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Understanding Articles: A, An, The

The document discusses the different types of articles in English - indefinite articles "a" and "an", and the definite article "the". It explains that articles are adjectives that modify nouns and make them definite or indefinite. The indefinite articles refer to non-specific items from a group, while the definite article refers to a specific or particular item from a group. It provides examples of when to use "a", "an", and "the" and the rules governing their use.

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88 views17 pages

Understanding Articles: A, An, The

The document discusses the different types of articles in English - indefinite articles "a" and "an", and the definite article "the". It explains that articles are adjectives that modify nouns and make them definite or indefinite. The indefinite articles refer to non-specific items from a group, while the definite article refers to a specific or particular item from a group. It provides examples of when to use "a", "an", and "the" and the rules governing their use.

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AD Fes
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ARTICLES

A AN
THE
What is an ARTICLE?

•Basically, an article is an adjective.


•Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
INDEFINITE ARTICLE

•"A/AN" is used to refer to a non-specific


or non-particular member of the group.
• "My daughter really wants A dog for Christmas."
This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because
we haven't found the dog yet.

• "Somebody call A policeman!"


This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific
policeman.

• "When I was at the zoo, I saw AN elephant!"


Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific thing.
"A" AND "AN" SIGNAL THAT THE
NOUN MODIFIED IS INDEFINITE,
REFERRING TO ANY MEMBER OF A
GROUP.
DEFINITE ARTICLE

•The definite article is used before singular


and plural nouns when the noun is specific or
particular.
•“THE” signals that the noun is definite, that it
refers to a particular member of a group
• "THE dog that bit me ran away."
Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the
dog that bit me.

• "I was happy to see THE policeman who saved my


cat!"
Here, we're talking about a particular policeman.

• "I saw the elephant at THE zoo."


Here, we're talking about a specific noun.
• "I just saw the most popular movie of
THE year."

• I enjoyed watching THE show.


The sentence refers to a particular or
specific show
USING ARTICLES
A/AN
• "A" used before words that begin with a
consonant.
A dog.
A cat.

• "AN" used before ALL words that begin with


vowels. ( A , E, I, O, U )
AN egg.
AN apple.
REMEMBER, USING A OR AN DEPENDS ON THE
SOUND THAT BEGINS THE NEXT WORD.
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant:
a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant
sound: a user; a university; a unicycle
• a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse

• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel:


an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an
orphan
• an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
THE
• “THE” signals that the noun is definite, that it
refers to a particular member of a group.
THE + specific singular or plural noun

• “THE” can be used with non-count nouns, or the


article can be omitted entirely.
"I love to sail over THE water" (some specific
body of water) or "I love to sail over water" (any
water).
• Use “THE” before:

Names of rivers, Oceans and Seas:


the Nile, the Pacific
Points on the globe:
the Equator, the North Pole
Geographical areas:
the Middle East, the West
Deserts, Forests, Gulfs, and Peninsulas:
the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest
Use a, an or the in each sentence.

• Ismael spoke to
woman who had waved to him
(a / the)
• My mother bought me
expensive watch (a / an)
• Chery borrowed book
from the library.(a / an)
• Ali wore new uniform to
school. (a / an)
• Did you see new car
which my father bought?
(the/a)
• Kiran is Indian girl.
(a / an)
• Singapore lies quite near to

equator. (the / an)


• Liying has travelled across
Atlantic Ocean. (an
/the)

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