1. Using Articles
What is an article? Basically, an article is an
adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
English has two articles: the and a/an.
The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns;
a/an is used to non-specific or non-particular
nouns.
We call the, the definite article and a/an the
indefinite article.
2. the = definite article
a/an = indefinite article
For example, if I say, "Let's read the
book," I mean a specific book. If I say,
"Let's read a book," I mean any book
rather than a specific book.
3. Let's look at each kind of article a little
more closely.
Indefinite Articles: a and an
"A" and "an" signal that the noun is
indefinite, referring to any member of a
group. For example:
"My daughter really wants a dog for
Christmas." This refers to any dog. We
don't know which dog because we
haven't found the dog yet.
4. Remember, using a or an depends on the
sound that begins the next word. So...
a + singular noun beginning with a
consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo;
a dog
an + singular noun beginning with a
vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple;
an idiot; an orphan
5. a + singular noun beginning with a
consonant sound: a user (sounds like
'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant
'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university;
a unicorn.
In some cases where "h" is not
pronounced, such as "hour," use an:
an hour
6. The choice between a and an
depends on the initial sound of the
adjective that immediately follows the
article:
a broken egg
an unusual problem
a European country (sounds like 'yer-
o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y'
sound)
7. Remember that, in English, the indefinite
articles are used to indicate membership
in a group:
I am a teacher. (I am a member of a
large group known as teachers.)
Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member
of the people known as Irish.)
Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is
a member of the group of people known
as Buddhists.)
8. Definite Article: the
The definite article is used before
singular and plural nouns when the
noun is specific or particular. The
signals that the noun is definite, that it
refers to a particular member of a
group. For example:
"The dog that bit me ran away." Here,
we're talking about a specific dog, the
dog that bit me.
9. Count and Non count Nouns
The can be used with non count
nouns, or the article can be omitted
entirely.
"I want the inkpot" (some specific
inkpot) or "I want an inkpot" (any
inkpot).
10. "A/an" can be used only with count
nouns.
"I need a bottle of water."
"I need a new glass of milk."
11. Geographical use of the
There are some specific rules for using
the with geographical nouns.
Do not use the before:
names of most countries/territories: Italy,
Mexico, Pakistan; however, the
Netherlands, the Dominican Republic,
the United Kingdom, the United States
names of cities, towns, or states:
Karachi, Mumbai, Lahore
names of streets: M.G road., Main St.
12. names of lakes and bays: Lake
Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a
group of lakes like the Great Lakes
names of mountains: Mount Everest,
Mount Fuji except with ranges of
mountains like the Karakoram, the
Himalayas.
names of continents (Asia, Europe)
13. Do use the before:
names of rivers, oceans and seas: the
Nile, the Pacific
points on the globe: the Equator, the
North Pole
geographical areas: the Middle East,
the West
14. Omission of Articles
Some common types of nouns that
don't take an article are:
Names of languages and nationalities:
Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian
Names of sports: volleyball, hockey,
baseball
Names of academic subjects:
mathematics, biology, history,
computer science
15. Here are the rules for when to use "A,
An or The":
a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one
of a number of the same objects) with
consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
an = indefinite article (not a specific object,
one of a number of the same objects) with
vowels
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.
the = definite article (a specific object that
both the person speaking and the listener
know)
The car over there is fast.
16. The first time you speak of something use "a
or an", the next time you repeat that object
use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four
bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very
good.
DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties
or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the
country is a collection of states such as "The United
States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean
17. A, An, The, or (Nothing)
This coat was designed by ___ famous New York
artist.
Can you tell me how to get to ___ bank from
here?
He is one of ___ smartest people I know.
I recommend you eat ___ apple pie at this
restaurant.
___ milk is good for you.
18. Would you like to see ___ movie?
___ apple a day keeps ___ doctor
away.
I can't believe I failed ___ yesterday's
test!
Do you have ___ dictionary?
19. They crashed because they had .....
burst tyre.
They live in ...... lovely flat.
It's ...... old house and needs some
work.
Could you take ....... books you
borrowed back to the library, please?
20. It's on ....... Milton Road.
He's wearing ..... blue suit.
He's wearing ...... tie I gave him.
The River Nile is .... longest river of all.
