7 Articles Indefinite and Definite The Rules of

7 Articles: Indefinite and Definite The Rules of the Game Focus on Grammar 3 Part V, Unit 22 By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chess is a game for two players. Each player begins with a set of sixteen white or black pieces. Some chess sets are plain, but some are very unusual. The players take turns moving their pieces on a board with 64 squares. Each type of piece moves in a different way. The Queen is the most powerful piece, but the King is the most important. The primary goal in chess is to checkmate your opponent’s King. The game is over when a King cannot avoid capture.

Indefinite Nouns 1 A noun is indefinite when you and your listener do not have a specific person, place, or thing in mind. Let’s play a game! game You’ll need some luck to beat me.

Indefinite Nouns 2 Use the indefinite article a / an with singular count nouns that are indefinite. singular count noun Chess is a game for two players. singular count noun You may capture an enemy piece.

A or An 1 Use a before consonant sounds. consonant with a consonant sound vowel with a consonant sound A chessboard has 64 squares. Chess is a unique game.

A or An 2 Use an before vowel sounds. consonant with a vowel sound vowel with a vowel sound The game lasted over an hour. Chess is an interesting game.

Indefinite Nouns 3 Use no article ( ) or some with plural count nouns and non-count nouns that are indefinite. Some means an indefinite number. plural count noun Some chess sets are very unusual. non-count noun Most players enjoy competition

Identifying Nouns 1 Use a / an with singular count nouns to say what someone or something is. singular count noun Chess is a board game singular count noun Chess is an interesting game.

Identifying Nouns 2 Use no article ( ) with plural count nouns and non-count nouns to say what someone or something is. plural count noun Kings, queens, and bishops are chess pieces non - count nouns Some chess sets are made of marble or glass

Make General Statements Use no article ( ) with plural count nouns and non-count nouns to make general statements. plural count noun Players often play with chess clocks. non - count noun Special software is needed to play chess online.

Practice 1 Complete the sentences with a, an, some, or (no article). Example: Can you play ______chess? pawns move one square at a time. 1. In chess, ______ an interesting game. 2. Chess is ____ a white square. 3. The white Queen begins on ______ a Queen. 4. A pawn can be promoted to ______ an insult. 5. A verbal call of “check” is ______ a tie. Some games end in ______ 6. ______

Definite Nouns A noun is definite when you and your listener both know which person, place, or thing you are talking about. Where is the chessboard? Right here. It’s part of the furniture.

The 1 Use the with most common nouns (count and noncount, singular and plural) that are definite. plural count noun Players with the white pieces move first. singular count noun The queen is the most powerful piece. non - count noun Some players record the time between moves.

The 2 Use the when a person, place, or thing is unique. The player who checkmates is the winner People can play chess on the web. There’s only one winner. There’s only one web.

The 3 Use the when the context makes it clear which person, place, or thing you mean. Will you let me win the game? They know he is talking about their card game.

Practice 2 Complete the sentences with a, an, the, some, or (no article). It started in China, but people play Mahjong all over the world. Mahjong is played with ______ tiles. They The tiles are made from ______ bamboo or ivory. ______ a display ______ flowers, numbers, or ______ unique animal. a There are Players shuffle the tiles by building ______ wall. several mahjong patterns such as a Chow and a Pong. A contains four tiles of ______ same the number ______ Kong Ancontains two tiles of the same number and suit. ______ Eye theis to collect ______ and suit. The object of ______ game a fourteen tiles in four groups of three tiles and ______ set of a matched pair. Now you can download ______ Mahjong and play it over ______ Internet. the Mahjong

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