Article Grammar (a ,an and the )

Axel Paskah 202160220

Delya Safitri 202160248
Fatharani Zahra Imtiyaz 202160232
Keisha Nabeela 202160255
Nur Muhammad Fathahilah 202160374
Widya Carrolin Kawengian 202160246

Using Definite Article: the

Rule 1:
‘The’ is used to indicate a particular person(s) or thing(s) in the case of common nouns.
Proper nouns generally do not take an article.
Example:
o The man is running. (A particular man)
o I saw the boy stealing.
o Where is the pen I gave you last year?
o I gave him a ball, but he lost the ball. (‘a ball’ became ‘the ball’ in the second
clause because that ball was not a random ball anymore.)
Rule 2:
Sometimes ‘the’  is used to generalize a group/whole class.
Example:
o The people needs love. (Refers to all person.)
o The English are industrious. (Refers to the people of England as a nation)
o The honest are respected. (The+adjectives = plural noun)
o The poor are not always dishonest. (The+adjectives = plural noun)
Rule 3:

To particularise a non-count noun ‘the’ is required before it.

Example:
o The water of the Arctic ocean is freezing.
o Please return the money I lent you last year.
Rule 4:

‘The’ is mandatory before a thing which is only one of a kind in the universe.
 Article Grammar (a ,an and the )

Example:
o The moon is shining tonight.
o The earth is moving around the sun.

Use of ‘the’ before geographical places :

Rule 5:
Using ‘the’ with geographical nouns generally depends on the size and plurality of the things
those nouns refer to. ‘The’ is generally used everywhere except some cases. So, it’s better to
know those exceptions first.
‘The’ must not precede:
o Names of continents: Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, North
America, Antarctica.
o Names of countries: Australia, Bolivia, England, France, Spain, etc.
o Names of states, cities, or towns: Los Angeles, Alaska, Sydney, London,

The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity
is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.

inDefinite A
Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific
identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant
sound.
Ex : a car, a house, etc

- Use the article a to indicate any non-specified member of a group or category.

Ex:
That man is a scoundrel.
- Use the article a to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).
Ex: I own a cat and two dogs
- Use the article a before a consonant sound
Ex: a boy
 Article Grammar (a ,an and the )

How do we use an

If the first letter makes a vowel-type sound, you use "an"; if the first letter would make a consonant-
type sound, you use "a." However, even if you follow these basic rules when deciding to use "a" or
"an," remember that there are some exceptions to these rules. "A" goes before words that begin with
consonants.

Using a:
Using an:
I read a book yesterday.
That animal over there is an
I ate a curry for lunch. elephant.

I have a dog. No, it isn’t an emu.

I do not have a cat. I ate an apple for lunch.

They’re making a lot of noise out there.
A cricket match is being played.
I need a holiday.
The cook is wearing an apron.
Brutus is an honourable man.
I’ll be there in an hour.