 The item E → E + B, for example, indicates that the parser has recognized a string corresponding with E on the input stream and now expects to read a '+' followed by another string corresponding with B.It is usually not possible to characterize the state of the parser with a single item because it may not know in advance which rule it is going to use for reduction.For example, if there is also a rule E → E * B then the items E → E + B and E → E * B will both apply after a string corresponding with E has been read.