1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS
GRAMAR IV
TOPIC: The articles a, an and the
STUDENTS: Erika Yamasque
Janneth Caba
Gesica Ramirez
Erika Saigua
TEACHER: Magdalena Ullauri
DATE: 10 /06 /2015
2. English Grammar Articles
(a, an, the)
What are English grammar articles?
An article is a word that is used before a noun to show whether the noun refers
to something specific or not. A, an and the are articles.
There are only three articles in English: a, an and the. In English grammar,
articles are a group of small words that give information about a noun.
There are two types of articles indefinite 'a' and 'an' or definite 'the'.
Indefinite articles
The indefinite article tells us that the noun is not specific. The speaker talks
about any one and types of thing.
In English, the two indefinite articles are a and an. Like other articles, indefinite
articles are invariable. You use one or the other, depending on the first letter of
the word following the article, for pronunciation reasons. Use a when the next
word starts with a consonant, or before words starting in u and eu when they
sound like you. Use an when the next word starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or with
a mute h.
What is the difference between "a" and "an"?
"A" and "an" have the same meaning.
We use "a" before a consonant sound.
Examples:
a dog
a building
a country
a professor
a university
We use "an" before a vowel sound.
Examples:
an apple
3. an umbrella
an eye
an hour
Important!
We use "a" and "an" only before a singular noun. We can't use "a" and "an" before
a plural noun.
HERE ARE SOME EASY RULES
USE 1
The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin
with consonant sounds.
Examples:
He is a teacher.
She doesn't own a car.
I saw a bear at the zoo.
USE 2
The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin
with vowel sounds.
Examples:
He is an actor.
She didn't get an invitation.
I saw an eagle at the zoo.
USE 3
Remember that A(AN) means "one" or "a single". You cannot use A(AN) with
plural nouns.
Examples:
I saw a bears in Yellowstone National Park. Not Correct
I saw bears in Yellowstone National Park. Correct
USE 4
4. If there is an adjective or an adverb-adjective combination before the noun, A
and AN should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-adjective
combination.
Examples:
He is an excellent teacher.
I saw a really beautiful eagle at the zoo.
USE 5
Use A before words such as "European" or "university" which sound like they
start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel. Also useA before letters
and numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as "U", "J", "1"
or "9". Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is important. For example,
"1" is spelled O-N-E; however, it is pronounced "won" like it starts with a "W".
Examples:
She has a euro. SOUNDS LIKE "YU-RO".
That number is a "1". SOUNDS LIKE "WON".
USE 6
Use AN before words such as "hour" which sound like they start with a vowel
even if the first letter is a consonant. Also use AN before letters and numbers
which sound like they begin with a vowel, such as "F" or "8". Remember, it is the
sound not the spelling which is important. For example, "F" is pronounced "eff"
like it starts with an "E".
Examples:
I only have an hour for lunch. SOUNDS LIKE "AU-ER".
Does his name begin with an "F"? SOUNDS LIKE "EFF".
USE 7
Some words such as "herb" or "hospital" are more complicated because they are
pronounced differently in different English accents. In most American accents,
the "h" in "herb" is silent, so Americans usually say "an herb". In many British
accents, the "h" in "herb" is pronounced, so many British say "a herb". In some
British accents, the "h" in hospital is silent, so some British will say "an hospital"
instead of "a hospital".
USE 8
In English, some nouns are considered uncountable such as: information, air,
advice, salt and fun. We do not use A(AN) with these uncountable nouns. (Learn
more about countable and uncountable nouns.)
5. Examples:
She gives a good advice. Not Correct
She gives good advice. Correct
THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
The definite article tells us that the noun is specific. The speaker talks about a
particular (or known) thing.
The word "the" is one of the most common words in English. It is our only definite
article. Nouns in English are preceded by the definite article when the speaker
believes that the listener already knows what he is referring to. The speaker may
believe this for many different reasons, some of which are listed below.
WHEN TO USE "THE" GENERAL RULES
Use the to referto somethingwhichhasalreadybeenmentioned.
