The document summarizes the usage of definite, indefinite, and null articles in English. It provides examples of when to use the definite article "the", the indefinite articles "a" and "an", and situations that do not require an article. Key rules include using "the" for specific nouns, parts of something, bodies of water, and geographic areas, and "a/an" before nouns starting with consonant/vowel sounds respectively. The null article is used for categories/groups and abstract nouns. It's important to consider students' native languages when teaching English articles.

1. Articles
by Neiriberto & Carol Calil

2. Definite the
a
Indefinite
an
Null Article

3. Definite
1. When talking about something specific:
The umbrella next to the door is not mine.
2. When the speaker and the listener are talking
about the same specific item:
William, don´t forget to close the refrigerator.

4. Definite
3. For the second and all other references to
the same noun:
We bought a new computer last month. The
computer lets us access the internet really quickly.
4. With the superlative form of an adjective,
which means with the word most or with the end
est:
Murilo is the best student in class.

5. Definite
5. The names of countries that look plural,
including countries that end in s or have the
words united, union, republic or kingdom:
Neiriberto won the bet on this rule, now Carol has
to go to the Bahamas.
6. For the parts of something:
(In general, we do not use the for body parts)
Mary´s kitchen is beautiful: the refrigerator is silver,
the stove is black...

6. Definite
7. Use the with most bodies of water except
individual lakes:
the San Francisco River.
8. Use the, with geographic parts of the globe
and geographic areas, deserts, and peninsulas:
the equator.

7. Indefinite
1. Use a before a noun or an adjective (+ noun)
that begins with a consonant sound:
a star, a golden star, a university, a European
2. Use an before a noun or an adjective (+ noun)
that begins with a vowel sound:
an idea, an absurd idea, an hour, an honest child

8. Indefinite
3. Use an before abbreviations said as individual letters that
begin with A, E, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, R, S, X:
an FBI agent, an SOS

9. Null Article
1. When talking about a category or group in general:
Teachers are God´s special little people.
2. Before abstract nouns such as feelings or
ideas:
Patience is a virtue.

10. In planning a class on articles, it´s
important to know how articles are used
within the native language of your student.
Some languages have no article while
others have articles that appear to be
equivalent to English but the usages do
not overlap.