Articles

Zero article (no article)

Zero article precedes
The article is a tiny word that precedes a noun and indicates: proper nouns (имена собственные),
- whether it is singular or plural form, uncountable nouns that refer to abstract ideas or
- in specific instances or unspecific ones. plural nouns when the reference is indefinite. Here are some examples:

Clean air is vital for a healthy environment. (uncountable, unspecific)

Indefinite (a/an) – неопределенный, единственного числа Wisdom is the gift of heaven. (uncountable, abstract)
a German is a difficult language to master. (proper noun)
You use a with singular countable nouns: a dog, a car, a woman Children like chocolate. (plural, general)
an
I like apples. (plural, in general, unspecific)
You use an with singular, countable nouns beginning with vowel sound
Water is essential for life. (Uncountable, unspecific)
(a,e,i,o,u): an apple, an elephant, an apricot, an antelope, an idea.
an hour (we don’t hear ‘h’) Cars are everywhere. (plural, unspecific)
a university (we hear [ju:])
an MBA (M sounds like [em]) Zero article in case when before a noun there is one of the following:
a URL (U sounds like [ju]) - possessive adjective (my, your, his ..)
a one-year-old child /ə wʌn …/ - determiner (this, that, these, those)
- another noun in possessive case (Mike’s cat; Marina’s book; my sister’s
 when you say who or what for the first time: I want a new dress. husband)
 refers to a general thing, not something specific: There is a book in my bag. - quantitative numeral (two children; four pencils)
 to talk about jobs: I’m a teacher. - adverb ‘no’ (but not adverb ‘not’!!!) (no idea; no time)
 before an adjective followed by a noun (singular, countable):
a man — a generous man
a book — an interesting book
a watch — an expensive watch
an elephant — a big elephant

The indefinite article isn’t used if there is no noun after the adjective.
The cat is black. It’s a black cat. a/an = any (singular only); the = specific (singular and plural)
The house is big. It’s a big house.
The match was exciting. It was an exciting match.

 Indefinite article + Adverb + Adjective + Noun

a generous man — an unbelievably generous man
an interesting book — a very interesting book

EXEPTION: such (такой) and quite (вполне, довольно-

таки)
He is such a great teacher. – Он такой хороший учитель.
(not: a such great )
This is quite a delicious apple. – Это довольно-таки вкусное Exercises
яблоко. Complete with an indefinite or zero article
I have … friend who is afraid of …. spiders. This isn't very unusual; a lot of people are
afraid of … spiders. I don't really like ….. spiders much myself. I don't mind them if you
see them outside, in the garden, as long as they're not too big.
But if one comes in the house, especially if it's one of those really big spiders
with …. furry legs and …. little red eyes, then I go 'yeeucch' and I try to get rid of it.
Usually I'll use …. brush to get rid of a spider, but if I feel brave then I'll put …. glass
over the top of it, slide …. piece of paper under the glass and then take it outside.

Complete the questions with 'a' or 'an'.

1. Sorry, we don't have any biscuits. Would you like apple?

2. Mr Jones will be here soon. Can I get you cup of tea while you
wait?

3. You don't look well. Should I call for doctor?

4. When did you decide you wanted to be actor? Were you very
young?

5. I want to buy a soft drink. Can you lend me euro?

6. I'd like to ask you a question. Will you give me honest reply?

7. Why do you want to do MBA? You told me you weren't interested

in business.
8. A: My uncle's lived in the United States since 1973.

B: That's a long time! Does he have US passport?

Fill in an article where needed

1. This is … pen. That is … pencil. 2. This is … book. It is my … book. 3. Is this your

… pencil? — No, it isn’t my … pencil, it is my sister’s … pencil. 4. I have … sister. My
… sister is … engineer. My sister’s … husband is … doctor. They have got two … Definite (the) - определенный
children. 5. This is … girl. This … girl is their … daughter. Their daughter’s … name is You use ‘the’ with singular and plural nouns when you know who or what:
Vera. 6. That is … boy. That … boy is her … brother. Her brother’s … name is Nick. 7. Your phone is in the bathroom.
This is our … flat. 8. We have got … car. Our … car is not very expensive but reliable. The students are in the classroom.
9. I have no … pet. 10. My granny has got … headache. She has no … idea what to do.
11. I have … friend. His … name is Mike. My … friend is very good. 12. It’s … cat. Its  we talk about or identify a specific person or object;
… tail is long and bushy. It’s Mike’s … cat. She is the doctor I came to see.
My bag is still in the car. I’ll get it.
Could you shut the door, please?
Do you know where I left the car keys?
  we’ve already mentioned the noun we’re referring to in a previous sentence;  organizations, unions, and clubs (the United Nations Organization, the
There is a book in my bag. The book is about war. World Health Organization, the European Union, the Kennel Club).
This is a train. The train goes to London. EXCEPTIONS: Greenpeace;

 a person or object is unique, or there is just one of something in a certain place;  names of restaurants and hotels, unless they are named after a person
The North Star is the guiding star. (the Plaza, the Hilton Hotel).
The moon is huge tonight.
The president will give a press conference tonight.
We live in a small town next to the church. Choose the correct article.

