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How to Use Articles In English Grammar – A, An, The

 

how to use articles in english grammar

English articles are tiny words, but they play a significant role in shaping the meaning and clarity of a sentence. Articles are a fundamental component of English grammar, and they can be tricky to master for non-native speakers. In this article, we will explore the three primary articles in English: “a,” “an,” and “the,” and discuss their usage and nuances.

Definite Article: “The”

“The” is known as the definite article. It is used to specify a particular or unique item, person, or thing. When you use “the,” you are indicating that the listener or reader should be familiar with the noun you are referring to. Here are some key points to remember about “the”:

  • Specificity: “The” is used when the noun is already known or when there is only one of that item. For example, “The Eiffel Tower is in Paris” refers to a specific and well-known landmark.
  • Superlative: “The” is used with superlative adjectives, such as “the tallest,” “the smallest,” or “the most beautiful.”
  • Uniqueness: “The” is also used with unique items or things that are one of a kind. For instance, “The sun rises in the east.”
  • Before Definite Nouns: Use “the” before singular and plural nouns when you want to indicate a specific item or items. For example, “I saw the movie last night.”

Indefinite Articles: “A” and “An”

“A” and “an” are known as indefinite articles. They are used to refer to non-specific, generic, or one of many items. The choice between “a” and “an” depends on the initial sound of the following word. Here’s how to use these articles:

  • “A”: Use “a” before words that begin with a consonant sound. For example, “I have a car” or “She’s wearing a dress.”
  • “An”: Use “an” before words that begin with a vowel sound. For instance, “He’s an actor” or “She’s an honest person.”
  • Non-Specificity: Both “a” and “an” are used to introduce a non-specific noun. They indicate that the item you are referring to is not unique, and there could be many similar items.
  • Countable Nouns: “A” and “an” are used with countable nouns, which means you can count the items you are talking about.

Omission of Articles

In some cases, articles are not used. Here are a few instances when you should omit articles:

  • Plural and Uncountable Nouns: Articles are not used with plural nouns or uncountable nouns when talking about general or non-specific ideas. For example, “Cats are cute” or “I like music.”
  • Names: Names of people, places, and companies typically do not require articles. For example, “John is my friend,” “Paris is beautiful,” and “Apple makes smartphones.”
  • Meals and Times: Articles are omitted when discussing meals or times of the day in a general sense, such as “She eats breakfast in the morning.”
  • Occupations: In some cases, you can omit articles before occupations when referring to them in a general sense. For example, “She is a teacher,” but “She is teacher of the year.”

Understanding the use of articles in English grammar is essential for clear and effective communication. “The” points to something specific, while “a” and “an” introduce non-specific nouns. By mastering the usage of these articles, you can enhance the precision and clarity of your English writing and conversation. Practice and exposure to the language will help you become more proficient in using articles correctly.

Let’s have a look at a video explaining how to use the articles in English Grammar.

What will you learn in this video? 

1️⃣ What are Articles in English?

2️⃣ How to use the definite article “The” 

3️⃣ When to use “A” and “An” 

4️⃣ Situations where articles are not needed 

5️⃣ Plenty of real-life examples to ensure you get it

 


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Remember, knowing the articles well can change your English from stuttering to fluent. So, make sure to watch the video, take notes, and practice as much as you can because “Practice makes perfect!” 🌟

But don’t stop here! EngVarta provides a unique platform for practicing your English language skills with live tutors. With EngVarta, you can practice your pronunciation, grammar, and conversation skills with expert tutors from around the world. 

So, start practicing on EngVarta today and take your English skills to the next level. Download the app for one on one spoken English practice with live English experts: https://engv.in

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Top 10 Ways to Improve Your English – Improve your English Speaking skills and learn to Speak like a native.

 

Top 10 ways to improve your english
Top 10 ways to improve your English

Improve your English Speaking skills and learn to Speak like a native.

Do you feel extremely nervous or overwhelmed by the thought of improving your English?

This is because when you think about improving your spoken English, you start having thoughts like – Learning 20 words each day, memorizing complicated grammar rules, or joining English classes. It is just like a ‘mountain to climb.’ 

But that’s not true at all! 

