This document provides information on the usage of articles (a, an, the) in English. It discusses indefinite articles (a, an) which are used with singular count nouns and "an" is used if the noun begins with a vowel sound. The definite article "the" is used to refer to something specific or previously mentioned. There are also cases where no article is used such as with plural or non-count nouns, countries, meals, and some forms of transportation. The document concludes by highlighting common mistakes made by English language learners, such as omitting articles when needed or using the wrong one.

1. Articles

2. Articles in English
There are only three articles in English: a , an
and the. Besides the usage of those three
ones we have to be aware of the use of no
article ( ).ᴓ

3. Indefinite articles
They are a and an.
They are used before singular count nouns or
adjective + count nouns;
“an” is used for nouns that begin with vowel
sond. Remember that “h” and “u” can be
tricky. Ex: an hour and a university.
* The use of “a” and “an” is determined by the
sound not the spelling.

4. Indefinite articles
Words beginning with h or u depend on the
beginning sound:
a hat a university
an hour an umbrella

5. Definite article
We use “the” when we are talking about
something specific;
When the speaker and the listener are
talking about the same specific item;
For the second and all other references to
the same noun;
With the superlative form of an adjective;

6. Definite article
For the name of countries that look plural,
ending in -s or with the words united, union,
republic or kingdom;
Parts of something (except for body parts);
Most bodies of water (except individual
lakes);
With geographic parts of the globe and
geographic areas, deserts and peninsulas.

7. No articles
• Before plural and noncountable nouns when talking about
things in general:
“I like potatoes.” / “Milk is good for you.”
• Before countries, towns, streets, languages, magazines,
meals, airports, stations, and mountains:
“I had dinner with John.” / I bought Cosmopolitan at South
Station.”
• Before some places and some forms of transport (at home,
at/to school, at/to work, in/to bed, by bus, by train, by car,
by plane, on foot):
“She goes to work by bus.” / “I was at home last night.”
• In exclamations with what + a noncount noun:

8. Common ELL mistakes
No use of a singular count noun without an
article (or other determiner)
Example: job instead of a job
Use of a with a noun that begins with a vowel
sound
Example: a heir instead of an heir
No use of the with a plural count noun that
refers to the whole category
Example: I dont trust politicians.
Not I don’t trust the politicians.

9. Common ELL mistakes
• Use of the with with abstract nouns and
ideas.
Example:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Albert Einstein
Not
The imagination is more important than the
knowledge.

10. Common mistakes Portuguese
native speakers make
The definite article is used for specific things
as in English, but it is also used when
referring to the whole group .
The definite article must be used with
abstract nouns.
Unlike English, Portuguese has singular and
plural forms of their indefinite and definite
articles.

11. Now, let’s practice
the correct use of
the articles.

12. Correct statement:
1. I’m going to mall.
Would you like anything?
the

13. Correct the statement:
2. My brother’s architect
in big company in
London.
an
a

14. Correct the statement:
4. I bought pair of
sunglasses on Main
Street.
a

15. Correct the statement:
3. Tokyo is capital city in
Japan.
the

16. Correct the statement:
5. I live in small town in
mountains in Canada.
a the

17. Correct the statement:
6. What beautiful new
coat you’re wearing!
a

18. Correct the statement:
7. I’m reading interesting
book at the moment.
an

19. Watch the video and complete the sentences
with articles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO6LF54ByhM
1.____ commercial is about ____ brand of beer.
2.In ____ scene, there is ____ girl and ____ man,
who is drinking ____ beer.
3.They are in ____ bar. ____ bar is empty.
4.At ___ end of ____ commercial, ____ man calls
____ waiter because ____ beer was over.
The a
the a
x
a / the
a
a The
thethe
the
the