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.
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.
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.
"A" and "an" have the same meaning.
WE USE "A" BEFORE A CONSONANT
SOUND.
WE USE "AN" BEFORE A VOWEL
SOUNDS.
Examples. Examples.
a dog an apple
a building an umbrella
a professor an eyes
a university an hour
What is the difference between "a" and "an"?
There are two types of articles indefinite 'a' and 'an' or definite 'the'.
3. We use "a" and "an" only before a singular noun. We can't use "a" and "an" before a
plural noun.
RULES
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.
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.
3. Remember that a (an) means "one" or "a single". You can not 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
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.
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 use a before letters and
numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as "U", "J", "1" or "9".
4. 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".
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".
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".
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.
Examples:
She gives a good advice. Not Correct
She gives good advice. Correct
5. 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"
Use "the" to refer to something which has already been mentioned.
1. Use the when you assume there is just one of something in that place, even if it has
not been mentioned before.
EXAMPLES
We went on a walk in the forest yesterday.
Where is the bathroom?
My father enjoyed the book you gave him.
2. Use the in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a particular person or
object.
EXAMPLES
The man who wrote this book is famous.
I live in the small house with a blue door.
6. He is the doctor I came to see.
3. Use the to refer to people or objects that are unique.
EXAMPLES
The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.
You can go anywhere in the world.
The president will be speaking on TV tonight.
4. Use the before superlatives and ordinal numbers.
EXAMPLES
This is the highest building in New York.
She read the last chapter of her new book first.
This is the third time I have called you today.
5. Use the with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people.
EXAMPLES
The French enjoy cheese.
The elderly require special attention.
She has given a lot of money to the poor.
6. Use the with decades.
EXAMPLES
He was born in the seventies.
This is a painting from the 1820's.
7. Use the with clauses introduced by only
EXAMPLES
7. This is the only day we've had sunshine all week.
You are the only person he will listen to.
The only tea I like is black tea.
8. Proper Nouns.
Use the with names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands,
canals, and oceans.
EXAMPLES
They are travelling in the Arctic.
Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
9. Use the with countries that have plural names.
EXAMPLES
I have never been to the Netherlands.
Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?
10. Use the with countries that include the words "republic", "kingdom", or "states" in
their names.
EXAMPLES
Have you been to the Vietnam Memorial?
We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.
I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.
11. Use the with the names of families, but not with the names of individuals.
EXAMPLES
We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.
The Browns are going to the play with us.
8. EXCEPTIONS
When not to use "the"
Do not use the with the names of languages.
EXAMPLES
French is spoken in Tahiti.
English uses many words of Latin origin.
Do not use the with the names of meals.
EXAMPLES
Lunch is my favorite meal.
I like to eat breakfast early.
Do not use the with people's names.
EXAMPLES
John is coming over later.
Mary Carpenter is my boss.
Do not use the with titles when combined with names.
EXAMPLES
Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.
President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
9. Bibliography:
The UNB writing center by Jones students’ centre. Canada
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/_resources/pdfs/wss/articles.pdf
http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/definite-article/
http://englishpage.com/articles/a-vs-an.htm
http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/rules/article.htm