There are many other ways that you can follow to improve your English sitting at home without joining any English classes. 

In this blog, you’ll get 10 ways to improve your spoken English competency and help you have an insightful conversation with anyone in English. 

  • Set monthly or weekly goals to improve your English. 

If you have a goal in mind, it makes it easier to stay motivated. Set monthly or weekly goals that are specific and measurable, then break them down into smaller tasks. These smaller tasks will help you reach your larger goal. 

This is why, when you log in to the EngVarta app, the first step is selecting a goal. Whether you want to improve your English for IELTS, or for cracking an interview.

For example, if your goal is to read more books in English, set a target number of pages you want to read each day and stick with it until you reach your goal. You can also create flashcards with new vocabulary words and practice speaking with English speakers so that you have opportunities to use them in real-life situations.

  • Set realistic deadlines for completing tasks.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the things you want to do and never quite get around to doing anything.

 Setting deadlines for completing tasks is one way to stay organized and motivated. If you know exactly when you’re going to do something, it makes the task seem less intimidating so you’ll feel more inclined to get started right away. 

For example, setting a timer for speaking English for 15 minutes every day. 

  • Practice Elaborative Encoding to learn vocabulary.  

Elaborative encoding is a memory technique where you connect what you are trying to remember and what you already know. 

For example, if you want to learn the word “orange,” you might connect it with something like an orange tree or an orange fruit salad because these images will help you recall the word better later on.

When people use elaborative encoding techniques, they tend to remember more than those who don’t use them at all or use less effective techniques such as rote memorization. 

  • Find YOUR way of improving your English.

The first thing you need to do is figure out what kind of learner you are. Do you learn better by hearing something or seeing it written down? Do you prefer reading or writing? Are there certain things you like to do that help you learn?

Once you know your own learning style and preferences, it will be easier for you to decide how to improve your English.

  1. Have an accountability language partner.  

If you want to improve your English, it’s essential to have a language partner. 

A language partner is someone who speaks the language you’re learning and helps you with your pronunciation and grammar.

All you need to do is make sure that both people are committed to improving their English and that you have similar goals for what you want to achieve by studying together. Then, meet up regularly and study together online or face-to-face!

  • Speak with different English speakers every day

When students ask us why they get connected with different Experts at EngVarta, this the reason we tell them. When you just speak to one person daily, you limit your oral competence. One of the best ways to improve your spoken English is to talk to different English speakers every day. In real-life situations, you don’t talk to one person, but you meet different people and all have different nuances of the language. This is the reason when you practice with different Experts, you get more exposure to the language. You get constructive feedback from all of them. 

  • Build English-speaking confidence 

As a fluent speaker, I bet you probably think that English speakers are very confident, they never run out of words or they know a lot of vocabulary. 

But even the most confident speakers can fall prey to self-doubt in new situations. The good news is, that confidence is a skill that can be learned—and it’s not nearly as hard as you might think.

The first step is to know your strengths. If there are activities where you always feel comfortable speaking English or you’re happy with your results, start with those situations when practicing your speaking skills

  • Practice speaking English as much as you can. 

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it bears repeating: the best way to improve your English is to practice using it!

I know, I know. You hate talking in English because you’re afraid of making mistakes, or you think your accent is too thick, or you don’t have anyone to practice with—this is all perfectly normal. But the more you avoid speaking in English, the harder it will be to improve your English. So stop avoiding it! Just start practicing whenever and wherever you can. 

  • Think in English 

One way to improve your English is to start thinking in English. Thinking in a language is the same as speaking it, so if you can get into the habit of thinking in English, you’ll find that your vocabulary and sentence structure will improve.

Your mind will have more opportunity to naturally absorb the structure and flow of the language. You won’t have to expend mental energy on translating from your mother tongue into the target language, which will free up brainpower to focus on the matter at hand.

  • Read as much as possible 

 The best way to improve your vocabulary is by reading as much as possible and by writing down new words. 

It improves your understanding of words and the structure of sentences. If you’re learning a new language, reading is an excellent way to get in touch with its nuances as well as the culture of the people who speak that language. 

