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CBFelix Guest
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#3 (permalink) Thu Oct 14, 2004 19:03 pm Articles |
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Hi Nadir,
CBFelix is right - why do English native speakers when to use a/an or the? Simply because they have been exposed to their language for a long enough period of time. You can do the same -- surround yourself with English!
In answer to your question - in English we say 'a little sugar' if we want to describe a small amount of something that can't be counted. (a little water, a little fun etc.) _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10059 Location: EU
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#4 (permalink) Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:20 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Hello Torsten, I know that I could write only a e-mail for the simple present , the English articles and the alphabet but when I fineshed the exercises about present immediately I posted it not thinking there was something more to do. Never mind , in this way I can practise better my English , tring to find in my mind all the vocabulary useful for sending this e-mail. For the articlese my score is 10 out 10.It is useful tro practise the alphabet , doing so I get my prononciation better.Please tell me all the mistakes I make. bye,bye Dora |
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Mara I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 21
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#5 (permalink) Tue Nov 25, 2008 0:07 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Very, very incorrect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if, I want a little sugar i might as well get a happy sugar or a stupid sugar! to whomever wrote the test that glows in ridiculousness above my writings, the following words you must cherish: GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND REVIEW ADVERBS OF INTENSITY !
Explanation:
the usage of the adjective "little" to quantify minerals(or uncountable nouns) must always, and i repeat always go with the words "bit of" otherwise its usage must be only for quantifying the amount of "verb" done!
*a little Using it before noun or another Adjective = size of the noun or adjective* I want a little sugar/gold/water----- I am a little tired---(dreadfully incorrect) *"a little" after verb= amount of "verb" done* I run a little everyday (correct)
yes: I run a little everyday Not: I want a little sugar Not: I am a little tired(is like saying: i am a big tired)
*A little bit: It is the adverb of intensity used to INTENSIFY ADJECTIVES or as the diminutive amount of "verb" done. Yes: I am a little bit tired Yes: I work a little bit everyday NO: I am a little tired
*A little bit of It is use quantify in amount the uncountable nouns:
YES: MAY I BE SEVERED A LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR... NO: MAY I BE SERVED A LITTLE SUGAR...A BIG SUGAR... YEAH I WOULD LIKE A HUGE SUGAR... (The Latino waiter answers) sorry seņor, pero lamentablemente usted no sabe como hablar Ingles! (tran Eng: sorry sir, but unfortunately you do not know how to speak English)
CAMBRIDGE GUY 1 CAMBRIDGE TEST 0 |
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CambridgeGuy I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 13
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#6 (permalink) Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:51 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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hi
thank you CambridgeGuy for your nice and fun explanation
it is really useful |
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Abeer I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 10
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#7 (permalink) Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:11 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Hi CambridgeGuy,
As the writer of the test in question I should like to know why you find 'a little sugar' incorrect.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Reflections |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9205 Location: UK
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#8 (permalink) Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:20 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Hi CambridgeGuy,
According to your explanation a phrase like 'a little fun' would be incorrect. That's very strange, don't you think? By the way, how about trying to stick to basic spelling and punctuation rules?
Regards, Torsten _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10059 Location: EU
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#9 (permalink) Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:59 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Hi Torsten, I've got 8 out of ten .. Thanks |
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*danish70 I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 15 May 2009 Posts: 13
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Kiprida I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Baku, Azerbaijan
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#11 (permalink) Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:53 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Hi Torsten, I have got 10 out of ten. |
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Soniaa New Member

Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 3
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#12 (permalink) Thu Aug 27, 2009 19:11 pm How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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hello Sir; i'm sorry to say that sometimes i just get lost between what grammatical books says and some answers n this site. they are sometimes opposite . please try to tell me about that and thanks . |
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Ladib New Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 2
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#13 (permalink) Wed Sep 09, 2009 18:03 pm Having trouble with articles? |
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i did;nt understand one thing that we use vowels but in vowels there is a sound of cosonants why please let me know
Regards maya |
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Maya k New Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 2
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#14 (permalink) Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:15 am How do we use the articles in the English language? |
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Good morning Torsten
Again thanks for your email & test
Today I have done my test English Aticles. In this test I did 9 correct answer. This time i was very happy because in previous test I did only 5 correct answer. nowadays I was learning english 2-3 hour every day on the net. Persently I feel that I am learning English a little bit.
thanks Krishan |
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K.sangwan1981 New Member

Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Faridabad, India
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