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Using articles with country names seems difficult. But really it is not. There 3 clear rulesthat I can give you to help you know when you should use articles with country names.
Rule 1: we use ‘The’ if the county’s name includes a common noun.
For example, the United States of America has the common noun ‘States’ in its name, so we need to use ‘The’.
Here is another example: The Islamic Republic of Iran contains the common noun ‘Republic’, so we need to use ‘The’.
Below is a list of some more common country names that have common nouns and use the article ‘The’:
The Central African Republic
The Republic of Korea (South Korea)
The Russian Federation (Russia)
The Roman Empire (Rome)
Rule 2:‘the’ is used before any country name if the name contains ‘of’.
Here is the structure: The ___ of ___.
Look below at these examples:
(Countries with ‘of’)
The United States of America
The Republic of China
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The Islamic Republic of Iran
Rule 3: we use ‘The’ if the country is an island country.
Look below at these examples:
(Island nations)
The Maldives
The Marshall Islands
The Philippine Islands (The Philippines)
Here is the summary:
Rule 1 is that we use ‘The’ if the county’s name includes a common noun.
Rule 2 is ‘The’ is used before any country name if the name contains ‘of’.
Rule 3 says we use ‘The’ if the country is an island country.
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Rule 4: We do not use articles for certain special places.
Rule 5: We do not use articles for modes of transportation.
Rule 6: We do not use articles with country names, unless if the country name includes a common noun.
Like I said, there are many rules about articles, but try to remember the rules from parts 1 & 2 of How to Use Articles and you will have far fewer mistakes. That is for sure.
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There are many rules about how to use articles. We will not try to cover ALL grammar rules about articles; but we will cover the 3 most common rules you need to know. These 3 rules will represent most mistakes that most ESL speakers make.
Rule 1: We use a/an when referring to someone’s job or occupation.
Examples:
He is an English teacher.
He is a policeman.
She was an actress.
Rule 2: We use a, an or the (or another determiner like my, your, our etc.) for singular countable things.
Examples:
I want to try a class online.
Do you want a glass of milk?
I loved the good English class last night. (Note: We use the to talk about specific countable singular things)
I ate a piece of the chocolate cake. (Note: We use the to talk about specific countable singular things)
Rule 3: We do NOT need an article to talk about things in general, that are usually true all the time.
Examples:
Dogs are good pets. NOT The dogs are good pets.
Ice melts in the hot sun. NOT The ice melts in the hot sun.
Cows eat grass. NOT The cows eat grass.
Lastly,
Like I said, there are many rules about articles, but if you can remember these 3 rules, you will have a good start:
Rule 1: We use a/an when referring to someone’s job or occupation.
Rule 2: We use a, an or the (or another determiner like my, your, our etc.) for singular countable things.
Rule 3: We do NOT need an article to talk about things in general, that are usually true all the time.
We continue our discussion of modal verbs with will and would. Will you be able to know the difference between the 2 words by the time you finish reading this blog?
I would say that it is possible!
Remember that contractions are often used with will and would.
I will = I’ll
She will = She’ll
They would = They’d
We would not = We wouldn’t
Will: used to describe when something is certain to happen in the future
Examples:
I will be here tomorrow at 10 am.
They will go fishing next weekend.
We will surely succeed!
Will: also used for first conditional situations, in which there is real possibilitythat will not change
Examples:
If it rains while I am outside, my hair will get wet, unless I use my umbrella.
If his favorite team wins, he’ll be happy.
If she gets paid tomorrow, she will take me to the movie.
Will: to describe a choice that is made quickly, a promise, an offer, or something that is likely to happen
Examples:
There’s a lot of traffic on the highway. I’ll have to get off and take a side street.
I promise that I’ll call as soon as I get home.
I’ll take you out to eat when I get home.
I bet she will be happy to see you!
Note that will can also be used with questions that have a clear outcome, or are asked in a very direct way (such as by a boss to his assistant).
Will they be coming tomorrow?
Will I have the report by tomorrow morning?
Will also has several different meaning when it is used as a noun, usually related to the ability to choose, a legal document that describes how one’s belongings will be divided after death, or a strong desire.
