Zero conditional When we talk about things that are generally or always true, we can use: If/When/Unless plus a present form PLUS present simple or imperative - If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
- When you fly budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
- Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
Note that we are not talking about a specific event but something which is generally true. In the condition clause, we can use a variety of present forms. In the result clause, there can only be the present simple or imperative. - If you visit London, go on the London Eye.
- If unemployment is rising, people tend to stay in their present jobs.
- If you've done that, go and have a coffee.
- When you go on holiday, take plenty of sun cream. It'll be very hot.
- When I'm concentrating, please don't make so much noise.
- When I've finished an article, I always ask Kate to read it through.
Notice that 'unless' means the same as 'if not'. - Unless he asks you politely, refuse to do any more work on the project.
- Unless prices are rising, it's not a good investment.
- Unless you've been there yourself, you don't really understand how fantastic it is.
Articles English language has two articles, “the and a/an”. An article is used for a noun. An article like an adjective modifies a noun.
For example, a book, the book, a cup, the cup, an umbrella, the umbrella
The article “the” is called definite article and the article “a/an” is called indefinite article.
Use of Articles There are two articles in English language.
1. Indefinite article: a/an
2. Definite article: the
An article is used before a noun or an adjective modifying a noun.
Definite Article: (the) The definite article "the" is used for a definite, specific or particular noun.
Example. He bought the shirt.
The article “the” before the noun “shirt” in above sentence means that the shirt, he bought, is a specific or particular shirt and not any shirt.
Indefinite Article: (a/an) The definite article “a/an” is used for indefinite, non-specific or non-particular (common) noun.
Example. He bought a shirt.
The article “a” before shirt in above sentence means that the shirt he bought is any shirt and not a specific shirt.
Rules for using Indefinite Article (a/an) The article form “a” is used before a word (singular) beginning with a consonant, or a vowel with a consonant sound.
e.g. a book, a cat, a camera, a university, a European
The article form “an” is used before a word (singular) beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or consonant with vowel sound (or beginning with mute h ).
e.g. an apple, an elephant, an umbrella, an hour,
1. Before a singular noun which is countable
e.g. He bought a book
She is eating an apple.
2. Before a singular noun which refers to a class of things.
e.g. An orange is rich in vitamins.
3. Before a name of a profession
e.g. She wants to be a doctor
He is an engineer.
4. For certain expressions of quantity
e.g. a lot of, a few, a couple, a dozen
5. For certain numbers.
e.g. a hundred, a thousand, a million
6. Before a singular, countable noun in exclamation.
e.g. What a beautiful flower!
What a nice shirt!
7. Article a/an is not used before uncountable nouns
e.g. water, milk, sand etc
Rules for using definite Article (the) The article “the” can be used both before a singular and plural noun according to the following grammatical rules. e.g. the book, the books
1. Before the place, object or group of object which is unique or considered to be unique and geographical region and points on globe.
e.g. the earth, the moon, the sky, the stars, the north pole, the equator
2. For a noun which becomes definite or particular because it is already mentioned and is being mentioned a second time.
e.g. The teacher helped a student and the student became happy.
3. For a noun made specific or definite in a clause or a phrase.
e.g. The old lady, The girl with blue eyes, The boy that I saw, The nice red shirt
4. Before superlatives, and first, second,.. etc, and only
e.g. The best day, The only method, the second month,
5. Before a phrase composed of a proper and common noun
e.g. The New York city, The river Nile, The library of Congress
6. Before the names of organizations
e.g. The Association of Chartered Accountants, The World Health Organization
7. Before names of scientific principles, theories, laws etc. e.g. the Pythagorean theorem, the laws of Newton, The Fahrenheit Scale. But no article will be used for these names if written in forms like, Newton’s Law, Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures, Hook’s Law of Elasticity
8. Article “the” is not used for names of universities if written in forms like Oxford University, Yale University, Columbia University. But article “the” is used if names of university are written in forms like The University of Oxford, The University of Yale, The University of Toronto.
9. Article “the” is not used for names of countries of places. e.g. New York, America, Mexico, Japan, London. Butarticle “the” is used for a name, if it expresses a group of place, states, or land. e.g. The United States, The Philippines, The Netherlands
About
We can use about to mean ‘concerning’
I have heard all about it.
There is nothing we can do about it.
The great thing about her is that she never gives up.
We can use about to mean ‘approximately’. We can also use around for this but about is less formal.
About six hundred people were present.
About half the people agreed.
Come round at about six.
We can use How about and What about to make suggestions.
What about asking Tom?
How about leaving that for the time being?
What about a break?
We can also use What about ( but not How about) for more genuine questions.
What about the workers? Have you thought about them?
What about the dog? What do we do with her?
We use about and on to talk about the subject of a discussion. We use on for more formal situations..
They talked about the bad economic situation.
He gave a lecture on the economy.
About can mean ‘here and there’.
She is always out and about.
He sits about doing nothing.
They go about interviewing the public.
Just about means ‘almost’.
I have just about finished.
I have had just about enough of him and his patronizing tone.
The money we get will just about pay for the new equipment.
Be about to means that something is on the point of happening.
I am about to change jobs.
He is about to give in his resignation.
Please listen carefully. i am about to say something important.
Here are some useful expressions using about
no doubt about
There is no doubt about his ability but he doesn’t work well with other people.
bring about change
We need to bring about change quickly or the company will go bankrupt.
everybody is talking about it
Everybody is talking about the argument they had.
be asked about
I am often asked about how I became so successful.
speak to them about
You need to speak to them about this and make sure they never do it again.
anything I can do about it?
Is there anything I can do about my financial situation?
concerned about
i’m concerned about Simon. He is acting very strangely.
speculate about
We can only speculate about what happened. We will never know for sure.
about to change
I am not happy with what has been happening. I must warn you that things are about to change around here.
know a lot about
Ask Sally. She knows a lot about that.
talking about
What are you two whispering about?
known about
Little is known about what happened.
hear about
I know you have just been to Hawaii. I want to hear all about it.
keep your wits about you
Be very careful. There are lots of thieves around. Keep your wits about you.
|
RSS Feed