobs. Jobs take the indefinite article. That's a grammar word. And "indefinite article" means "a". We don't use "the".
Пікірлер: 816
You pronounced the phrase "Freedom is worth dying for!" in such a funny way) now it will be in my mind for about 2 days)
@tahaalmaguri5132
Жыл бұрын
8 years ago
@AreebGt
Жыл бұрын
@@tahaalmaguri5132 7 months ago
It was so hard for me studying all these rules about articles, because we don't have them in Russian at all. Even now I'm always confused by using them in my speech or when I write something. Your explanation is good, it helped me to refresh my knowledge.
@mouhsinehamarrass8301
8 жыл бұрын
+Янина Новак Hi I would lik give me Your FAcebook or skype, I wanna just talk to improve my english skills. THank you
@ipasha1437
7 жыл бұрын
Янина Новак Найдите себе иностранного друга и начните говорить. Также, попросите его поправлять Вас при каждой допущенной ошибке. Когда я переехал из России в другую страну, спустя год я познакомился с иностранцем из Кувейта, у которого родной язык английский, а не арабский. Уже за 3 года дружбы с ним, проживания в другой стране и чтения иностранной литературы, новостей помогли мне переосмыслить английский язык в целом. В итоге, я поднял уровень знаний и произношения со среднего до высокого уровня. Так что, советую вам сделать тоже самое) Когда-то я и путался в предлогах и т.п., а потом понял когда и что нужно использовать:)
@ahmedfarah2906
6 жыл бұрын
Mouhsine hamarrass ihpuj
@user-se3zq6ww4n
6 жыл бұрын
in Russia there are few foreigners and it can be hard to practice your speech. Thanks to THE Internet we can at least listen a lot
@virskovskiy445
5 жыл бұрын
@@ipasha1437 что Вы подразумеваете под "средним" уровнем знания языка?
I'm pretty sure that most people who live in English speaking countries don't know this stuff.
@snpidek3261
9 жыл бұрын
Pretty much.I don't know grammar for my native language.Even tho there are pretty nasty stuff like 7 cases and noun gender.
@hrvoje5061
4 жыл бұрын
@@snpidek3261 Croatia?
@randomed7088
4 жыл бұрын
Some people say "THI most" yes I said THI
@funyes3463
3 жыл бұрын
I speak spanish and i don't know grammar for my language
@dancecase_dubai2022
3 жыл бұрын
They don't need to
Thank you for making this video. I truly enjoyed learning English with you. Hope you make more and more videos next time!
I usually have a huge problem with placing ‘’ the ‘’. here it comes I come to the right place and solving my problem. Many thank.
It's amazing how there are all these obscure rules, yet as a native English speaker I find it silly that people don't understand. BUT: then I see a video such as this and my mind is blown at how complicated our language is!
Your native voice is really mesmerizing
Thank you so much for your lessons! Cause they're pretty useful for me and I'm sure for all your subscribers too!
Thank you Jade for this lesson!!
Jade thank a lot. In school we had a few times when teacher explained articles, your lesson was like recap.
hi I'm new to English language world and just started , and in the start I found your useful lectures,I will love to keep following you to make me confident to read, write and speak English in a good manner......
You did explain the lesson,clearly.Thanks for the lesson.
She speak slowly. It helps to me so much! Thanks Jade!
thanks so much for your efforts and explanation your channel is amazing
amazing, sometimes I make the mistakes in those articles. thank you so much, if you make more sentences about those sentences they would be good.
Very useful and educational as well. Thank you so much!!
Excellent, I love Jade's 8 basic rules of articles!
thank you for the lesson!!! it´s very helpful )))
Clear and concise, I enjoyed your video on the articles! Keep up the good work and stay AWESOME! :D
Subscribed! This is really helpful, as I'm a student and still trying to improve my grammar! Your videos will be very helpful in the future for me, so keep making 'em!
Thanks, I'm learning from your videos Ms. Jade. I wish I could play scrabble with you as well to learn more english vocabularies.
Freedom is definitely worth dying for! 8:19
@yasserfathelbab1534
6 жыл бұрын
whose impression was this?
