The Use of Articles

Articles are words used in front of nouns to identify them as being . . .

general (indefinite)

aa woman

specific (definite)

thethe woman in the library

or

In English, there are three choices

involving articles:

the smoking chicken

chickens

a chicken

the, putting nothing.a/an,

When choosing which of the three to use,

(the, a/an, nothing)

nothing?

a/an?

the?we need to take

three things into consideration:

1.Is the noun definite or indefinite?

2. Is it countable or uncountable?

3. Is it singular or plural?

Definite vs. indefinite

A definite noun is one that is recognized specifically

by both

the giver and the receiver of the message.

Look! the White House

When a noun is definite, the object is unique

to both the giver and the receiver,

and you use the article the.

Here’s the teddy bear, Jeff.

“I’ll get you the book.”

The person

who says this sentence

knows that the person who hears it

already knows which book he is referring to.

You use the definite article:

- when the noun is intrinsically unique (there is only one).

The sun is at the center of our solar system.

- Or when the context makes it clear what is being talked about, so it becomes unique.

I saw a man and a woman at the park yesterday. The man looked just like you.

Who was the first man on the moon?

A noun is indefinite when either the giver or the receiver

of the information does not have

a specific thing in mind.

A game

I brought you a book. (one out of many possible presents and books)

The indefinite article is often used to classify and define things.

A poodle is a type of dog.

Mrs. Jonas is an English teacher.

When a noun is indefinite, what will be used in front of the noun will depend on the kind of noun it is:

Singular or pluralCountable or uncountable

When the noun is countable and singular, use :

a an(in front of words beginning or (in front of words beginning with a consonant sound) an with a vowel sound)

doguniversity

hotel

owlherb

hour

clothes

bags

pets

dishes

panspictures

people

shoes

socks

players

When the noun is countable and plural, use nothing.

When the noun is uncountable, use nothing.

fish

light

sand

ice

freedom

emptiness

water

sky

beauty

food

Determiners:

With definite nouns: THE

With indefinite, singular, nouns:

1. with vowels sound: AN

2. with consonant sound: A

With indefinite, plural nouns and noncountable nouns:

NOTHING