Takeaway : 

One of the mandatory things you need to do to improve your English is pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Start doing things that you fear. Take charge of your language skills and grab as many opportunities as you can. 

Lastly, if you are looking for someone to help you improve your English or wish to practice English daily for 15-60 minutes, join the Engvarta app. EngVarta is an English speaking practice app where you can practice speaking in English daily without any hesitation.

Write down what you think about the article.

Thanks for reading! 

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Top 7 ways to improve your English speaking skills

 

Top 7 Ways to Improve your English Speaking skills
Top 7 Ways to Improve your English Speaking skills

 

English is a beautiful language and also a worldwide used tool for communication. 

Studying English can be fun, but like any skill, it takes a lot of practice in order to improve this skill. But practicing may become a tedious task if you are not aware of how to do it. 

But before all that, In order to improve your English speaking skills, you need to actually speak. That’s right! No amount of reading will make up for having no firm grasp of the language. 

But what can you do to help yourself?

In this blog, I have given some ways in which you can improve your English speaking skills at home and will the help of others. 

Use a voice recorder to practice conversation. And then listen and assess. 

The first time you do it, you will hate your voice. You may sound ridiculous. But as you become consistent, this habit will take you far and make you so confident. Just do this three-step practice :

  1. Keep your voice recorder on and speak on a topic. Or just describe how your day was. 
  2. Listen to the recording the next day and assess what went wrong. What words do you use? How you can substitute those words with better words? 
  3. Do this activity every alternate day. 

This is the best way you can practice English. 

Practice English with an English speaking app.

To become a fluent English speaker, you need to speak. Speak with someone who can help you in conversations. And to practice English conversation, you can take the help of the Engvarta app. Engvarta application helps you to practice speaking English with Live English Experts daily for 15 minutes to an hour. The mentors will help you clear all your confusion, help you with the right words while you speak, and correct your pronunciation and grammar if you make any mistakes. This English-speaking practice app helps you to achieve your goal like clearing interviews or giving presentations. 

Listen to English conversations.

Listening is an essential part of learning English. Through effective listening, you learn words, grammar, and pronunciation. Listen to conversations between native speakers as much as possible. Only by listening to real-life conversations, you will understand what native speakers say and how they talk in different situations.

Watch TV shows or movies with the subtitles turned on.

This may sound cliche but watching web series and movies is fun and can help you improve your speaking skills! In fact, some web series are so interesting, that you start to watch them and you binge-watch all night. I had been watching Stranger Things 4 lately and can’t stress enough the number of slang I learned. 

Sometimes when you hear your favorite characters speak a particular dialogue or speak a  phrase. You remember them subconsciously and also start using them in your daily conversation. Just keep your subtitles on and watch them. Try to learn atleast 5 words that are easy to remember. Maybe you can note it down somewhere. 

 By watching TV shows and movies with your subtitles turned on, you can improve your vocabulary and gain the ability to recognize words in context.

Read out loud

You know fewer English words but you speak clearly! That makes you a fluent English speaker. If you want to become one, just practice reading out loud. Grab a book and spend 15 minutes reading something that you really enjoy reading.

 Here’s how you can make your reading sessions more effective. 

  1. Read slowly and try not to rush through the text.
  2. Try different ways of pronouncing words – try saying some of them aloud first, then reading them out loud instead of reading them silently in your head. 

Study words about topics that interest you and relate to real life situations. 

I came across the Catch 22. Catch 22 means a situation where you can’t do one thing because you cannot do the other. For example, I cannot get a job without work experience, and to get work experience I first need a job. I am in a catch-22 situation. 

This idiom was so interesting that I started to use them in my conversation. This is exactly the same thing that you have to do. Learn words that you can relate to your life. You don’t need to memorize a dictionary for that. If you are reading a random article or any note, just memorize a phrase or two that seems easy and interesting.

Be confident! Confidence is the first step to improving one’s English speaking skills.

Being confident is the first step to improving your English speaking skills. This can be achieved with practice and knowing that you are capable of communicating in a language.

It is important to have self-confidence when speaking English because it will help you become more comfortable with your own speech, and therefore, bring clarity to your voice. 

So, no matter how good or bad your English is, don’t be afraid to use your knowledge and speak in English in every opportunity you get. 

