CONTRASTIEVE GRAMMATICA
ENGELS
Ch. 1 ARTICLES
Articles (lidwoorden) are either definite (bepaald) or indefinite (onbepaald).
1.1 Definite article: THE
The definite article is placed before a noun when you want to make reference to a specific
noun: when it is clear which person or thing is meant.
● The teacher opened the door to enter the classroom.
The definite article is used before the names of OCEANS, RIVERS, DESERTS,
LANDMARK-TYPES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. It is also used to translate the Dutch
word ‘per’ and in idiomatic expressions.
● The Pacific Ocean, The Sahara Desert, The National Gallery.
● You will be paid by the hour (per uur).
The definite article is left out when we talk about people or things in general.
● Teachers are usually paid less than doctors or lawyers.
The definite article is not used before names of MEALS, COUNTRIES, MOUNTAINS,
LAKES, STREETS, BUILDINGS, PARKS, PLACES.
● We travelled to South Africa.
● He lives near Paddington Station.
Exceptions: the definite article is used when the building of institutions is meant and when we
use the plural names of certain places.
● The United States, The Alps.
1.2 Indefinite articles: A/An
We use the indefinite article before a singular, countable nouns when we refer to a general
noun. Note that the indefinite article is used after SUCH, HALF and QUITE.
● A classmate of mine asked an interesting question.
● She is such an ignorant woman.
A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, AN is used before words
beginning with a vowel sound.
1
, ● A cat, a bus, a uniform.
● An apple, an hour, an egg.
When there is logically only one of something, we leave out the indefinite article.
● Mrs Kingston is headmistress at this college.
The indefinite article is used in English but not in Dutch:
🡪 To precede someone’s profession, nationality or religion.
● John is a bus driver.
🡪 Before HUNDRED and THOUSAND.
● There were at least a thousand people.
🡪 After AS and WITHOUT before singular countable nouns.
● He used to work as a waiter, but now he’s without a job.
🡪 As a translation of the Dutch word PER.
● He drove 80 miles an hour.
🡪 In a number of idiomatic expressions.
● To have a headache.
● To take an interest in.
● To a certain extent.
● As a result of.
2
,Ch. 2 NOUNS
Nouns (zelfstandige naamwoorden).
Common vs. proper nouns
Common nouns represent all or any of the members of a group. Proper nouns refer to the
name of a person, place or thing, and always start with a capital letter in English.
● Man, child, house, dog (common nouns).
● Spain, Barbara, Americans (proper nouns).
● My friend George would love to study at Harvard University.
Concrete vs. abstract nouns
Concrete nouns have material existence, abstract nouns refer to ideas, concepts and
qualities.
● Flower, hamster, book (concrete nouns).
● Love, cowardice, religion (abstract nouns).
Uncountable vs. countable nouns
Uncountable nouns cannot take an indefinite article (a/an) and have no plural (cannot be
counted), take determiners such as MUCH and LITTLE. Countable nouns can take an
indefinite article and occur in either singular or plural form, take determiners such as MANY,
FEW and SEVERAL.
● Fun, sugar, bread (uncountable nouns).
● Music was my first love and will be my last.
● Girl, apple, book (countable nouns).
3
, ● There weren’t many friends at the party.
Some nouns can be used as a countable as well as an uncountable noun, often with different
meanings.
● Her hair is beautiful.
● There’s a hair in my soup.
2.1 Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns are nouns which have no plural form and cannot take the indefinite article.
Most of these represent food, drinks, materials or abstract nouns.
Some uncountable nouns can be made countable by referring to general or specific quantities.
This may be done by either using A PIECE OF, or PIECES OF, which can be preceded by a
quantifier or a numeral.
● Greg’s advice is always very valuable.
● He gave me a piece of advice.
Other nouns which belong to this category are BUSINESS, EXPENDITURE (kosten),
MERCHANDISE (handelswaren), PROGRESS and PROPERTY.
When referring to food and drinks, specific quantities are expressed:
● Chocolate a bar of chocolate.
● Cider three pints of cider.
● Honey two jars of honey.
● Oil four barrels of oil.
● Beer a can of beer.
2.2 Countable nouns
Countable nouns are nouns which have a plural form and can be preceded by the indefinite
article.
Nouns in English have ‘natural’ but not grammatical gender. Men, boys and male animals are
masculine. Women, girls and female animals are feminine. Inanimate things and animals we
do not know the sex of are neuter. When we look at nouns representing males or females, it
seems that in quite a few cases, English uses two different words.
