ELL Grammar Key 7: ArticlesPages 179-184

About articles:

• They are considered adjectives;• There are three kinds of articles:

a) Indefinite articles: a, an;

b) The definite article: the;

c) Zero article.

Indefinite articles a and an

• Used before count nouns;

• We use a and an with singular count nouns that are not specific and are being mentioned for the first time.

(FOLSE, Keith: 2009.)

Indefinite articles: a, anRule

1. Use a before a noun or an adjective (+noun) that begins with a consonant sound.

2. Use an before a noun or an adjective (+noun) that begins with a vowel sound.

3. Remember that words beginning with the letters h or u can be problematic. The use of a and an depends on the beginning sound of the word.

Example

1.A girl, a blond girl

2.An idea, an absurd idea

3.a hat, an hour (the word hat begins with the consonant sound /h/, but hour begins with a vowel sound because the letter h is silent.

(FOLSE, Keith: 2009.)

Indefinite articles a and an

“A boy with blond hair was eating an apple.”

The Definite article the

• We use the:

1.“when identifying a specific person, place or thing (…)”

2. “when something is unique or, in other words, there is only one of that object (…)”

Rules for the Definite Article1. Use the when talking about something specific.1. Use the when talking about something specific.

The blue umbrella is not mine.

Rules for the Definite Article2. Use the when the speaker and the listener are talking about the same specific item.

William, don’t forget to close the refrigerator!

Rules for the Definite Article3. Use the for the second and all other references to the same noun.

The computer lets us access the Internet quickly.

Rules for the Definite Article4. Use the with the superlative form of na adjective,which means with the word most or with the ending –est.

In a jewelry store, diamonds are the most expensive item.

Rules for the Definite Article5. Use the for the names of the countries that look plural, including countries that end in –s or have the words united, kingdom, republic, or union.

The United States

The United Kingdom

The Dominican RepulicThe Philippines

Rules for the Definite Article6. Use the for the parts of something. (Exception: In general, we do not use the for body parts.)

The cabinet is brown.

The mixer is

red.

The stove is silver.

The wall is different.

Rules for the Definite Article7. Use the with most bodies of water except individual lakes.

The Mississippi River.

The Great Lakes.

ATTENTION! This is Lake Michigan.

Rules for the Definite Article8. Use the with geographic parts of the globe and geographic

areas, deserts, and peninsulas.

The North

The South

No article

1. When you want to talk about a category or group in general, use no article.

2. Use no article before abstract nouns such as feelings or ideas.

Cats can be great pets.

Patience is a virtue.

Rule Example

Common ELL Mistakes

1. Do not use a singular count noun without an article (or other determiner).

wrong: job, apple, reason, best choice

correct: a job, na apple, the reason, the best choice

2. Do not use a with a noun that begins with a vowel sound.

wrong: a hour, a heir

correct: an hour, an heir

Common ELL Mistakes

3. Do not use the with a plural count noun that refers to th whole category.

wrong: I don’t trust the politicians.

correct: I don’t trust politicians.

4. Do not use the with abstract nouns or ideas.

wrong: The education is the most important thing in my life.

correct: Education is the most important thing in my life.