Articles and Adjectives Introduction and Explanation

1. The Articles and Adjectives
Prof. Vanessa Elena Castro Iñiguez

2. TheArticles
What are articles in the English language?
The articles in the English language are words that define a
noun as specific or unspecific.
Here are a few examples of the above:
- After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.
By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific
day that was long and one specific cup of tea that tasted
good.
- After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.
By using the article a, we’ve created a general statement,
implying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long
day.

3. Definite andIndefiniteArticles
English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more
detail.
What are the Definite articles?
The definite article is the word the.
It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular thing.
For example, your friend might ask, “Are you going to the party this weekend?”
The definite article tells you that your friend is referring to a specific party that both of
you know about.
The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.
Some examples:
- Please give me the notebook.
- Please give me the blue notebook that is on the table, because the red one is not for
English.

4. Definite andIndefinite Articles
English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more
detail.
What are the Indefinite articles?
The indefinite articles seem to take two forms.
It’s the word a when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant.
It’s the word an when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel.
The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a
particular thing.
For example, you might ask your friend, “Should I bring a gift to the party?” Your friend
will understand that you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. “I
am going to bring an apple pie,” your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite article
indicates that she is not talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend probably doesn’t
even have any pie yet.
The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns.
Example:
- Please hand me a computer.
- Please hand me an iPad.

5. Definite andIndefinite Articles
Exceptions: Choosing A or An
There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start
with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels.
The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s
unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound.
Therefore, we use an.
Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept.
My mother is a honest woman.
My mother is an honest woman.
Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a
consonant sound, use a, as in the sample sentence below:
- She is an United States senator.
- She is a United States senator.

7. TheAdjectives
What are adjectives in the English language?
An adjective is a word used to describe, or modify, noun or a
pronoun. Adjectives usually answer questions like which one,
what kind, or how many:
Examples:
- that hilarious book
- the red one
- several heavy books
One good adjective can be invaluable in producing the image
or tone you want.
You may also "stack" adjectives--as long as you don't stack
them too high. In general, if you think you need more than
three adjectives, you may really just need a better noun. For
instance, instead of saying the unkempt, dilapidated, dirty
little house, consider just saying the hovel.
Just as in Pronouns there are also types of adjectives in
English…

8. Typesof
Adjectives
The different types of Adjectives in English
1. Descriptive adjectives
They call up images, tones, and feelings.
Steamy weather is different from stormy weather.
Steamy and stormy conjure different pictures, feelings, and
associations.
2. Demonstrative adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives answer the question which one? They
are the only adjectives that have both a singular and plural form--
this and that are singular; these and those are plural.
Demonstrative adjectives point to particular or previously named
things. This and these indicate things nearby (in time or space),
while that and those suggest distance (in time or space):
- These shoes are prettier than yours.
- Why are you talking about those news?

9. Typesof
Adjectives
The different types of Adjectives in English
3. Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives answer the question whose? They include
my, our, your, his, her, its, and their:
-Our joke book
-Its well-worn pages
4. Indefinite adjectives
Indefinite adjectives include some, many, any, few, several, and
all:
- Some jokes
- Few listeners