ARTICLES(indefinite, definite, zero article)

Trip to Kenya

Dear Marta,

We took ____ most wonderful trip last

month. We went on ____great safari.

_____ safari was in Kenya and we

saw _____ lions and ____ hippos up

close! ____ Experience was great.

____ only problem was my friend

Tom was bitten by _____ mosquito,

but since we had taken malaria

medicine before we came, ____ Dr.

Matuka said he would be okay.

Love Gloria

Look at the letter. Fill in the blanks

witha, an, the or no article.

You will check your answersat the end of

thepresentation.

Indefinite Article 1

When we don’t have a particular person, place, or thing in mind, we use non – specific nouns.

Use the indefinite article a/an with non-specific singular countable nouns.

I love to hold a baby lion.

any baby lion; no particular lion

in mind

A noun is often indefinite the first time a speaker mentions it. It is usually definite after the first mention.

Indefinite Article 1

We went on a safari last year.

1st mention

The safari was very educational.

2nd mention

A noun is definite when we know the particular person, place or thing being talked about.

Definite Article 1

The lions have found something to eat.

Yeah, I see them. Let’s get closer and take a picture.

Use the definite article with nouns that describe something unique.

Definite Article 2

Nanyuki, Kenya, is located on the equator.

There is only one equator.

An adjective can often make a noun represent something unique. Examples of such adjectives are: right, wrong, first, only, and the comparative and superlative forms.

Definite Article 3

The first giraffe is looking at us.

Unique Adjective

Use the zero article (no article) with non-specific plural count nouns and non-specific non-count nouns.

Zero Article 1

Hippos feel at home in water.

Non-specific Plural Count

noun

Non-specific non-count noun

Use the zero article (no article) before the names of people pr their titles, names of most countries and habitual locations.

Zero Article 2

Kanika spends 4 days a week at work and 2 days a week in school.

Use the zero article (no article) before the names of people pr their titles, names of most countries and habitual locations.

Zero Article 2

Ambassador Mukafa was born in Tanzania but spent most of his life in Kenya.

Dear Marta,

We took ____ most wonderful trip last month. We

went on ____great safari. _____ safari was in

Kenya and we saw _____ lions and ____

hippos up close! ____ experience was great.

____ only problem was my friend Tom was

bitten by _____ mosquito, but since we had

taken malaria medicine before we came, ____

Dr. Matuka said he would be okay.

Love Gloria

Trip to Kenya

the

The

TheThe

a

a/

/

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