The document discusses common mistakes made by English language learners regarding article usage. It provides 5 examples of errors and explains the correct usage of articles in each case. Key rules are outlined for using the indefinite articles "a" and "an", the definite article "the", and no article. Common errors like omitting articles are also described.

1. ARTICLES
Betsey Whitaker Neal
Darlan Nunes Silva
Aline R. S. Souza de Souza

2. ARTICLES
Most English speakers recognize three
articles: the indefinite articles: a and an and
the definite article: the, but there is another
article problem that occurs as well: the use
of no articles

3. For ELLs these little words can
wreak havoc with their English

4. Here are five examples of the most common
mistakes. Can you identify and explain these errors?
1. I live in the apartment, close to the
supermarket.
2. I'd like to go to the good restaurant.
3. I stayed in the hotel near the park. The hotel
was very nice, and a park had some wonderful
paths.
4. Remember a presentation we went to last
week?
5. The apples are generally very tasty in season.

5. Key
1. I live in an apartment, close to a supermarket. (Note that I know the apartment
and supermarket, but you, the listener / reader, do not.) Indefinite articles are
used (a, an) the first time something is presented in a sentence.
2. I'd like to go to a good restaurant. (Use indefinite articles with anything that is
not specifically known to BOTH the writer and the reader).
3. I stayed in a hotel near a park. The hotel was very nice, and the park had some
wonderful paths. (Related to the first two: Use a definite article when referring
to something that has already been mentioned).
4. Remember the presentation we went to last week? (Conversely, Use a definite
article (the) when referring to an object which is known to both the writer and
the reader).
5. Apples are generally very tasty in season. (Use no definite or indefinite article
(nothing, in other words) when speaking in general using a plural with a
countable noun, or the singular with a uncountable noun).

6. GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

7. Indefinite articles a and an
• Use only before singular count nouns
• Use with singular count nouns that are not
specific and are being mentioned for the 1st
time.
A penguin is a small black and white bird.
An igloo is a dwelling that is made of ice.

8. Indefinite articles: a, an
Rule Example
1. Use a before a noun or an A feather, a gray feather
adjective (+ noun) that begins with a
consonant sound.
2. Use an before a noun or an
adjective (+ noun) that begins with a an idea, an absurd idea.
vowel sound.
3. The use of a or an with the letters
h or u depends on the beginning A hat, an hour, an hotel
sound of the word. Note: The use of
a or an is determined by the next A university, an umbrella
word’s initial sound, not spelling.

9. Definite article: the
Rule Example
1. Use the when you are talking general: All of them have a book.
about something specific. specific: The book on the table is not mine.
2. Use the when the speaker and general: Every house has a door.
listener are talking about the specific: Paul, don’t forget to close the door!
same specific item.
first reference: James and I bought a new
3. Use the for the second and all computer last month.
other references to the same second reference: The computer lets us access
noun. the internet quickly.
4. Use the with the superlative form comparative: At the mall, clothes are more
of an adjective, which means with expensive than in town.
the word most, or with the ending superlative: At the mall, clothes are the most
–est. expensive item.

10. Definite article: the
Rule Example
5. Use the for the names of the Philippines, the Netherlands
the United States, the Soviet Union
countries that look plural, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of
including countries that end in Angola, the United Kingdom, the
–s, or have the words united, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
union, republic or kingdom.
In a classroom, there is a desk, a chair, a
6. Use the for the parts of clock, a white board, and a teacher.
something (Exception: we do In the new classroom, the desk is small,
not use the for body parts). the chair is uncomfortable, the clock
doesn’t work, but the teacher is great.

11. Definite article: the
Rule Example
7. Use the with most bodies of the Xingu River
water except with individual the Atlantic Ocean
lakes. the Black Sea
the Great Lakes (but Lake Conceicao)
8. Use the with geographic the Greenwich Meridian
parts of the globe, and the South Pole and the North Pole
geographic areas, deserts, and the Sahara Desert
peninsulas. the Punta del Este Peninsula

12. A common error for some ELLs is to omit all
articles b/c there languages have no articles.
• An especially common, but very serious error
is the omission of an article of any kind before
a singular count noun. I have wife and two
daughters. If you get wife you will be very
happy.
• This type of error is especially common among
speakers of Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.

13. No Article
or null article (ø)
Rule Example
1. When you want to talk General: Cats can be great pets
about a category or group in specific: The cats in the pet store are
general, use no article. expensive
2. Use no article before Wrong: A person’s future success
depends on the education
abstract nouns such as feelings
or ideas. Correct: A person’s future success
depends on education
Wrong: The patience is a virtue.
Correct: Patience is a virtue.

14. Common mistakes. Watch out!
• Do not use a singular count noun without
an article or other determiner
Wrong: job, apple, reason, best choice, delicious
sandwich
Correct: a job, an apple, the reason, the
best choice, a delicious sandwich

15. Common mistakes. Watch out!
• Do not use a with a noun that begins with a
vowel sound
Wrong: a hour, a heir, a honorable colleague, a hourly rate
Correct: an hour, an heir, an honorable
colleague, an hourly rate
*Sounds of mute H and aspired H.
a hat, a hateful place ≠ an heirloom

16. Common mistakes. Watch out!
• Do not use the with a plural count noun
that refers to the whole category
Wrong: I don’t trust the politicians. They are an ornery
bunch of people
Correct: I don’t trust politicians. They are
an ornery bunch of people

17. Common mistakes. Watch out!
• Do not use the with abstract nouns or
ideas
Wrong: The education is the most important thing in
my life
Correct: Education is the most important
thing in my life

18. What is your native language?
Comparison of English with other languages
ARABIC ENGLISH
Arabic has a definite article English has the definite article
“the”
Unlike English, Arabic requires the
definite article with abstract nouns.
The honesty is important Honesty is important
The definite article is used for specific
things as in English, but it is also used in
Arabic when referring to the whole
group.
My favorite sport is tennis
My favorite sport is the tennis
I am afraid of spiders
I am afraid of the spiders
Arabic has no indefinite article English has the indefinite articles
“a” and “an”

19. What is your native language?
Comparison of English with other languages
CHINESE, JAPANESE, KOREAN, RUSSIAN ENGLISH
These languages have no articles. Some English has the definite article “the” and
of these languages have a word for this the the indefinite articles “a” and “an”
and/or that, so students may overuse
these two words in lieu of articles

20. What is your native language?
Comparison of English with other languages
FRENCH, SPANISH ENGLISH
These languages have indefinite and English has the definite article “the” and
definite articles the the indefinite articles “a” and “an”
The definite article is used for specific
things as in English, but it is also used
when referring to the whole group.
My favorite sport is the tennis My favorite sport is tennis
I am afraid of the spiders I am afraid of spiders
Indefinite articles are not used when
talking about professions:
My mother is teacher My mother is a teacher
Unlike English, both French and Spanish In English articles invariable.
have singular and plural forms of their a/an is a phonetic alternance
indefinite and definite articles.

21. Comparison of differences in article usage
How would you translate the following sentences into your
native language?
• I have a brother. He is the best brother in the
world.
• Politicians are corrupt in many countries.
• I lived in Columbia before I moved to the
United States.
• I don’t like cookies or chocolate. I prefer things
that are not sweet.
• If you buy a car, you need to take care of it.

22. Tips for learning faster
• Every time you learn a new noun, write it down with
a or an in front: a book, a cat, an excuse
• Be careful not to overuse the:
Correct: I think honesty is the most important human
characteristic.
Wrong: I think the honesty is the most important human characteristic.
• Pay attention to the article usage on individual
expressions or idioms:
Correct: once upon a time
Wrong: once upon the time