@thatiam1
5 жыл бұрын
USSR!
@jarosawboguta4670
5 жыл бұрын
@@yasserfathelbab1534 Scottish accent I guess
@yasserfathelbab1534
5 жыл бұрын
@@jarosawboguta4670 It's Russian
@soijiro666
5 жыл бұрын
Russian accent detected
Excellent lesson. Thanks, Jade.
Your explanation is very well. Thanks because now, I understand when I have to use "the" . You are a great teacher
Amazing) You have so great accent!!! It's just delightful!
Few, if any English grammar tutors take a long phrase known to all and decipher it. I think doing this clarifies the meaning of words and describes how sentences are put together better. Please consider doing this, Jade. Regards. U.K.
Amazing, perfect, great, thank you so much 👌👌❤❤
I really like your classes you are so cool, and you make English easier to learn.
thank you for your lesson. You teach clearly.
Thank you so much for the lesson. In my opinion, you could create a lesson about the articles:when you should use "A", when "THE", when you can use both articles and when you should use no articles, to get the difference between the all possible situations
As Always .. Great Teacher & Great Explanation Many Many Thaaanks (Y)
Thank you very much indeed, Jade. Yorgos
It's very useful. You made the concept clear regarding the use of article the
You are also THE introvert girl, i'm obsessed with you lately. i'm an introvert and i'd like to improve my english so when i travel i can break some of my introvert habits more easily. I do not know if it makes sense lol . Thank you for all.
@engvidJade
10 жыл бұрын
Travel definitely makes you stronger as an introvert. :)
@michaelwd2797
8 жыл бұрын
+English Jade - Learn English (engVid) agree about travelling =) thank you for your channell, you've got fascinating voice and it's a pleasure to listen and watch at all
@mohaleph
7 жыл бұрын
and read the book "Quiet" by Susan Cain :)
@vietnamhoang8954
6 жыл бұрын
English Jade - Learn English (engVid)
@vietnamhoang8954
6 жыл бұрын
Michael .
Thank you. Very useful lesson.
The video helped me a lot with my homework. Thanks!
Thank you so much you're a excellent teacher.
Very very informative video. Thanks for making and sharing this video.
Hi jadde! I really took in knowledge all the information u posted,thanks alot for posting relevant messages like this.
TYSM Jade this Video is very Helpful....Keep uploading...
Thank you so much Jade!! ❤ U are the best teacher!!
very good valuable subject described briefly.so good to understand my self . thanks a lot and continue your service for a long time. best of luck.
Thank you for your helpful information for my student.
Very useful! Thank you!
Thank you a lot my beautiful favorite teacher jade:).God bless you.!!!
This video was very helpful :) by the way, could you make a grammar lesson about how to use : in , on and at ?
Wonderful lesson :) Thanks!
The Sun is just one, I mean, it's a name of a star. Love you, I like your videos! Thanks! ❤️
I like your Short lessons. They are very helpful
Thanks a lot for the video. It really helped greatly
Thanks Jade for your lessons Can you make a lesson about statistics speech or presentation
Great lesson, thank you :)
What a lesson! I liked THE lesson) But to my mind you should also mention the names of four world oceans, that we alwaya write with definite article too...The Atlantic Ocean, The Pacific Ocean, The Indian Ocean and finally The Arctic Ocean)) I really want to be your assistant. Your lessons, Jade, inspire both my students and me. Thank you for being a nice and beautiful woman.
So helpful and focusing
I really appreciate your teaching.
A very good elaboration of articles dear jade.....a good combination of beauty with intellegence😊
Hi Jade, this was a good refresher, thanks.
An exception to rule # 4. we don't use an article with a proper name except when there is also an adjective or otherwise modified. For example, "I'll see you Monday", but "I'll see you on the Monday after your birthday". "Did you talk to Jane?" but "Did you talk to the lovely Jane?"
@mkapt
8 жыл бұрын
+Jim Newton Should I use "the" if I want to be more specific about freedom? For example: "The freedom of speech is worth dying for". Or should I stick to the general concept of "freedom" as a whole? Thanks for your help.
