article Basically, articles are either definite or indefinite.
- 1. Articles What is an article? Basically, articles are either definite or indefinite. They combine to a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun. The definite article is the. The indefinite article is a / an. The Indefinite Article – A / AN The article a / an is used when we don't specify the things or people we are talking about: I met a friend. I work in a factory in New York. I borrowed a pencil from a passenger sitting next to me. The indefinite article a is used before a consonant sound: a dog. a pilot a teacher. a university NOTE: Although 'university' starts with the vowel 'u', it is not pronounced as such. It is pronounced as a consonant sound . The indefinite article an is used before a vowel sound: an engineer. an elephant. an athlete We use A/AN with: 1. Singular nouns and the first time we refer to a person, animal or thing. a child an elephant a television 2. We don't use A/AN with possessive pronouns, demonstratives or cardinal numbers. My shirt is dirty.
- 2. This car is expensive. One person is in the reception. 3. We use ONE (or more) instead of A/AN when the number is important. There is only one exit from the airport. What is the difference between A and AN? A is used when the next word begins with a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k etc). a book a table a clock a university (because the beginning of university sounds like YOU-niversity) AN is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u). an apple an elephant an umbrella an hour (because the H is silent) The Definite Article – THE We use THE with: 1. A singular or plural noun when it is clear/obvious which person or thing we are talking about. It's used when the speaker talks about a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know. The car over there is fast. The president of the United States is giving a speech tonight. 2. When we speak of something or someone for the first time we use a or an, the next time we repeat that object we use the definite article 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. There is a lamp in my bedroom. (we mention the lamp for the first time) The lamp is next to the desk. 2. Anything which we identify immediately.
- 3. We watched the new Brad Pitt movie last night. 3. Musical instruments (the violin, the guitar, the drums, the flute, the piccolo). She plays the piano. 4. Something that is unique or there is only one. the sun the moon the internet. 5. Use “the”before names of countries that end in s or contain the word Republic. The United States but just America The Union of Soviet Socialists Republic but just Russia The Netherlands but just Holland The British Isles but just Great Britain The People’s Republic of China but just China. There are few exceptions as in case of The Soviet Union 5. Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges and deserts (always in capitals),but not lakes The Mississippi River. The Nile River ,The Mediterranean Sea The Black Sea,The Atlantic Ocean , The Andes The Sahara Desert but Lake Superior Exception The Great Salt Lake. 6. Directions (cardinal points). the west the south-east the north-west. 7. Use “the” before the names of colleges and universities beginning with the words College or University. The University of Illinois but Indiana University
- 4. The University of Southern California but Boston College The College of Liberal Arts and Science No Article We use no article with: 1. When we refer to general ideas, plurals or uncountable nouns we do not use THE. Religion is an important issue. (NOT The religion is an important issue) Mexican food is spicy. (NOT The Mexican food is spicy). 2. Names of people, books and plays (unless it is part of the title). I have read Romeo and Juliet. 3. Towns, cities, states and countries. 1. 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. They live in Northern British Columbia. They climbed Mount Everest. Cape Town ,Vietnam (Exceptions – The USA, The UK, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, The Philippines). 4. Lakes, single islands, continents or mountains. Lake Victoria , Jamaica ,Asia 5. Planets Mars, Jupiter , Saturn 6. Sports or games Soccer , tennis ,skiing ,monopoly 7. Meals breakfast ,lunch ,dinner ,supper 2. we do not normally use an article with plurals and uncountable nouns to talk about things in general.: He writes books. She likes sweets. Do you like jazz music? She ate bread with butter in the morning.
- 5. Countable and uncountable nouns Using English articles with countable and uncountable nouns may be confusing. The can be used with uncountable nouns, or the article can be dropped entirely as mentioned above. 1. "The two countries reached the peace after a long disastrous war" (some specific peace treaty) or "The two countries reached peace after a long disastrous war" (any peace). 2. "He drank the water" (some specific water- for example, the water his wife brought him from the kitchen) or "He drank water." (any water) It is unusual to use a/an for uncountable nouns. You can't say "I'd like a milk" a/an can be used only with countable nouns. 1. I'd like a piece of cake. 2. I lent him a book. 3. I drank a cup of tea.