Articles are words that indicate the type of reference being made by a noun. There are definite articles (a, an, the) and indefinite articles (the). Articles can be problematic for English language learners for several reasons: some languages have no articles, others have different usage rules. Common errors include omitting articles before singular count nouns and using the incorrect form of a/an. When teaching articles, it is important to understand students' native languages, anticipate errors, provide examples, and practice frequently.

1. ELL Grammar Key 7:
Articles
Keys to Teaching Grammar to
English Language Learners
Keith S. Folse
Adriana Fontella, Amanda
Barahona, Débora Lafetá

2. Articles are words that combine with a noun
to indicate the type of reference being
made by the noun.
Types of articles:
-Definite articles: a and an
-Indefinite article: the

3. Why are articles problematic for
ELLs?
Because:
1) Some languages (Chinese, Japanese, Malay,
Polish, Russian, Vietnamese) have no articles.
2) Others languages (French, German, Spanish)
have articles as English, but their usage does
not overlap exactly.
3) The use of no article can be very complicated
to understand....

4. Indefinite articles: a and an
-are used only before singular count nouns
that are not specific and are being mentioned
for the first time.
*It is a common but serious error for ELLs to
omit an article of any kind before a singular
count noun.

5. How to use indefinite articles?
1) Use a before a noun or an adjective (+noun)
that begins with a consonant sound.
2) Use an before a noun or adjective (+noun)
that begins with a vowel sound.
3) It is important to remember that words
beginning with the letters h or u can be
problematic and that the use of a or an depends
on the sound of the word.

6. How to use the definite article?
1) When talking about something specific;
2) When the speaker and the listener are
talking about the same specific item;
3) When referring for the second and all
other references to the same noun;
4) With the superlative form of an adjective;

7. How to use the definite
article?
5) With names of countries that look plural
(including countries that end in –s)
6) When referring to the parts of something;
7) With most bodies of water except individual
lakes;
8) With geographic parts of the globe and
geographic areas, deserts and peninsulas.

8. When NOT to use articles?
1) Before abstract nouns;
2) To talk about a category or group.

9. Common ELLs errors
1) Not using articles before some singular
count nouns;
2) Not using a with some nouns that begin
with a vowel sound;
3) Not using the with a plural count noun that
refers to the whole category;
4) Not using the with abstract nouns or ideas.

10. When planning a class on
articles it is important to:
1) Know how articles are used within the native
language of your students;
2) Predict possible questions and errors;
3) Provide students with clear examples of each
rule;
4) Show the difference of the use of articles
between their mother tongue and English;
5) Practice a lot ;)

11. Chinese, Japanese,
Korean and Russian
have no articles. Some
of these languages
have a word for this
and/or that, so students
may overuse these two
words.
ELLs who speak
these languages
exhibit persistent
errors with articles.

12. French and Spanish
have indefinite and
definite articles.
Unlike English, both
French and Spanish have
singular and plural forms
of their indefinite and
definite articles.

13. Arabic has a definite
article but no
indefinite article.
The definite article is
also used in Arabic
when referring to the
whole group. In
Arabic you must say,
*My favorite kind of
movie is the comedy.