ARTICLES

English has two types of articles: definite (the)

and indefinite (a, an.)
The use of these articles depends mainly on

whether you are referring to any member of a

group, or to a specific member of a group
Indefinite Article: a and an
 A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to
any member of a group
 Used with countable nouns in singular when the noun is general

 a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy

 an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
 a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user
 an + singular noun beginning with a vowel sound: an hour
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and
an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immedately
follows the article:
 a broken egg
 an unusual problem
 a European country
Basic Uses of Indefinite Article
 We use indefinite article to classify or
identify something/ someone:
By means of general statements:
e.g. An architect is someone who designs buildings .
In form of definitions:
e.g. A cat is a domestic animal.
By means of descriptive labels:
Origins: He’s a Frenchman.
Occupation: She’s a doctor.
Religion: He’s a Catholic.
Politics: She’s a Republican.
 When something is mentioned for the first time:
e.g. I looked up and saw a plane. ( The plane flew low over the trees.)

 With references of quantity ( in sense of “one”, “only

one”, “ any one”):
e.g. I’d like an apple. I need a screwdriver to do the job.

 With reference to measurement:

e.g. twice a/ per day 80p a/ per kilo
40 km an/ per hour 30 miles a/per gallon

 After “what” and “such”:

e.g. What a surprise! My boss is such an idiot!
 With reference to illnesses/ conditions:
e.g. a cold, a headache, a sore throat, a weak heart, a broken leg

Note: with some conditions, a/ an is optional

( backache, stomach-ache, toothache) or is not used at all (
flu, hepatitis…)
Definite Article: The
 The definite article is used before singular and
plural nouns as well as before uncountable
nouns when the noun is particular or specific.

 The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers

to a particular member of a group

 The is pronounced / / before consonant

sounds: the day, the key
 The is pronounced / / vowel sounds:
the end, the hour
Basic Uses of Definite Article
 Can be used to refer to the whole class (similar to
a/an):
e.g. The cobra is dangerous.
 To refer to the group as a whole:
“The” + nationality adjective:
e.g. The British and the Americans have been allies for a long time.
“The” + plural names:
e.g. The Liberals want electorial reform. The Browns are not at home .
“The” + collective nouns to make general statements about
specified groups:
e.g. the police the public
 When something that has been mentioned before is
referred to again:
e.g. Singleton is a quiet village. The village has a population of a few
hundred people.
 Before phrases noun + “of” + noun:
e.g. The life of Napoleon The freedom of choice
 To specify a person, thing:
e.g. The Smith you are looking for no longer lives here.
The letters on the shelf are for you.
 In contexts which are limited enough for the listener or
reader to identify who or what is referred to:
e.g. Pass me the salt, please.
Who’s at the door? It’s the postman.
 For locations which are “one of a kind”:
e.g. the earth, the sky, the moon, the solar system, the galaxy, the
universe
 For “parts of a whole”, assuming the listener/ reader
knows what we are talking about:
a human being: the body, the brain, the head
a room: the ceiling, the walls, the floor etc.
- In time expressions:
e.g. the beginning, the end, the past, the present. The middle, the
morning, the evening, the afternoon
- In fixed phrases:
e.g. Have a good time have a rest have a shower
 With superlatives:
e.g. This is the worst play I’ve ever seen.
 With musical instruments:
e.g. Tom plays the flute.
 With comparatives in fixed phrases:
e.g. The sooner the better.
 With “same”
e.g. We are the same.
 With decades, or groups of years:
e.g. She grew up in the seventies
 With mountain ranges and groups of islands:
The Alps The Canary Islands
 With oceans, seas and rivers:
The Pacific the River Nile the Caspian Sea
 With some geographical areas:
The Balkans The Middle East The North Pole
 With unions, and associations:
e.g. The UK, The USA, The ARE
 With some countries:
The Netherlands The Phillipines
Basic Uses of Zero Article
 To give general statements:
e.g. Money makes the world go round.
Life is short; art is long.
Watches have become very accurate.
 To refer to a class as a whole
Cats do not like cold weather.
 With names of people and their titles:
Elizabeth Brown Pope John
Madam Miss Jackson Major Rogers

Note: Wilson was elected President of the USA.

Wilson became ( the ) President of the USA.
 For days, months, holidays:
e.g. June Christmas Mondays
 For meals:
e.g. Breakfast is served. Michael’s at lunch.
 For academic subjects:
Physics is the most difficult subject.
 For transport:
e.g. by bus, by air, by boat, by coach, on foot
 With nouns like school, hospital, prison, church,
university, college, court etc. when we refer to their
“primary purpose”:
e.g. He was sent to prison for four years.
Children went to school early in the morning.
 After “what” and “such” when a plural or an
uncountable noun follow:
e.g. What fools they are!
We has such problems during the holiday!
 In fixed phrases:
e.g. at night, face to face, keep in mind, go on holiday, make friends,
make fun of, arm in arm etc.
 With names of lakes, towns, islands, mountains and
most countries:
e.g. Serbia Lake Geneva New York
 With languages and nationalities:
e.g. She is French. I don’t speak French.
 After the 's possessive case:
e.g. His brother's car.
Peter's house.
Insert the right article – a / an / the / or
zero
 I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is ______ city in
_____ United Kingdom. I live in _____ town called ______
Taunton which is on ______River Tone. I live in _____ house in
_____ quiet street in the countryside._____ street is called
"Hudson Street" and _____ house is old - more than 100 years
old! I am _____English lecturer at ______college near ______
centre of _______ town. I like ______ books, music and taking
______photographs. I usually have ______lunch at college. I
usually go ______ home by ______car. We have all kinds of
food in ______England. I like _______Polish food very much.
Sometimes, I go to _______ Polish restaurant in Bath.______
restaurant is called "Magda's". ______Polish food is delicious!