This document provides an overview of articles (a/an and the) in English and the rules for using them correctly based on the type of noun. The main points are: 1. There are only two articles: a/an and the. Articles modify nouns and provide information about them. 2. The type of article used depends on whether the noun is count/noncount, singular/plural, generic/indefinite/definite. 3. Count nouns can be counted, noncount nouns cannot be. Common noncount nouns include abstract concepts, substances, activities. 4. Generic nouns represent whole classes, indefinite nouns are actual but not specifically identified things,

1. Articles

2. Q: What is an article?

3. A: There are only two articles in
the English language: “the” and
“a”/ “an”. Articles are kinds of
adjectives that give information
about a noun.

4. Q: When do I use which
article?

5. A: It depends on what kind of
noun is being modified.

6. Kinds of Nouns
• Nouns are singular or plural
• Nouns are count or noncount
• Nouns are generic, indefinite, or definite

7. Q: What is the difference
between a count and a noncount
noun?

8. A: A count noun is a noun that
can be counted. A noncount
noun is a noun that,
grammatically, cannot be
counted.

9. Some Examples:
Count Nouns Noncount Nouns
• Couch • Furniture
• Machine • Machinery
• Mountain • Scenery
• Earring • Gold
• Medal • Confidence

10. Some Common Noncount Nouns:
i. Whole groups made up of similar items:
baggage, clothing, equipment, food.
ii. Fluids, Solids, Gases, or Particles: water,
glass, oxygen, rice
iii. Abstractions: courage, information, time
iv. Languages: English, French, Cantonese
v. Fields of Study: literature, history, math
vi. Recreation: baseball, poker, basketball
vii. Activities (gerunds): studying, learning
viii. Natural Phenomena: weather, sunshine

11. Note: Noncount nouns have
no plural form.

12. Q: What are generic nouns?

13. A: A generic noun represents a
whole class of things; it is not a
specific, real, concrete thing, but
rather a symbol of a whole group.

14. Examples of Generic Nouns:
i. A horse has four legs.
ii. An apple is red.
iii. A bird lays eggs.

15. Article Rules for Generic Nouns:
1. Use “a” / “an” before a generic singular
count noun: An apple is red.
2. Do not use an article before a generic
plural count noun: Apples are red.
3. Do not use an article before a generic
noncount noun: Fruit comes in many
different colours.

16. Q: What is an indefinite
noun?

17. A: An indefinite noun is an actual
thing (not a symbol), but it is not
specifically identified.

18. Examples of Indefinite Nouns:
i. I ate an apple.
ii. The man on the subway took out a book.
iii. The student was wearing a hat.

19. Article Rules with Indefinite Nouns:
1. Use “a” / “an” with indefinite singular
count nouns: I ate an apple.
2. Use nothing or “some”, “two”, “a few”,
“several”, etc… with indefinite plural
count nouns. I ate some apples.
3. Use nothing or “some”, “a little”, “a lot of”,
etc… with indefinite noncount nouns. I
ate some fruit.

20. Q: What is a definite noun?

21. A: A noun is definite when both
the speaker and the listener are
thinking about the same specific
thing.

22. Examples of Definite Nouns:
i. Thank you for the apple you gave me.
ii. I want to pass the car that is going so
slow ahead of us.
iii. The monkey we saw at the zoo last
Tuesday was really funny.

23. Article Rules with Definite Nouns:
1. Use “the” with definite singular count
nouns: Thank you for the apple you
gave me.
2. Use “the” with definite plural count
nouns: Thank you for the apples you
gave me.
3. Use “the” with definite noncount nouns:
Thank you for the fruit you gave me.

24. General Guidelines for Article
Usage:

25. 1. Use “the” when you know or
assume that your listener is familiar
with and thinking about the same
specific thing or person you are
talking about.

26. Examples:
i. Open the door!
ii. The sun is awfully bright.
iii. Tell the doctor what is wrong with you
today.

27. 2. Use “the” for the second
mention of an indefinite noun.

28. Examples:
i. Yesterday I saw some dogs. The dogs
were chasing a cat.
ii. The cat was chasing a mouse. The
mouse ran into a hole.
iii. The hole was very small.

29. 3. Do not use “the” with a plural
count noun or a noncount noun
when you are making a
generalization.

30. Examples:
i. Incorrect: The horses are my favorite
animals. (horses=plural count noun)
ii. Incorrect: The ice is a beautiful
substance. (ice=noncount noun)
iii. Incorrect: The courage is a virtue.
(courage=noncount noun)

31. 4. A singular count noun is
always preceded by:
a) an article (a/an or the); OR
b) this/that; OR
c) a possessive adjective

32. Examples:
i. I ate an apple. / I ate the apple.
ii. I ate that apple.
iii. I ate my apple.

33. Exercises
Write the correct Article in the blanks.
the
I like ___ small dog
Last night I ate an apple
__
____ People come from different cities.

34. Thanks