1. Can I have a / the glass of water?

 we want to say something about a whole group of people, animals or objects.
2. Where's Maria? She's in a / the bathroom.
The tiger is a dangerous animal.
3. OK. See you at the / a concert at 10 o'clock.
He gives a lot of money to the poor.
4. I have a / the problem.
The rich should pay more taxes.
5. You will like Alfie. He's a / the very nice student.
The Browns live next door.
6. We are having a / the nice meal in this restaurant.
7. I need a/the phone.
 superlatives and ordinal numbers come before a noun; 8. Please give me a/the phone on a/the table.
It’s the most interesting movie I’ve ever seen. 9. I want to buy a/the car.
She is the tallest girl in the class. 10. I need a/the stamp for this latter.
Sara is the first person I’ve met in this city.
This is the third cup of coffee I have today.
Fill in the correct article (a/an or the) where needed.
“The” with names
She bought ______________ apples from the store.
The definite article is never used with the names of person, country, language, months He's reading ______________ book in the library.
and specific places. We saw ______________ dogs playing in the park.
Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. I need ______________ new pencil for school.
Joanne Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Can you pass me ______________ salt, please?
However, we must use “the” when it comes to:
 countries that include words like state, republic or kingdom in their
names (the United States, the United Kingdom);
 countries that have plural nouns as their names (the Philippines, the
Netherlands);

 geographical areas, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, rivers,

seas, and oceans (the Atlantic, the Arctic Circle, the Rocky Mountains, the Practice 1
Himalayas);

 famous buildings and places of interest (the Colosseum Theatre, the

Royal Opera House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Louvre). But there are
some EXCEPTIONS such as Big Ben, Stonehenge, Trinity Church,
Carnegie Hall, etc.;
 newspapers (The Sun, The Times, The Washington Post);
Complete the following sentences using ‘a/an’ or ‘some’ where
necessary.
1. Michael is a student at Manchester University.
2. Although I am very busy, I will find some time to visit my uncle.

 works of art (the Mona Lisa, the Sunflowers); 3. Julia is wearing very nice dress today.
4. I have problem with my computer. Can you help me?
 5. I want to buy new car, and I need I had bowl of cereal for breakfast this morning.
advice.
6. "Would you like more cake?" "No thanks. I had

7. Have you got

very large slice and I’m full."
minute? I want to talk to you about
Practice 3
something.
8. I’d like loaf of bread and apples please Complete the following sentences with ‘a/an’ or ‘the’:
9. I need pen and paper to write on. 1. Yesterday, I ordered sandwich and
10. It was great party. I met very interesting people. coffee for lunch.
11. Yesterday, I did shopping. I bought sandwich wasn’t very tasty, but coffee
new pair of jeans. was good.
2. Near my town, there is old castle. Behind
castle, there is
lovely lake.
Practice 2 3. "I met interesting girl at the party last night. She
was from Vietnam." "Really? I’ve never met girl from Vietnam
One of each of the pairs of sentences requires ‘a/an’. Leave the gap before."
empty (-) if no word is necessary: 4. "I sent you sms and email.
1. I booked room at the hotel. Did you receive them?" "I got
There wasn’t sms, but not email.
2. Do you drink coffee? 5. Jack has new job. He works as
Mike ordered large coffee with milk. tour manager for music band. I’d like to have
3. The printer has run out of paper. job like that!
I went to the newsagent’s to buy paper.
4. We had great time at the party last
night. Do you have Practice 4
5. Do you know that girl with
my soup! Complete the sentences below with ‘a/an’ or ‘the’. Two of the gaps
6. "What do you do for a living?" "At the moment, I’m looking for don’t require any words - leave them blank (-).
work." Have you found job yet? 1. What’s ___________name of man you met yesterday?
2. I had great time at club last night. How about you?
7. Mozzarella is
3. I’ll send you sms to let you know
cheese? time of meeting.
8. This job requires 4. Can you turn off television, please?
experience with computer programming. My trip remote control is on
table next to you.
to Africa was 5. "Excuse me, is there bank near here?" "Yes. Go
important experience in my life. to end of this street and turn left. It’s right next to
9. Chairs, tables and cupboards are furniture. town hall.
That’s beautiful piece of furniture. Where did you find it?
10. I eat cereal almost every morning. 6. Travelling in space was one of
most important achievements of
 20th century.
7. I can’t meet you for lunch tomorrow. I made
appointment to see
dentist.
8. We stayed at ______-lovely hotel. Our room had beautiful view of
sea.
9.
airport is only 30 minutes from here, so you can take
taxi. It won’t
be very expensive.
10. "What’s on TV tonight?" "I don’t know. I don’t have
television."
11. I came across fascinating website while I
was surfing Internet.
12. film we saw last night was
best film I’ve seen all year.