the rules for when to use "A, An or The":
A = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of
the same objects) with consonants
Eg : 1- She has a dog. 2- 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)
Eg : 1- Can I have an apple? 2- 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 ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
DO NOT USE AN ARTICLE :
1- with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and
mountains except when the country is a collection of
states such as "The United States".
2- when you are speaking about things in general
3- when you are speaking about meals, places, and
transport( eg : university., taxi , home)
1« Providing that / as long as ( Express : condition) »
1- Providing that = as long as = but only if = if
Providing that= provided that
As long as = so long as.
The rule : providing that/as long as + présent simple = future
simple .
Eg : providing that you work hard , you will succeed.
2« I wish , it’s high / about time : »
1- Expressing wishes :
The rule :
I wish + past a regret about a présent situation (by
imagining it’s opposite)
Eg : i wish i had a car ( but i have not ).
I wish + past perfect a regret about a past situation
Eg : i wish i had listened to your advice.
I wish + would a desire for change in the near future .
Eg : i wish you would stop talking
I wish + could to express wishes about ourselves
Eg : i wish i could be older .
2- It’s high / about time :
The rule :
It’ high/ about time + present simple (it is the right
times to do something)
Eg : it’s high time our country takes measures to stop corruption
It’ high/ about time + past simple ( this action should
be done before now)
Eg : it’s higth time the bad leaders went to jail.
3« had better/ had better not( Express : advice) »
Had better = should = ought to
The rule : had better / had better not + the verbe into infinitive
without « to »
Eg : you ‘d better visit the doctor.
4« ‘so..that’ ‘such..that ‘ »
The rule :
1- So + adj +that
Eg : businessmen ara so honest that thier consumers fell
confident with them .
2- Such + noun phrase+ that
Eg :devloped countries have organized such economic
structures that they never stop making progress.
5« ‘the active/passive voice : ‘ »
The rule :
The active : s + v + o (the subject is the most important )
The passive : o + to be (in the tense of verbe ) + verb in to p.p +
by + agent(s)
Eg : the teacher expain the lesson
The lesson is explained by the teacher.
:« ‘Affixes
1-prefix : is a syllable added in the begining of word to derive its
opposit like : im , il , in , ir , dis ,un
Eg : legal illegal , agree disagree
2-Suffix : is a syllable added at the end of a word to derive
another word like : y , ty , ness , ance , tion
Eg : legal legality , happy happiness ,
important importance
10« the conditionl ‘if’ : »
Type :
0- if + present present (sure)
1- if +present futur ( if you work , you’ll succeed)
2- if + past simple would (imaginary)
3- if+ past perfect would have + p.p
11« the quantifiers : »
- many , much , a lot of = an axcessive amount
- few , littel = an insufficient amount
we use :
*many, few , a lot of (countable nouns).
12« cause / result: »
*express cause = reason : because (of) , sience ,owing to ,due to
* express result= effect : as a result , so , consquently.
13« used to / used for ( Express: purpose) »
The rule :
1- Used to + verb into infinitive
Eg : internat is used to give information
2- Used for + verb into infinitive + ing
Eg : internat is used for giving information
3- The interrogative form : used only used for
Eg : what are internat used for ? .( don’t say used to)
