This document discusses articles in English including indefinite articles like "a" and "an", definite articles like "the", and no article. It provides rules for using each type of article and common errors that English language learners make related to articles. Typical errors include overusing or underusing articles. The document also explains how an ELL's native language can interfere with proper article usage in English since different languages have different article rules or no articles at all.

1. Marina Faeda and Patricia Gomes

2. Articles
Indefinite articles: a, an
Definite article: the
There is another usage that occurs as well: the
use of no article
Ex: “I don’t like coffee”
Problematic for ELLs: Some languages have no
articles!

3. Typical ELL Errors
“After reading this book, I can understand the
verbs and the nouns much better. I still need help
with the adjectives”.
“ I will read it carefully and then send you a
feedback about its content as well as its format”.

4. Indefinite Articles: A and An
We use the indefinite articles a and an only
before singular countable nouns. We use a and
an with singular countable nouns that are not
specific and are being mentioned for the first
time.
Ex: A bear is a big brown animal.

5. Rules-Indefinite Articles
1. Use a before a noun or an adjective (+noun)
that begins with a consonant sound.
Ex: a feather, a gray feather
2. Use an before a noun or an adjective (+noun)
that begins with a vowel sound.
Ex: an idea, an awesome idea
3. Words beginning with the letters h or u can be
problematic. The use of a and an depends on the
beginning sound of the word.
Ex: a hat, an hour
a university, an umbrella

6. Rules-Definite Article: the
1. When you are talking about something specific.
2. When the speaker and the listener are talking about the
same specific item.
3. Second and all other references to the same noun.
4. Superlative form of an adjective
5. Names of countries that look plural
6. Parts of something (exception: parts of the body)
7. Most bodies of water
8. Geographic parts of the globe
9. Families

7. Rules- No article
1. When you want to talk about a category or group
in general, use no article.
Ex: Bears can be great pets.
2. Use no article before abstract nouns such as
feelings or ideas
Ex: Patience is a virtue I do not have.

8. Native Language
Interference
Arabic:
• Has a definite article
• Requires the definite article with abstract nouns
• The definite article is also used to talk about
whole groups (Ex: I am afraid of the
cockroaches)
• Has no indefinite article

9. Native Language
Interference
Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Russian
• They have no articles
French/Spanish
• The definite article is used for specific things , but also
when referring to a whole group. (ex: I am afraid of the
spiders)
• Definite article must be used when talking about
professions.
• Indefinite articles are not used when talking about
professions
• They have singular and plural forms of their indefinite and
definite articles.