Nouns will usually have ‘a/an’ or ‘the’ before them. See the example:
The table shows the number of people who learn languages.
The graph shows an increase in the amount of sales.
We use ‘the’ when
- we are talking about something specific
- the thing/ person has already been spoken about and so we know which thing/ person in particular we are talking about
- there is only one of this thing; it is unique.
We use ‘a’ when
- we are not referring to one specific thing/ person
- we have not spoken about the thing/ person before.
See the example:
This report will summarise information given about a company and shown on a bar chart. The bar chart refers to the company’s sales.
Explanation:
- ‘a company’ because this is the first time we are speaking about this company.
- ‘a bar chart’ because this is the first time we are speaking about this bar chart.
- ‘the bar chart’ because it has been spoken about before, there is only one and we are specifically referring to that one bar chart.
- ‘the company’ because it has been spoken about before, there is only one and we are specifically referring to that one company.
Put ‘a’ or ‘the’ in the gaps.
This report will summarise the information presented about _____ company in the UK, and the data shown on _____ graph, which concerns _____ company’s profits. _____ graph covers the period of 2003 to 2010.
Look at this example of a mistake and how it is corrected:
This report refers to ⌃pie chart, which shows the main causes why agricultural land is becoming less productive.
Corrected:
This report refers to a pie chart…
Answer to above question:
This report will summarise the information presented about __a___ company in the UK, and the data shown on ___a__ graph, which concerns __the___ company’s profits. __The___ graph covers the period of 2003 to 2010.
Vocabulary
struggle with something (v) = have difficulty doing something
indeed (adv) = for emphasis, even
evident (adj) = clear, obvious
regarding (adv) = about
present (v) = give, offer, show