All the best! 

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Polish Your Communication Skills

How to Improve Communication Skills and English Speaking Skills
How to Improve Communication Skills and English Speaking Skills

  • Strong communication skills and a great vocabulary enhance a person’s personality by leaps and bounds. They are not just important to create a long-lasting good impression but also, a prerequisite when it comes to the professional world.

  • Lacking these basic skills can be a very serious issue. But, there is nothing to worry as we are always at your disposal. If you lack communication skills or English speaking skills, we are here to guide you.

Polish Your Communication Skills

There are several people who lack communications skills. Lack of communication skills actually has nothing to do with the language. It is mere inability to speak in front of people. So, how could you deal with it?

Let’s find out.

1. Don’t Let the Fear Stop You

Many people fail to communicate only because of fear; fear of speaking poor grammar, fear of selecting inappropriate words, so on and so forth.

Grammar is important, irrespective of the language. But, stopping yourself from speaking just because of the fear of using improper grammar is not at all fair.

Instead of letting fear seep in, you should focus on improving your grammar or combating the fear whatever the reason is.

If something is stopping you from speaking, confront it. Fight it. But don’t let it stop you from speaking.

2. Evoke Confidence

As you start confronting every single fear of yours, you will ultimately start feeling confident. You can further boost your confidence by practicing.

3. Keep Yourself Updated

People who have weak communication skills can partly attribute their weakness to lack of knowledge. Due to lack of knowledge, they find it hard to come up with topics.

Keep yourself updated and you will always have something to talk about. General awareness plays a big role in improving English communication skills.

How to improve English Speaking Skills?

Many people crib about having weak English communication skills. The most common issue that arises with people is they fail to find correct words to express their minds. Whenever they find themselves conversing with people, they get confused. They fail to recall correct words, they fail to form proper sentences, and then get embarrassed.

If you are one of these people, there is absolutely nothing to get embarrassed about. You must not let your mistakes discourage you. There are many ways in which you can improve your English speaking skills.

Follow the tips mentioned here and you will be able to speak English with confidence.

  • 1. Take a Deep Breath and Relax : The biggest roadblock in being able to speak fluently in English is lack of confidence. You must keep your spirit high. Often, people start feeling anxious while speaking in English and find it hard to frame proper sentences and recall proper words. The best way you can tackle this situation is by taking a deep breath before speaking. Keep yourself relaxed while speaking. Don’t shy away from committing mistakes. Just speak.
  • 2. Read More : Reading would not just help you improve your vocabulary but it will also help you to understand the proper sentence formation.
  • 3. Listen to English : Watch English movies and series. This will help you with both, building vocabulary, as well as sentence formation. Repeat what you hear.
  • 4. Practice in front of the Mirror : If you do not have a practice partner, you need not worry. Take a magazine or newspaper, stand in front of the mirror and start reading loudly. Watch yourself as you speak. Speak out every word, clear and loud. Pay attention to pronunciation.
    Imagine yourself in a particular situation and converse with the image in the mirror. Practice this regularly. Imagine a new situation every day and perform this exercise.
  • 5. Use EngVarta App : When it comes to speaking English fluently and confidently, no app can beat EngVarta. EngVarta is one of the leading applications that help in polishing the communication skills.
    All you need to do is to download the app in Android phone or iPhone and start practicing. At EngVarta, you are introduced with live English experts who will leave no stone unturned to make you fluent in English. You can practice English with them whenever you like and from wherever you want.
    The experts keep their focus on making you speak English without any hesitation. If you practice English on EngVarta, you will be able to speak English like an English native.
  • 6. Connect with live English experts : There are many native English speakers who would feel more than happy to help others speak English fluently. You can connect with these people and hone your English speaking skills. There are several websites on the internet that connect the people from various corners of the world to the live English experts. Some are sharedtalk.com, speaking24.com, verbling, penpalworld.com, etc.
    On these websites, you cannot just learn to speak English but also several other languages like Italian, French, Chinese, etc.
  • You can also join the various groups and forums on the social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.
  • With these tips, you will be able to speak English in just 6 months.

 

For Regular English Practice with Expert: Download EngVarta Mobile App

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