Articles: “A/An” and “The” Articles in English are very - TopicsExpress

Articles: “A/An” and “The” Articles in English are very important, as we use them all the time. An article is used before a noun or an adjective modifying a noun. 1.What are English grammar articles? An article is a word that is used before a noun to show whether the noun refers to something specific or not. There are two articles in English language “a/an” and “the”. 2.Types of Articles: There are two types of articles: Definite and Indefinite… I. Indefinite article: We use a/an before general, non-specific nouns or to indicate membership in a group. A/an can only be used with countable, singular nouns. You should use A The article form “a” is used before a word (singular) beginning with a consonant, or a vowel with a consonant sound.. Such as: A dog, a pilot, a teacher, a student, a European, A university??... You should use An before a word (singular) beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or consonant with vowel sound (or beginning with mute h ).. Such as: An apple, an elephant, an umbrella, an hour… II. Definite article: “The”. The definite article is used for a definite, specific or particular noun. It is used before singular or plural nouns. 3.What is the difference between definite and indefinite articles? The difference is if the noun or subject you are talking about is specific or not. Examples are the best way to understand the difference… I am going to a library to study. (No specific library) I am going to the library to study. (A specific library both the speaker and listener knows) Observe the following example here, it is a slightly different, but still using the same concept of specific or general. I am going to sit in front of one of the computers in the lab. I am going to buy a computer. Although the computer in the lab can be one of many computers, the correct article is the because it is still a specific computer that exists in the lab. However, if you say you are going to buy a computer, you cannot use the unless you already have the computer specified. Buying a computer can be any brand, type, or size so it is very general. Therefore, you must use A in this type of sentence. Moreover, below is another type of example: The heat wave is unbearable. I heard a heat wave is coming. The difference between these two sentences is that the heat wave is specified in the first sentence, and not specified in the second sentence. In the first sentence, the heat wave is already present and both the speaker and listener knows that the heat wave they are talking about is the one they are currently experiencing. The second sentence is referring to a future heat wave that is not specific. 4.No article ∅ or the “Zero Article” Above, weve seen how nouns usually have an article. Sometimes though there is no article associated with a noun and this can be called the “zero” article ∅. a. Do not use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as The United States. Examples: They live in Northern British Columbia. / They climbed Mount Everest. b. We do not normally use an article with plurals and uncountable nouns to talk about things in general. Examples: He writes books. / She ate bread with butter in the morning. 5.Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Using English articles with countable and uncountable nouns may be confusing. Look at the following please… “The” can be used with uncountable nouns, or the article can be dropped entirely as mentioned above. Observe the example: The two countries reached the peace after a long disastrous war. (specific peace treaty) The two countries reached peace after a long disastrous war. (any peace). It is unusual to use a/an for uncountable nouns. You cant say Id like a milk. (wrong) A/an can be used only with countable nouns. Examples: Id like a piece of cake. / I lent him a book. / I drank a cup of tea. … USEFUL TIP: When we speak of something or someone for the first time we use “a” or “an”, the next time we repeat that object we use the definite article “the”. Example: I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms. https://facebook/#!/groups/801741773174164/ https://facebook/#!/groups/259141344245979/