Articles
Transcript of Articles
When do we say "the dog" and when do we say "a
dog"?
The and a/an are called "articles". We divide them
into "definite" and "indefinite" like this
"definite" mean sure, certain. It is particular.
"indefinite" mean not sure, not certain. It is general.
When we are talking about one thing in particular, we
use the. When we are talking about one thing in general,
we use a or an.
Example
Think of the sky at night. In the sky we see one moon and millions of stars. So normally we would say :
I saw the moon last night.
I saw a star last night.
1. The capital of France is Paris.
2. I have found the book that I lost.
3. Have you cleaned the car?
4. There are six eggs in the fridge.
5. Please switch off the television when you finish
EXAMPLES ( THE )
1. I was born in a town.
2. John had an omelette for lunch.
3. James Bond ordered a drink.
4. We want to buy an umbrella.
5. Have you got a pen?
EXAMPLES ( A , AN )
THE Use “the” with something which has already been
mentioned so that both the speaker and listener know what
is being talked about.
Examples:
There is an apple and a banana in the fruit bowl.
The apple is red and the banana is yellow.
Use “the” in sentences or clauses where we identify a
specific person or object.
Examples:
The woman who painted this picture is famous.
“ Which shirt did you choose?” “The blue one.”
“ My car is the one parked in front.”
Use “the” with adjectives, to refer to a whole group
of people.
The Italians
The Irish
The working class
Use “the” before superlatives and ordinal numbers.
The highest mountain
The smallest child
The first page
The third book
The last chapter.
A / An Use 'a' with nouns starting with a consonant (letters that
are not vowels), 'an' with nouns starting with a vowel
(a,e,i,o,u).
Exceptions:
An before an h when it is not pronounced - an hour.
A before u and eu when sound like 'you‘ - a european, a
university, a unit
When you mention something for the first time.
Examples:
Two birds and an eagle were flying high in the sky.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
When you refer to a kind of, or example of
something.
Examples:
The mouse had a tiny nose.
The elephant had a long trunk.
It was a very strange car.
When the meaning is 'one', referring to a single object
or person.
Examples:
I'd like an orange and two lemons please.
The burglar took a diamond necklace and a valuable
painting.
No article use when :
With names of countries.
Examples : Germany is an important economic power.
He's just returned from Zimbabwe.
With the names of languages
Examples : French is spoken in Tahiti.
English uses many words of Latin origin.
With the names of meals.
Examples : Lunch is at midday.
Breakfast is the first meal of the day.
With professions:
Examples : Engineering is a useful career.
He'll probably go into medicine.
With uncountable nouns:
Example : Rice is the main food in Asia.
Milk is often added to tea in England.
With years:
Example : 1948 was a wonderful year.
Do you remember 1995?
This is ______ easy question.
A. the
B. a
C. an C
I went to ____ sea during my summer holiday.
D. an
E. the
F. a B
I have never seen _____ UFO.
A. the
B. a
C. -
B
Is there ____ cash machine near here?
D. an
E. a
F. the
G. - B
There were many dogs in the park. One dog was ____ Dalmation.
A. a
B. the
C. - A
Christmas comes once _____ year.
D. the
E. a
F. -
B
Magda is wearing ____ orange dress with green shoes.
A. the
B. an B
C. -
Bornholm is ___ island in the Baltic Sea.
D. the
E. a
F. an C
I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is _____ city in _____ United
Kingdom. I live in _____ town called _____ Taunton which is on _____ River
Tone. I live in _____ house in _____ quiet street in the countryside. _____
street is called “Hudson Street” and _____ house is old – more than 100 years
old! I am _____ English lecturer at _____ college near _____ centre of _____
town. I like _____ books, music and taking photographs. I usually have _____
lunch at college. I usually go _____ home by _____ car. We have all kinds of
food in _____ England. I like Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to _____
Polish restaurant in Bath. _____ restaurant is called “Magda’s”. Polish food is
delicious!
A. The B. A
C. an D. -
B A
D
B
D
A
A
B
B D
A
AC
B
AB
D
D
D
A