Use the whenyouassume there isjustone of somethinginthatplace,evenif ithas
not beenmentionedbefore.
EXAMPLES
We wentona walkin the forestyesterday.
Where isthe bathroom?
Turn leftandgo to number45. Ourhouse isacross from the Italianrestaurant.
My fatherenjoyed the book yougave him.
6. Use the in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a
particular person or object.
EXAMPLES
The man who wrote thisbookisfamous.
I scratched the redcar parkedoutside.
I live in the small house withablue door.
He isthe doctor I came to see.
Use the to refer to people or objects that are unique.
EXAMPLES
The sun rose at 6:17 thismorning.
You can go anywhere in the world.
Cloudsdriftedacross the sky.
The president will be speakingonTV tonight.
The CEO of Total iscomingto our meeting.
Use the before superlativesandordinal numbers.
EXAMPLES
Thisis the highestbuilding inNewYork.
She read the lastchapterof hernewbookfirst.
You are the tallestperson inourclass.
Thisis the thirdtime I have calledyoutoday.
Use the with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people.
EXAMPLES
The French enjoycheese.
The elderly require special attention.
She has givenalot of moneyto the poor.
Use the withdecades.
EXAMPLES
7. He wasborn in the seventies.
Thisis a paintingfrom the 1820's.
Use the withclausesintroducedby only
EXAMPLES
Thisis the onlyday we've hadsunshine all week.
You are the onlyperson he will listento.
The onlytea I like isblacktea.
PROPERNOUNS
Use the withnamesof geographical areas,rivers,mountainranges,groupsof islands,canals,
and oceans.
EXAMPLES
Theyare travellingin the Arctic.
Our shipcrossed the Atlanticin7 days.
I will goon a cruise down the Nile.
Hikingacross the RockyMountains wouldbe difficult.
Use the withcountriesthathave plural names
EXAMPLES
I have neverbeento the Netherlands.
Do youknowanyone wholivesin the Philippines?
Use the withcountriesthatinclude the words"republic","kingdom",or"states"in
theirnames.
EXAMPLES
Have you beento the VietnamMemorial?
We wenttothe Louvre andsaw the Mona Lisa.
I wouldlike tovisit the EiffelTower.
I saw KingLearat the Globe.
Use the withthe namesof families,butnotwiththe namesof individuals.
EXAMPLES
8. We're havingdinnerwith the Smiths tonight.
The Browns are goingto the play withus.
WHEN NOT TO USE "THE"
Do not use the withnamesof countries(exceptforthe special casesabove).
Do not use the with the names of languages.
EXAMPLES
Frenchis spokeninTahiti.
Englishusesmanywordsof Latin origin.
Indonesianisarelativelynewlanguage.
Do not use the with the names of meals.
EXAMPLES
Lunch ismy favorite meal.
I like toeat breakfastearly.
Do not use the with people's names.
EXAMPLES
Johnis comingoverlater.
Mary Carpenterismyboss.
Do not use the with titles when combined with names.
EXAMPLES
Prince CharlesisQueenElizabeth'sson.
PresidentKennedywasassassinatedinDallas.
Do not use the afterthe 's possessive case
Uncount nouns
You cannot say a/an with an uncount noun.
9. You cannot put a number in front of an uncount noun. (You cannot make an
uncount noun plural.) You use an uncount noun with no article if you mean that
thing in general.
You use the with an uncount noun when you are talking about a particular
example of that thing.
Count nouns
You can put a number in front of a count noun. (You can make a count noun
plural.)
You can put both a/an and the in front of a count noun.
You must put an article in front of a singular count noun.
You use a plural count noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.
You usually use a/an with a count noun the first time you say or write that noun.
You use the with count nouns: the second and subsequent times you use the
noun in a piece of speech or writing
when the listener knows what you are referring to (maybe because there is only
one of that thing)
You use an (not a) when the next word (adverb, adjective, noun) starts with a
vowel sound.
REFERENCES
