ARTICLE USAGE:

“A,” “AN,” & “THE”

CEA ÁGUILAS – TALLER DE INGLÉS

 WHAT IS AN ARTICLE?

• An article (abbreviated ART) is

a word that modifies a noun.
• English has two articles:
the and a/an.
 HOW DO WE USE ARTICLES?

• Two types of articles:

- definite (the) and indefinite (a /an)
We use articles with countable nouns
such as chair, dog, cat, pencil, bottle,
etc.
 DEFINITE ARTICLE: “THE”

• For very specific nouns; not just any pencil,

the blue pen.
• The black cat, the chair next to the sofa
• Can be used with singular objects:
• the green chair or plural: the dogs.
 INDEFINITE ARTICLE:
“A” AND “AN”
• “A” is used before nouns that begin with a
consonant; “an” is used before nouns that
begin with a vowel.
• An elephant, a dog, a chair, an apple
• Used for more general, vague nouns:
“Bring a pencil.” (any pencil.)
REMEMBER, USING A OR AN DEPENDS ON
THE SOUND THAT BEGINS THE NEXT
WORD. SO...

• a + singular noun beginning with a

consonant:
a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel:
an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot;
 REMEMBER, USING A OR AN DEPENDS ON
THE SOUND THAT BEGINS THE NEXT
WORD. SO...
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant
sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins
with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is
used); a university; a unicycle
• an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
• a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse
 INDEFINITE ARTICLE

• Used only with singular objects.

• Think of replacing “a” or “an” with “one.”
• Also used when first mentioning
something: “A butterfly landed on my
dog’s nose. The butterfly was pink.”
 WHEN WE DO NOT USE ARTICLES

• We don’t use indefinite articles in

front of non-countable nouns:
• sugar, bread, water, fruit …
 WHEN WE DO NOT USE ARTICLES

• We don’t use indefinite articles with

nouns that are described in quantities,
such as liquids or large amounts of small
solids such as beans, sand, dirt, etc. We
can, however, use the definite article: “The
brown dirt,” “the cold water,” etc.
 WHEN WE DO NOT USE ARTICLES

• Pronouns, and proper nouns.

• They, … Peter…
• When being general:
• “I like water” (any/all water)
• “Ants are small” (any/all ants)
EXAMPLES:

• I am happy. I’m Sylvia.

• Give me a water. Give me a glass
of water. The water is cold!
• I am happy to see Susie!
 SOME EXCEPTIONS

• Rules for using the with geographical nouns.

• Do not use the before:
• names of most countries/territories: England, Mexico,
Spain however, the Netherlands, the Dominican
Republic, the Philippines, the United States
• names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Miami
• names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.
 SOME EXCEPTIONS

• names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake

Victoria except with a group of lakes
like the Great Lakes
• names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount
Fuji except with ranges of mountains
like the Andes or the Rocky Mountains
 SOME EXCEPTIONS

• names of continents (Asia, Europe,

America…)
• names of islands (Easter Island,
Maui, Key West) except with island
chains like the Canary Islands
 DO USE THE BEFORE:

• names of rivers, oceans and

seas: the Nile, the Pacific
• points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole
• geographical areas: the Middle East, the West
• deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas:
the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest,
the Iberian Peninsula
 OMISSION OF ARTICLES:
NON ARTICLE

• Some common nouns that don't take an

article are:
• Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese,
English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are
referring to the population of the nation:
"The Spanish are known for their warm
hospitality.")
OMISSION OF ARTICLES

• Names of sports:
volleyball, hockey, baseball
• Names of academic subjects:
mathematics, biology, history,
computer, science
HOW TO DECIDE IN YOUR OWN
WRITING

• First, look at your noun. Is it

countable or non countable?
• Example: “I want to describe
a cat. ‘Cat’ is a countable
noun.”
STEP TWO:

• Next, decide if it is the first

time something has been
mentioned.
• If it is, use the indefinite
article.
 STEP THREE:

• Are you being specific about the

noun, or general?
• Example: “Yes; I am talking about a
specific cat.”
 STEP FOUR:

• If you are describing a specific noun, use the

definite article. If you are being more vague, use
the indefinite article.
• Example: “I have a black cat. The cat is white
 LET’S PRACTICE ….

• 1. I watched ____________ interesting

documentary.
• 2. John uses ______ Internet a lot.
• 3. She went to ______ zoo, but she didn't
see ______ monkeys there.
 LET’S PRACTICE ….

• 4.You won't like that restaurant. ______

food isn't very good there.
• 5. People don't write ______ letters
nowadays. They write ______ emails.
• 6. I don't like ______ museums.
 LET’S PRACTICE ….

• 7. My friend Zoe went to ______ hospital

to see her father.
• 8.I have ______ aunt in Sydney
• 9. They have family in ______ New Zealand.
 LET’S PRACTICE ….

• 10.Jim wants to go to ______ USA.

• 11. but he hasn't got ______ money for
______ trip.
• 12. My friends want to go to _________
Canary Island.
 LET’S PRACTICE ….

• 13. He lives in ______ apartment in

______ middle of ______ New York.
• 14.Statistics say that ______ women live
longer than ______ men.
LET’S PRACTICE ….

• 15. Jamaica is ______ island in______

South of ______ Caribbean Sea.
• ______ lake Victoria is located in
________AFrica
Thank you