This document discusses the rules for using articles (a, an, the) in English. It explains that a is used before consonant sounds, an is used before vowel sounds, and the is used for specific or previously mentioned nouns. It provides examples of these rules and exceptions for words starting with h or u. The document also discusses using no article for general categories and abstract nouns. It concludes with an exercise identifying errors in article usage.

1. Grammar key 7
Articles
1

2. 2
articles

3. Use a before a noun or adjective that begins
with a consonant sound.
A feather, a gray feather
What are the rules?
In spite of some English speakers recognize only three
articles ( a, an and the ) we also have no article.
Some languages have no articles and due to that fact,
articles are problematic.
Indefinite articles A and AN:
4
Use an before a noun or an adjective + noun
that begins with a vowel sound.
An idea, an absurd idea
Remember that words beginning with the letters
h or u can be problematic . The use of a or an
depends on the beginning sound of the word.
A hat, an hour
A university, an umbrella

4. 6
Use the for names of countries that look plural The United States, The Philippines
Use the for parts of something, except for parts
of the body.
My living room is rommy. The sofa is in front of
the television, the rug is round...
Use the with most bodies of water except
individual lakes.
Lake Michigan, The Pacific Ocean
Use the with geographic parts of the globe and
geographic areas.
The South, The Equator

5. 7
No article
Talking about category or group in general use
no article.
Water is important for our health
No articles before abstract nouns like feelings
or ideas.
A person´s future success depends on
education

6. articles
These grammatical errors are directly
connected to ELL´s first language
interference, and they tend to make these
same mistakes for several times.
3

7. 5
Definite article THE:
When talking about something specific The dog in the yard is mine.
Use the when the speaker and the listener are
talking about the same specific item
Barbra, don´t forget to clean the house
Use the for the second and all other references
to the same noun
The computer lets us access the internet really
quickly
Use the with the superlative form of an
adjective
Brazil is the most interesting country in the
world

8. 8
Exercises:
Find the error.
1) Every family dream about confortable house.
2) There is cat in front of the yard.
3) Yesterday we visited university in Brasilia.
4) The planet is running out of the water.
5) Nicole is from United States.
6) The João is my classmate.
7) Pacific Ocean is dangerous.
8) I am waiting here for a hour.
9) She gave me umbrella and a hat.
10) The education is very important for one´s success future.
Darlan Nunes and Georgia de Lima.