English Language - Articles

ArticleEnglish Language

There are

rules.

Rule 1 Rule 2

Rule 3

Indefinite Article

• A/ An

Definite Article

• The

Rule 1

An unspecific object used with consonants

INDEFINITE ARTICLE

a

An unspecific object used with vowels (a, e, i, o and u)

INDEFINITE ARTICLE

an

Alphabets

Vowels(a, e, i, o, u)

Consonants(a-z)

a specific object that both the speaker and listener know

DEFINITE ARTICLE

the

Indefinite Article

• A previously unknown noun that is beingintroduced into a dialogue or story.

Definite Article

• A noun that has already been introduced.

Rule 1

Can you spot the articles?

I saw a cat. The cat was sitting on a fence. The fence was painted brown. The cat jumped off the fence when it saw a mouse. The mouse ran into a hole when it saw the cat so the cat didn't catch the mouse.

Can you spot the articles?

I saw a cat. The cat was sitting on a fence. The fence was painted brown. The cat jumped off the fence when it saw amouse. The mouse ran into a hole when it saw the cat so thecat didn't catch the mouse.

Rule 2

When a noun is Unique, use a Definite Article.

only one of that object

UNIQUE

DEFINITE ARTICLE

The Sun The President The Queen of England

A: Who's he?

B:

• He's the president of Korea. • He's the CEO. • He's the mayor.

A: Who's she?

B:

• She's an accountant. • She's a teacher.• She's a member of parliament.

This uniqueness can come by association.

A car crashed into a tree. The driver was seriously injured.

We could have rewritten this so that driver was not unique (and the car was) when it was introduced.

A driver was seriously injured when the car he was driving crashed.

A driver can only be driving one car at a time so car is unique in this instance once driver was introduced.

Rule 3

When we are speaking of a noun in general, we usually leave the article out.

If it is countable, use the plural form.

So for example, when we are talking about an actual cookie or cookies that really exist or existed,

we use an article (definite or indefinite).

In the following examples, we are speaking of specific/ actual/ realcookies.

1. I ate a cookie.

2. The cookie was delicious.

3. The cookies are on the table.

When we can also make general statements about cookies, we leave the articles out.

1. I like cookies.

2. I enjoy making cookies.

3. I never eat cookies at night.

The meaning will be different in each case.

I like cookies.

• A general statement concerning cookies

I like the cookies.

• A statement about some specific cookies that I've actually tasted

Cookies are bad for your health. (Cookie is countable and therefore put into the plural.)

Pizza is bad for your health. (Pizza is uncountable and left as is.)

DOs and DON’Ts of using articles

DOsof using articles

Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas

My country borders on the Pacific Ocean.

DON’Ts of using articles

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".

He lives in Washington.

DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general.

She likes reading books.

DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport

He comes to work by taxi.

Resources1. www.eslgamesworld.com/.../Articles%20definite%20and%20indefinite.html