National Technical Training Institute English for computing

ARTICLES “A / AN & THE”

Introduction

consonant : a man, a hat

A
vowel (consonant sound): a university, a one-way street, a European

vowel (a, e, i, o, u): an eye, an uncle, an onionWE45

An mute h: an hour
individual letter with vowel sound: an MP, an L-plate, an SOS, an ‘X’

I. Indefinite Article (a/an)

The indefinite article "a/an" is used:

1. With a singular, countable noun, unspecified, mentioned for the first time

Ex: They live in a flat.

He bought a car yesterday.

2. With a singular, countable noun, as an example of a class of things

Ex: A car must be insured. = All cars/any car must be insured.

A child needs love. = All children need/any child needs love.

3. With a noun complement and names of professions

Ex: It was an earthquake. (noun complement)

She will be a dancer. (profession)
He is an actor. (profession)

4. With expressions of frequency, measurement, quantity and numbers

Ex: He goes to the cinema twice a week. (frequency)

The meat costs two pounds a kilogram. (measurement)
A pair of shoes, a little, a couple of, etc (quantity)
A hundred, a dozen (one dozen is also possible). (number)

5. With Mr. /Mrs. /Miss +surname

Ex: a Mr. Smith, a Mrs. Smith, a Miss Smith

* a Mr. Smith means "a man called Smith" and implies that he is a strange to the speaker.
**But: Mr. Smith, without a, implies that the speaker knows Mr. Smith or knows of his
existence.

II. Definite Article (the)

The definite article 'the' is used:

1. To specify

a). Something mentioned earlier, for the second time

Ex: His car struck a tree, you can see the mark on the tree.
1
National Technical Training Institute English for computing

b). With a noun which by reason of locality can represent only one particular thing

Ex: Ann is in the garden. (the garden of this house)

Please pass the wine. (the wine on the table)

2. Something which is unique (there is only one)

Ex: the Earth, the sun, the moon etc

3. With names of some counties (Republic, Kingdom, States etc)

Ex: the USA, the USSR, the Philippines, the Netherlands (Holland)

4. With superlative adjectives and first, second, ..., last, only

Ex: It was the best holiday I've ever had.

the only way.

5. With some adjectives used as nouns

Ex: the poor: the poor people in general.

the jobless, the sick, the lonely, etc.

6. With names of oceans, seas, rivers, canals, hotels, restaurants, pubs, cinemas, theatres,
museums, galleries and newspaper, organizations

Ex: the Mekong River

the Pacific Ocean
the Chaktomuk Theatre
the National Museum
the Cambodia Daily

7. With certain public places, esp. when referring to them in a general way

Ex: I went to the pub/cinema/opera/theatre last night.

First I went to the bank, then the post office.
Which pub/cinema/bank, is not important.

8. With singular or plural noun when both the speaker and the listener know which specific
object is being referred to

Ex: The Book I'm reading is all about emancipation of women.

Mind the baby! She is near the fire.

9. a). With the + noun +of + noun

Ex: the tower of London

the University of Phnom Penh

b). With the +noun made definite by the addition of a phrase/clause

Ex: the girl in blue

the boy that I met
the place where I met him

2
National Technical Training Institute English for computing

c). With proper name + name + noun

Ex: the National Museum

the Royal Palace

10. With singular, plural, countable, and uncountable noun

Ex: the boy, the boys

the water

11. With names of directions (north, south, east, west)

Ex: He lives in the north. (noun: an area in the north)

the South/North Pole
the East/West end
the East/West Indies

*But: Go north (adverb: in a northerly direction)

**Note: 'the' is normally omitted.

South Africa, North America, West Germany, etc

12. With names of people has a very limited use

a). the +noun surname can be used to mean 'the ... family'

Ex: the Smiths = Mr. and Mrs. Smith (and children)

b). the +singular name +clause/phrase can be used to distinguish one person from another
on the same name

Ex: We have two Mr. Smiths. Which do you want?

I want the Mr. Smith who signed this letter.

c). Letters written to two or more unmarried sisters jointly may be addressed
Ex: the Misses + surname
the Misses Smith

III. Zero Article

There is no article

1. a). Before names of meals, except when these are preceded by an adjective
Ex: We have breakfast at eight.
*But: He have us a good breakfast.

b). The article is also used when it is a special meal given to celebrate something or in someone's honor
Ex: I was invited to dinner. (at the house, in the ordinary way)

* But: I was invited to a dinner given to welcome the new ambassador.

c). The article is also used when it is a special meal which is being referred to

Ex: The wedding breakfast was held in her father's house.

2. Before plural and uncountable nouns when talking about things in general

3
National Technical Training Institute English for computing
Ex: I like potatoes/bread.
Milk is good for you.
Sugar is not good for your teeth.
Money is the root of all evil. (general)
* But: Put the money on the table. (special)

3. Before names of continents, countries, states, regions, cities, towns, streets, roads, squares,
parks, islands, languages, magazines, meals, airports, stations, lakes, and mountains.
Ex: Oxford Street, Portobello Road
Lake Superior, Lake Victoria

4. Before festivals, days, months, seasons

Ex: It was Monday yesterday.
April is the hottest month in Cambodia.

5. Before some places and some forms of transport

Ex: at home
in/to bed
at/to work but be at/in the office
be in office (without the ) = to hold an official (usually political) position
be out of office = to be no longer in power
at/to school, at university, in hospital
by bus/plane/car/train, on foot

6. Before abstract nouns except when they are used in particular sense
Ex: Love is eternal.
Men fear death.
*But: The death of the Prime Minister left his party without a leader.
7. In exclamations [What + uncountable, and plural countable noun]
Ex: What beautiful weather! (We are having!)
What loud music!
What lovely hats!
What beautiful eyes you've got!

8. Before names of games, academic subjects, abstract nouns, meals when referred to in general
Ex: Do you prefer hockey or football?
*But: The football they play in America is different from the kind they play in England. (specific)
He plays golf.
9. Be fore first names/names of people
Ex: Roland/ John/ Peter
Mary/ Lucy/ Hellen

10. Before home, bed, church, court, hospital, prison, school, college, university, work, sea, town
Ex: He is at home. ( 'home' is used alone)
*But: We arrived at the bride's home. (descriptive word or phrase)
For some years this was the home of your queen. (descriptive word or phrase)
He was sent to prison. (primary purpose)
He goes to the prison to give lectures. (other reasons)
**Note:
to be at sea = to be on a voyage (as passenger or crew)
to go to/ to be at the sea = to go to/ to be at the seaside
to live by/ near the sea
11. After a noun in the possessive case, or a possessive adjective
Ex: The boy's uncle = the uncle of the boy
It is my (blue) book = the (blue) book is mine.