1. The Use of Articles

2. Articles are words used in front of nouns
Articles are words used in front of nouns
to identify them as being .. .. ..
to identify them as being
specific
(definite)
general
(indefinite)
or
the woman in the library
a woman

3. In English,
In English,
there are three choices
there are three choices
involving articles:
involving articles:
a/an
the
a chicken
the smoking
chicken
no article.
chickens

4. ARTICLES:
•a / an
•the
•no article

5. 1 I saw an old man with a dog.
2 It’s a nice house. She’s a lawyer.
3 What an awful day!
4 I have classes three times a week.
We use a / an with singular countable nouns:
1.
the first time you mention a thing / person.
•
2. when you say what something is or what
somebody does.
3. in exclamations with What…!
4. in expressions of frequency.

6. 1 I saw an old man with a dog.
The dog was barking.
2 My father opened the door.
The children are at school.
3 The moon goes round the Earth.
4 I’m going to the cinema tonight.
5
• We It’s the best restaurant in town.
use the:
1 when we talk about something we’ve already mentioned.
2 when it’s clear what you’re referring to.
3 when there’s only one of something.
4 with places in a town, e.g. cinema and theatre.
5 with superlatives.

7. 1 Women usually talk more than men.
Love is more important than money.
2 She’s not at home today.
I get back from work at 5.30.
3 I never have breakfast.
4 See you next Friday.
•
We don’t use an article:
1
when we are speaking in general (with plural and
uncountable nouns). Compare:
I love flowers. (= flowers in general)
I love the flowers in my garden. (= the specific flowers in my garden)
2 with some nouns (e.g. home, work, school, church) after
at / to / from.
3 before meals, days, and months.
4 before next / last + day, week, etc.

8. Complete the sentences with a, an, the or – (no
article):
The
a
an
- I saw ________ old man with ________ dog. ________
dog was barking.
__
the
- This is ________ fastest way to get to ________school.
a
__
- My father is ______ pilot. He loves flying _______ planes.
__
- I always have ______ breakfast at 7.30, before I go to
__
the
_______ gym. Then I go to ______ work.
__
a
- This is ______ cocroach. I hate _______cocroaches.
__
- I bought a new car ______ last week.
an
The
- What ______ awful day! ______ sky is dark gray.
a
- I play tennis twice ______ week.