articles.definite abd indefinite articles in English
- 2. QUESTION 1 When do we use ‘a’ and when do we use ‘an’. Give examples. We use ‘a’ before countable nouns starting with consonants and we use ‘an’ before countable nouns starting with vowels, e.g. ‘a horse’, ‘an eagle’.
- 3. QUESTION 2 Can we use ‘the’ before a singlar countable noun? Yes, e.g. The boy you saw yesterday is my cousin.
- 4. QUESTION 3 When the noun is mentioned for the second time in the sentence do we use ‘a’/ ‘an’ or ‘the’? ‘The’, e.g. There is a bottle on a table. The bottle is full.
- 5. QUESTION 4 What is ‘definite’ and ‘indefinite’ article? Definite article is ‘the’, indefinite article is ‘a’ or ‘an’.
- 6. QUESTION 5 Which type of article do we use with words like: cinema, theatre, countryside, beach, etc.? We use the definite article ‘the’, e.g. We’re going to the beach after the class.
- 7. QUESTION 6 What type of article do we use before a singular countable noun to represent a class of people, animals or things? ‘a’ or ‘the’, e.g. A/the dolphin is more inteligent than a/the shark.
- 8. QUESTION 7 Is the following sentence correct? Why/ why not? Dolphins are more intelligent than sharks. Yes, we can use plural countable nouns to represent a class of people, animals or things without any articles.
- 9. QUESTION 8 When do we use indefinite articles? (the most common rule) Before single countable nouns, e.g. I see a cat.
- 10. QUESTION 9 Which type of article do you use with musical instruments? Definite article, e.g. I wish I knew how to play the guitar.
- 11. QUESTION 10 Which type of article do we use for names of places containing ‘of’? Definite article, e.g. The United States of America, The Tower of London, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 12. QUESTION 11 Is the definite article omitted before the names of mountains? Yes, e.g. Everest
- 13. QUESTION 12 Is the definite article omitted before the groups of mountains/islands? No, e.g. the Alps, the Bahamas, the Canary Islands
- 14. QUESTION 13 Do we use definite article before the names of seas? Yes, e.g. the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea
- 15. QUESTION 14 Do we use definite article for titles with proper names? No, e.g. Queen Elizabeth, President Obama
- 16. QUESTION 15 Do we use definite article before meals? No, e.g. Dinner is ready.
- 17. QUESTION 16 Do we omit definite article before names of continents, cities and parks? Yes, e.g. Australia, Hartlepool, Hyde Park
- 18. QUESTION 17 Do we use articles before names of sports? No, e.g. He plays tennis.
- 19. QUESTION 18 Do we use articles with words like home, hospital, prison, church when they are used for the reason they exist? No, e.g. I go to church every Sunday. (I go there to pray).
- 20. QUESTION 19 Do we use definite articles for adjectives used as plural nouns? Yes, e.g. the rich, the poor, the unemployed, etc.
- 21. QUESTION 20 Is the indefinite article used before the names of ships, newspapers and pop groups? No, it’s the definite article ‘the’, e.g. the Queen Mary, The Times, the Beatles
- 22. QUESTION 21 Do we use the indefinite article before the names of oceans? No, it’s the definite article, e.g. the Pacific, the Indian Ocean
- 23. QUESTION 22 Which one is correct and why? A European driving licence/An European driving licence A European driving licence because although the word ‘European’ starts with a vowel letter, it is read as a consonant sound /ˌjʊərəˈpiːən/
- 24. QUESTION 23 What is the difference between ‘few’ and ‘a few’? There is a difference in meaning. ‘A few’ means several, e.g. A few people came to the funeral (maybe 4 or 5 people). ‘Few’ means not as many as expected, hardly any, e.g. Few people came to the funeral (maybe 4 or 5 but not as many as expected).
- 25. QUESTION 24 We use indefinite articles for certain exclamations, e.g. What a beautiful girl!, What a nice car! Is the following exclamation correct? Why/ why not? What a beautiful weather! No. Weather is an uncountable noun and it does not take an indefinite article.