● Uncle aunt
4
ENGELS
Ch. 1 ARTICLES
Articles (lidwoorden) are either definite (bepaald) or indefinite (onbepaald).
1.1 Definite article: THE
The definite article is placed before a noun when you want to make reference to a specific
noun: when it is clear which person or thing is meant.
● The teacher opened the door to enter the classroom.
The definite article is used before the names of OCEANS, RIVERS, DESERTS,
LANDMARK-TYPES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. It is also used to translate the Dutch
word ‘per’ and in idiomatic expressions.
● The Pacific Ocean, The Sahara Desert, The National Gallery.
● You will be paid by the hour (per uur).
The definite article is left out when we talk about people or things in general.
● Teachers are usually paid less than doctors or lawyers.
The definite article is not used before names of MEALS, COUNTRIES, MOUNTAINS,
LAKES, STREETS, BUILDINGS, PARKS, PLACES.
● We travelled to South Africa.
● He lives near Paddington Station.
Exceptions: the definite article is used when the building of institutions is meant and when we
use the plural names of certain places.
● The United States, The Alps.
1.2 Indefinite articles: A/An
We use the indefinite article before a singular, countable nouns when we refer to a general
noun. Note that the indefinite article is used after SUCH, HALF and QUITE.
● A classmate of mine asked an interesting question.
● She is such an ignorant woman.
A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, AN is used before words
beginning with a vowel sound.
1
, ● A cat, a bus, a uniform.
● An apple, an hour, an egg.
When there is logically only one of something, we leave out the indefinite article.
● Mrs Kingston is headmistress at this college.
The indefinite article is used in English but not in Dutch:
🡪 To precede someone’s profession, nationality or religion.
● John is a bus driver.
🡪 Before HUNDRED and THOUSAND.
● There were at least a thousand people.
🡪 After AS and WITHOUT before singular countable nouns.
● He used to work as a waiter, but now he’s without a job.
🡪 As a translation of the Dutch word PER.
● He drove 80 miles an hour.
🡪 In a number of idiomatic expressions.
● To have a headache.
● To take an interest in.
● To a certain extent.
● As a result of.
2
,Ch. 2 NOUNS
Nouns (zelfstandige naamwoorden).
Common vs. proper nouns
Common nouns represent all or any of the members of a group. Proper nouns refer to the
name of a person, place or thing, and always start with a capital letter in English.
● Man, child, house, dog (common nouns).
● Spain, Barbara, Americans (proper nouns).
● My friend George would love to study at Harvard University.
Concrete vs. abstract nouns
Concrete nouns have material existence, abstract nouns refer to ideas, concepts and
qualities.
● Flower, hamster, book (concrete nouns).
● Love, cowardice, religion (abstract nouns).
Uncountable vs. countable nouns
Uncountable nouns cannot take an indefinite article (a/an) and have no plural (cannot be
counted), take determiners such as MUCH and LITTLE. Countable nouns can take an
indefinite article and occur in either singular or plural form, take determiners such as MANY,
FEW and SEVERAL.
● Fun, sugar, bread (uncountable nouns).
● Music was my first love and will be my last.
● Girl, apple, book (countable nouns).
3
, ● There weren’t many friends at the party.
Some nouns can be used as a countable as well as an uncountable noun, often with different
meanings.
● Her hair is beautiful.
● There’s a hair in my soup.
2.1 Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns are nouns which have no plural form and cannot take the indefinite article.
Most of these represent food, drinks, materials or abstract nouns.
Some uncountable nouns can be made countable by referring to general or specific quantities.
This may be done by either using A PIECE OF, or PIECES OF, which can be preceded by a
quantifier or a numeral.
● Greg’s advice is always very valuable.
● He gave me a piece of advice.
Other nouns which belong to this category are BUSINESS, EXPENDITURE (kosten),
MERCHANDISE (handelswaren), PROGRESS and PROPERTY.
When referring to food and drinks, specific quantities are expressed:
● Chocolate a bar of chocolate.
● Cider three pints of cider.
● Honey two jars of honey.
● Oil four barrels of oil.
● Beer a can of beer.
2.2 Countable nouns
Countable nouns are nouns which have a plural form and can be preceded by the indefinite
article.
Nouns in English have ‘natural’ but not grammatical gender. Men, boys and male animals are
masculine. Women, girls and female animals are feminine. Inanimate things and animals we
do not know the sex of are neuter. When we look at nouns representing males or females, it
seems that in quite a few cases, English uses two different words.
● Uncle aunt
4
