Problems with articles
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This document discusses the rules for using articles (a, an, the) in English and provides examples. It notes that place names are usually article-less, except when plural, and discusses exceptions. Specific events, things, governments, and crises take "the". Nouns introduced for the first time take "a" or "an". Non-count nouns are usually article-less. The meanings and connotations of "few" vs "a few" and "little" vs "a little" are explored.
Problems with articles
- 1. Problems with Articles a/an, the
- 2. Usually there is no article before the name of a place name, BUT use “the” before the name of a place that is plural.
- 3. I lived in Japan. BUT He lived in the United States.
- 4. The hurricane formed over Jamaica, BUT Katrina formed over the Bahamas.
- 5. But none of the “rules” work completely! Katrina hit New Orleans. (English speakers don’t follow the rule because they don’t even know that New Orleans is plural—it is from French.)
- 6. However, usually a plural place name has “the.” Recently, a terrible storm hit the Philippines. He is from the Netherlands = He is from Holland.
- 7. We live in the United States. Tatiana is from Russia. She is from the former Soviet Union.
- 8. At first, Katrina was a Category 1 hurricane. No article with Katrina because is is a singular name. We give hurricanes the names of people. This is the first time I’ve mentioned the storm category, so I use “a.”
- 9. Katrina was one of the largest disasters in U.S. history because of the failure of the levee systems. I’m not talking about failure in general. I’m talking about a specific event –the fact that the levees broke and caused flooding. We often use “the” for a specific noun that you are picturing in your head when you say it.
- 10. There was great criticism of the way the government handled the crisis. I’m talking about a specific way and a specific crisis.
- 12. O n the afternoon of Jan. 12, 2010, I’m talking about a specific afternoon. HOWEVER, don’t an article with an actual date: On Jan. 12, 2010,
- 13. The country of Haiti was struck “The” is for a specific country, BUT Don’t use it with the country name: Haiti was struck
- 14. by a devastating earthquake. I use “a” because it’s the first time I have mentioned it.
- 15. that measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale. I am describing a specific kind of scale.
- 16. The epicenter of the quake Now I am continuing to talk about an earthquake that I have already mentioned, so I use “the.”
- 17. was near Leogane, a town approximately 16 miles west of Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital.
- 18. We use “a” when we define things or explain the location of things: Leogan is a town in Haiti. Laney is a community college in Oakland. A hurricane is a very powerful wind storm.
- 19. According to the Haitian government I am telling you which government
- 20. at least 230,000 were killed, 300,000 injured, and 1,000,000 left homeless. There was extremely severe damage. NO ARTICLE Never use “a/an” with a non-noun noun because a = one.
- 21. Would you like a cup of tea? Would you like (some/any) tea?
- 22. However, you can use “the” with a non-count noun: The meat we had for dinner was spoiled, so we all go sick.
- 23. Permafrost
- 24. 2. into the atmosphere (= the atmosphere that is around the Earth)
- 25. 3. A research team– it’s the first time I have mentioned this research team, and we don’t know anything about them yet.
- 26. 4. A research team led by the GeoBiosphere Science Center (The name identifies the specific center I am talking about.)
- 27. 5. Research shows that part of the soil No article with expressions like some of, most of, part of But we say a few of, a lot of
- 28. BE CAREFUL! “few” and “a few” have different meanings. “Quite a few” is a third meaning!
- 29. BE CAREFUL! “few” and “a few” have different opposite connotations.
- 30. “a few” is positive— I have read a few books about the subject. This emphasizes that I have read something.
- 31. “few” is negative— I have read few books about the subject. This emphasizes that I have not read very many.
- 32. The same thing happens with “little” and “a little.”
- 33. He has little money = He doesn’t have much money. He is poor
- 34. He has a little money = He has some money. He can buy something.
- 35. “quite a few” = a lot They have quite a few children = a lot of children. (In the U.S., that means four or more.)
- 36. connotation = a feeling about a word She’s fat. She’s heavy. (more positive connotation)
- 37. OR 5. Research shows that the part of the soil Later in the sentence, you see what part of the soil you are talking point.
- 38. 6. part of the soil The soil that we have been talking about. Soil is non-count, so never use “a.”
- 39. 7. the team announced (the team that we previously mentioned)
- 40. 8. is more damaging to the atmosphere
- 41. 9. than carbon dioxide (usually no article with non-count substances like air, gas, water, etc.
- 42. 10. in discussion (In this sentence, discussion is non-count, so you cannot use a.)
- 43. Plastic Pollution: Answer Key 10. The 11. a 12. no article 13. an 14. the 15. the 16. The 17. the 18. no article 19. the 20. the 21. no article 22. the 23. the
- 44. Plastic Pollution: Answer Key 13. an environmental hazard
- 45. Problem with using an instead of a. The rule is that a changes to and before a vowel SOUND—it goes by the letter and not by the sound.
- 46. an umbrella an unhappy face an interesting story an awful time BUT a useful tool an honest man Use an before a vowel SOUND.