The document discusses the definite and indefinite articles in English - "the" and "a/an". It provides examples of when to use the definite article "the", such as when referring to something already mentioned or known to both the speaker and listener. It also lists contexts that take the definite article, such as with superlatives and ordinal numbers. The document also explains the uses of the indefinite article "a/an", such as when referring to something for the first time or referring to a single object or person. It notes the rules for using "a" versus "an" depending on whether the following word starts with a vowel or consonant sound.

1. Definite and Indefinite
Articles
Jelgava State Gymnasium
Agita Ozoliņa

2. ARTICLE (ARTIKULS)
DEFINITE (noteiktais) INDEFINITE (nenoteiktais)
the A, an
• Use a/an with the singular noun, the- with singular or noun in plural.
A cat- some cats
The cat- the cats
• Use 'a' with nouns starting with a consonant (letters that are not vowels),
'an' with nouns starting with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) A boy
• An apple
• A car
• An orange
• A house
• An opera
NOTE:
An before an h mute - an hour, an honour.
A before u and eu when they sound like 'you': a european, a university, a unit
A red rose- viena (kāda) sarkana roze
The red rose- sarkanā roze

3. INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
To refer to something for the An elephant and a mouse Yesterday I met a boy near
first time fell in love. my house. The boy wanted
Would you like a drink? to comunicate with me.
I've finally got a good job.
meaning 'one', referring to a I'd like an orange and two Notice also that we usually say
a hundred, a thousand, a million.
single object or person: lemons please. NOTE: that we use 'one' to add
emphasis or to contrast with other
numbers:
I don't know one person who likes
eating elephant meat.
We've got six computers but only
one printer.
with names of jobs: John is a doctor.
Mary is training to be an
engineer.
He wants to be a dancer.
with nationalities and John is an Englishman. John is British.
religions: Kate is a Catholic.

4. INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an)
USE EXAMPLE
to refer to a kind of, or example of the mouse had a tiny nose
something the elephant had a long trunk
it was a very strange car
with singular nouns, after the words 'what' What a shame!
and 'such' She's such a beautiful girl.
After ‘There is” There is a book on the table.

5. DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)
USE EXAMPLE
to refer to something which has already An elephant and a mouse fell in love.
been mentioned. The mouse loved the elephant's long
trunk,
and the elephant loved the mouse's tiny
nose.
when both the speaker and listener know 'Where's the bathroom?'
what is being talked about, even if it has not 'It's on the first floor.'
been mentioned before.
in sentences or clauses where we define or The man who wrote this book is famous.
identify a particular person or object 'Which car did you scratch?' 'The red
one.
My house is the one with a blue door.'
to refer to objects we regard as unique the sun, the moon, the world , the
Internet, the Earth, the Eiffel Tower
The equator, the North/ South Pole,
before superlatives and ordinal numbers the highest building, the first page, the
(only, last, first, second) last chapter

6. DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
with adjectives, to refer to a the Japanese, the Other plural nationalities are
whole group of people (as plural English, the Dutch, the used with or without “ the”
nouns), families, nationalities Greens, the old, the The Greeks, the Italians,
Latvians (the Latvians)
ending in – sh, -ch, -ese poor, the rich
With the words: beach, cinema, He laiks going to the We often say “ television”
country (side), ground, jungle, theatre. without “ the” .
radio, sea, seaside, theatre, She went to the station We often watch television.
But! Turn on the television
world, station, shop, pub, library to meet Jim.
(set).
Before “ most” (as a superlative) She is the most Don’t use “ the” if “ most” is
beautiful girl. as a determiner followed by a
noun.
Most people believe he is a
liar.
Morning, afternoon, evening I’ll be at home in the But don’t use with: at night,
evening. at noon, at midnight, at 4
o’clock, by day/ night
Historical references/events The Renaissance, the But: World War I
Middle Ages, the First
World War

7. DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)
USE EXAMPLE
With the manes of: rivers, seas, groups of The Daugava, the Black Sea, The
islands/ states, mountain ranges, deserts, Bahamas, the USA, the Alps, the sahara
oceans, canals, directions (debespuses) desert, the Atlantic, the north/south,
east/ west
The names or nouns with “ of” The Tower of London, the statue of
Liberty
Musical instruments, dances The piano, the tango
With the titles The Queen, the Prince, (but not with
Queen Victoria)
With the names of: The Rex, the Sheraton, the Prado, the
Cinemas, theatres, hotels, museums, Guardian
newspapers/magazines, ships
with decades, or groups of years she grew up in the seventies

8. There is no Article (the)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
with names of countries (if Germany is an important But: I'm visiting the United
singular) economic power. States next week.
He's just returned from The United Kingdom, the
Zimbabwe. Europian Union
with the names of French is spoken in Tahiti. But: I’m studying the English
languages English uses many words of language.
Latin origin.
Indonesian is a relatively new
language.
with the names of meals. Lunch is at midday.
Breakfast is the first meal of
the day.
with people's names (if John's coming to the party. But: we're having lunch with
singular) George King is my uncle. the Morgans tomorrow.
After the 's possessive His brother's car.
case: Peter's house.
with professions: Engineering is a useful career.
He'll probably go into medicine.

9. There is no Article (the)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
with years: 1948 was a wonderful year.
Do you remember 1995?
With uncountable nouns: Rice is the main food in Asia. But: I don’t usually like rice, but
Milk is often added to tea in the rice I ate yesterday was
England. really tasty.
with the names of Mount McKinley is the highest But: The Alps
individual mountains, lakes mountain in Alaska.
and islands: She lives near Lake
Windermere.
Have you visited Long Island?
with most names of towns, Victoria Station is in the centre
streets, stations and of London.
airports: Can you direct me to Bond
Street?
She lives in Florence.
They're flying from Heathrow.

10. Let’s do!

11. 1. Robert and Jessica went to ____the__ party last night.
2. Can you tell me how to get to ___the____ cinema from here?
3. ___The____ college is closed today.
4. Gregory is one of ___the___ strangest people I know.
5. I recommend you try ___x____ tomato soup at this restaurant.
6. Would you like to see ___a___ film? ___The___ film I saw yesterday was excellent.
7. ___An___ apple __a__ day keeps __the____ doctor away.
8. I can't believe I failed ___the___ yesterday's test!
9. Do you have ____the___ dictionary that I can borrow?
10. ____x__Magda is wearing _a__ blue dress with red shoes
11. Christmas comes once _a__ year.
12. Jane went to the shop to buy _x__ bread.
13. ____x__Hania broke __a_ glass when she was washing-up.
14. This is _an__ easy question. This is ___the__ easiest exercise I have ever seen.
15. Stephen could you speak __a_ little louder.
16. May I have your _x__ phone number?
17. May I ask you __a_ question?
18. __x____Astrid is __the_ best teacher in our school.
19. My girlfriend has __x_ my car today.
20. I went to _the__ sea during my summer holiday.
21. This is Joanna. She's ___a__ doctor.
22. Is there __a_ cash machine near here?

12. Let’s do!!!

13. I am from___x____ Winchester, _x___Hampshire.
Winchester is __a___city in ___the____United Kingdom. I
live in ___a____town called Taunton which is on
___the___River Tone. I live in ___a___house in
___a___quiet street in __the____ countryside.
___The___street is called ___x___ "Hudson Street" and
____the___house is old - more than 100 years old! I am
____an__English lecturer at___a___ college near
____the___centre of __the____town. I like ___x___
books, ____x___music and taking
___x______photographs. I usually have____x___ lunch
at_____the__ college. I usually go __x_____home by car.
We have all kinds of food in___x_____ England. I
like__x___ Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to
____a___Polish restaurant in ____x______Bath.
____The______restaurant is called "Magda's".
____x____Polish food is delicious!

14. Exercises
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files
/grammar-exercise-articles.php -
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/vi
ewgame.asp?id=4378

15. Thank you for your attention!