2. Articles are problematic for ELLs because some languages
have no articles, some have only the definite article, and others
have the same articles as English but their usage are not
exactly related. For ELLs, these little words can cause a great
amount of damage with their English.
Most English speakers recognize three articles: the indefinite
articles a and an and the definite article the, but there is
another article usage that occurs as well: the use of no article.
We could say that the 3 articles in English are a, an, the and
no article. The learner has to decide noun-by-noun which one
of the articles to use. Native-speakers, of course, use the
articles correctly without thinking. English learners, on the other
hand, need to have some guidelines for making the right
choice.
3.
4. Indefinite Articles a and an
We use the indefinite articles a and na only
before singular count nouns. We use a and na
with singular count nouns that are not specific
and are not being mentioned for the first
time.
A penguin is a small and white bird.
5.
6. Indefinite Articles: a, an
Rule
1. Use a before a noun or an
adjective (+noun) that
begins with a consonant
sound.
2. Use na before a noun or an
adjective (+noun) that
begins with a vowel sound.
Example
• A feather, a gray feather
• an idea, na absurd idea
7. Indefinite Articles: a, an
Rule
3. Remember that words
beginning with the letters h
or u can be problematic. The
use of a and na depends on
the beginning sound of the
word. It is determined by
the next word’s initial
sound, not its spelling.
Example
a hat, an hour
The word hat begins with the
consonant sound /h/, but
hour begins with a vowel
sound because the letter h is
silent.
a university, an umbrella
The word university begins
with the consonant sound /y/,
but umbrella begins with a
vowel sound.
8. The Definite Article: the
There are several different situations in which
we use the definite article the in English.
Articles in English are invariable. That is, they
do not change according to the gender or
number of the noun they refer to, e.g. the
boy, the woman, the children
9.
10. The Definite Article: the
Rule
1. Use the when you are
talking about something
specific.
2. Use the to refer to
something which has
already been mentioned.
3. Use the when both the
speaker and listener know
what is being talked about,
even if it has not been
mentioned before.
Example
• specific: The umbrella next to
the door is not mine.
• second reference: The mouse
loved the elephant's long
trunk.
• 'Where's the bathroom?'
'It's on the first floor.'
11. The Definite Article: the
Rule
4. Use the to refer to objects
we regard as unique.
5. Use the before superlatives
and ordinal numbers.
6. Use the with names of
geographical areas and
oceans.
7. Use the with most bodies
of water except individuals
lakes.
Example
• the sun, the moon, the world
• the highest building, the first
page, the last chapter.
• 'Where's the bathroom?'
'It's on the first floor.'
• the Mississippi River, the
Pacific Ocean, the
Mediterranean Sea, the Great
Lakes.
12. No Article: (O)
• In English there are a few situations in which
we do not use any article with a noun. In
these cases, many other languages require the
use of the, so a common ELL error is overuse
of the.
13. No Article: (O)
Rule
1. We use no article when we
refer to general ideas,
plurals or uncountable
nouns we do not use THE.
2. We use no article with
names of people, books
and plays (unless it is part
of the title).
3. We use no article with
towns, cities, states and
countries.
Example
• Religion is an important
issue.
Mexican food is spicy.
• I have read Romeo and
Juliet
• Cape Town
Montana
Vietnam
14. No Article: (O)
Rule
4. We use no articles with
lakes, single islands,
continents or mountains.
5. We use no articles with
planets.
6. We use no articles with
sports or games
7. We use no articles with
Meals
Example
• Lake Victoria / Jamaica
Asia / Mt Fuji
• Mars, Jupter, Saturn
• Soccer / tennis / skiing /
monopoly
• Brekfast / lunch / dinner