@jimnewton4534
8 жыл бұрын
+Michel K -- "Freedom of speech is worth dying for" (with no articles). But you might put an in there in a sentence where you are referring to a particular freedom of speech like: The freedom of speech guaranteed the US constitution is more absolute than that mentioned in the constitution of Botswana.
@mkapt
8 жыл бұрын
+Jim Newton Thank you!
@shahidulislammohamed2915
6 жыл бұрын
Jim Newton y .
@HarpreetSingh-lj1rx
6 жыл бұрын
Jim Newton thank you bro, for adding something to my knowledge
Thanks again It was a helpful lesson.
Thanks a lot for your lessons, with a very pretty teacher like you, understanding is easier!!!
Beautifully explained
Thank you! Keep teaching, Jade :)
you are a very good teacher! I'm Dutch and I study English, I've learnt a lot! (Jij bent een goede leraar! Ik ben Nederlands en ik studeer Engels. Ik heb veel geleerd!)
Thank you. It is very helpful for me. Could you please make a video about talking with 2-3 years old kids in daily basis, in the daily life situations a mother has to due with the kids ? I am now teaching my son to speak english by talking to him only in English but I have a problem with some easy words & conversation. Thanks again.
Jade, you are a star!! Beautiful and intelligen!!! thanks for your videos!!! They are really helpful!!!
Hi Jade ! You're great, very good video. I can see you are now much more comfortable in here. Once again well done.
Great lesson! which I will share with my students, just to clarify though, all countries which take a plural form use “the” such as the Netherlands which is (as you said a collection of states) but many may not know that to be the case. Furthermore, proper nouns can also use the article “the” when cases allow, such as, “the Friday we went to dinner” when clarifying which Friday you’re talking about. Fantastic explanation of the determining articles, this will certainly be of assistance in my classes too. 😊 subbed and added to my playlist for students to watch.
I don't know, but i want..to how to use THE. british accent!
Hi! Do you mind making a lesson regarding on how to properly use "in" and "on"? I just love hearing your voice with your accent. Thanks
Very helpful to have some of the lessons Thanks a lot Do you teach lessons as well?
hey good i've seen several "teachers" here but i didn't know you where here in envid thank you for the lesson
*Really Amazing pronunciations n explanation,Jade*
Thanks Jade this was very enlightening theme
Thank you...Thank you... I moved to THE US (haha) and never really learned articles.... so thanks for clearing that up for me.
it was very much helpful for my exam! thanks jade
Hi Jade, I love your Britisch English, it´s very beautiful. I´m happy I finde you! Pleas don´t stop with the videos becouse they are very helpful! Pleas upload more and more videos! At last I have found a good example! Thanks thanks thanks!!!!
@engvidJade
6 жыл бұрын
I have over 40 videos you can go back and watch the old ones.
@dr.phil.szilviarad1076
6 жыл бұрын
o.k. thanks a lot! greetings!
Dear Jade thanks so much for ur great videos! I really enjoy watchin' them :) Is there actually also an Irish teacher on eng.vid? xxx
Your accent is great! I want to adopt it.
Excellent video, I really liked it.
I like the accent "Freedom is worth dying for" Is it a quotation from Braveheart? We watch you more than anything else Jade! Thank you!
Thank Ma,am.
Excellent explanation
thank you teacher !
Very good it's so useful thanks
thank you very much, it is very useful
Thank you teacher Fantastic
thanks for the lesson
Well done! I really liked it Can you please make a video about How to pronounce "The"?
Thank you very useful
Thanks, Jade!
Lovely teacher!
Thank you very much! Should I add THE at four places in the next sentence? "The method is good for (1) stiffness of (2) transition section between (3) bridges and (4) soil. "
The best teacher ever!!
Yo all I want to say is that you are so pretty & captivating as a teacher & your accent is just like a sweet soundtrack of anybody's dreams! a breath of fresh air & a sight for sore eyes!
so nice and very clear
I love ❤️ your amazing beautiful method to learning us thanks 🙏
you rock! Thank you
I would like you to upload a video about when use "that", thanks
Thank you so much!