2. There are two types of article,
the INDEFINITE (He was a
teacher of English) and the
Grammar explanation DEFINITE (He was listening to
the radio).
Folse also uses a topic to talk
about NO ARTICLE – which
discusses when we do not use
an article at all (People will
have to go looking for work).
3. We use a before a singular
count noun (or adjective +
count noun) which starts with
Grammar explanation a CONSONANT (a door, a
native speaker);
The use of the Indefinite Articles
We use an before words th at
starts with a VOWEL-LIKE
SOUND (an idea, an honor).
4. With something specific (the
idea that changed his life) or a
noun that has already been
mentioned before (Then he
remembered a friend of his. The
Grammar explanation friend had done a teacher
The use of the Definite Article (The)
training course);
When we are talking about
something unique (The
president);
When we talk about a group of
people who are clearly plural
(The unemployed);
With country names that give
the idea of plural (The United
States; The Netherlands).
5. When talking about abstract
concepts and uncountable
nouns in general (Life is
Grammar explanation beautiful);
Using No Article A category or group in
general (Cats can be great
pets).
6. Articles in these languages
are only used before nouns
whose meaning is restricted
Native Language This restriction may be
Interference caused by the context or by
an adjective
Romantic languages, like French, Spanish
and Portuguese, have definite and A common ELL mistake in this
indefinite articles. Unlike in English, they case would be to omit the
have plural and singular forms.
article in the following case:
“My mother is a teacher”,
because the meaning of the
noun is not specified.
7. Definite articles in these
languages are also used with
abstract nouns and when
making a general statement.
Native Language
Interference A common ELL mistake in
these cases would be to add
Romantic languages, like French, Spanish the article in the following
and Portuguese, have definite and cases:
indefinite articles. Like in English, definite
articles are used for specifying nouns. “The honesty is important”
”The football is a little box of
surprises."
8. Simple rules to use "A, An, The or no article":
a = indefinite article (not a specific object,
one of a number of the same objects) with an = indefinite article (not a specific
consonants object, one of a number of the same
She has a dog. objects)
A, An,
I work in a factory. Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher
Use an article with bodies of water, oceans
and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean The & The first time you speak of something use "a or
an", the next time you repeat that object use
"the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has
No
four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant
was very good..
the = definite article (a specific object that both
the person speaking and the listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he? article DO NOT use an article when you are speaking
about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.
DO NOT use an article with countries, states,
counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except DO NOT use an article when you are
when the country is a collection of states such as speaking about meals, places, and
"The United States". transport
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier. He has breakfast at home
They live in northern British Columbia I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.