Examples:
One of the greatest gifts that humans have is our free will, our ability to choose.
It is important to create a living will before we die.
Her will to succeed was unstoppable.
Would: used to show good manners with questions when making invitations, asking for permission, or exploring a preference
Examples:
Would you like to have dinner with us this weekend?
Would I be able to borrow your car for a couple of hours?
Would you like eggs or fruit for breakfast?
Would you like to stop and get some food before we get there?
Would: to express a preference, invite, or respond to an invitation in a polite way
Examples:
We’d like to eat before we go to the movie.
They said that they would like to invite us to their home in Paris!
She would rather go to a Thai restaurant than to eat hamburgers.
I would love to go, but I’m not available at that time. How about next Saturday at 7 pm?
Would: with second or third conditional statements, used to describe imaginary situations
Examples:
If she liked rock music, she would enjoy this album.
If we ate before, we wouldn’t be hungry now.
If they had learned assertive communication skills, they wouldn’t have gotten in a fight.
If I hadn’t written this blog, you would not have been able to read it now.
Note that these conditional statements can also be expressed as questions:
What would you do if you had a million dollars?
That reminds me of a classic commercial from my childhood: “What would you do for a Klondike bar?”
Would can also be used to answer that question, along with other second and third conditional questions, or to express an imaginary solution.
I would use solar power to make fuel if I had a million dollars.
If I could, I would end poverty all over the world.
Now that you know the difference betweenwill and would, let’s put your skills to the test!
They __________ definitely be there tomorrow.
will
would
We ___________ like to be able to meet her there, but we may be too busy.
will
would
I’__________ send you an email when I’m ready.
ll
d
We’re really enjoying this movie. We __________ have watched it when it was in the theatre if we knew that it was so funny!
will
would
Remember to visit our Facebook page for more quizzes, games, and resources. And finally, let me invite you: would you like to set up a free class with ETO online? We will be happy to schedule one here.
Let’s talk about some idioms related to the weather.
It’s raining cats and dogs: this is a phrase used to describe very heavy rain. Very, very heavy rain, so heavy that it sounds like animals are landing on the roof! Some people claim that the origin of this phrase is the Greek “catadoxa”, which translates to something like ‘beyond previous experience or belief’.
There is also a sadder explanation for the beginning of this phrase in English. Long ago, before we had good rain drains in cities, many cats and dogs would die during heavy rain because they would drown in suddenly flooded streets. In English, we call sudden flooding flash floods.
Nowadays, “it’s raining cats and dogs” can be used for any time when it is raining unusually hard.
Examples
The weather report says that it will be raining cats and dogs tonight. We better not go to the soccer game.
Oh my gosh! It’s raining cats and dogs out there! My clothes are totally soaked!
When it’s raining cats and dogs, it’s important to be careful while driving. Some drivers will slow down suddenly, and others may panic. You may want to pull off the road until the rain slows down, if it is safe to do so.
Come rain or shine: we use this phrase to express that it doesn’t matter what the weather will be like. It is often used to let someone know that he or she can depend on us (or is expected) to be somewhere despite any challenges, including bad weather. This phrase may also be expressed as rain or shine or come rain or come shine.
Examples
I’m going to meet you here at 10 am, come rain or shine.
Although there were protests throughout the city, my taxi driver got me to the airport. He’s the best! He always gets me there, rain or shine.
Come rain or come shine, no matter what comes, a good husband will be loyal to his wife, as long as she is loyal to him.
How’s the weather up there?: this phrase is used to ask the literal (exactly as the words suggest) question about the weather when someone is at a higher elevation. It can also be used when someone short is speaking to someone taller. Be careful not to ask this question to someone who is embarrassed of being tall. This phrase can also be used when a short person is positioned higher than you are, like a child who is sitting on his father’s shoulders.
Wow! You must really be enjoying your vacation to the mountains! How’s the weather up there?
Hey, Shaq! How’s the weather up there?
No matter how the weather is, ETO is here for our clients. So come rain or come shine, you can count on us. It may be raining cats and dogs, but you can have an exceptional class from the comfort of your own home. Check out what our clients have to say about us!
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